Roger Anthony Flores, II

On November 21, 2004, this world lost a great gentleman, husband, father and son with the death of Roger Anthony Flores II.

Roger is survived by the "love of his life" of 36 years Evangelina, his mother Julia Flores, his son Roger III and wife, Janine, his daughter, Mariela and husband, Orlando Lopez and the sparkle in the night sky, his grandchildren, Anthony, Maximiliano, Alejandro and Paloma Lopez and Roger IV and Marcos Patterson Flores, and his in-laws, Elena and Enrique Guerrero, Sr.

Roger is preceded in death by his father Rogelio Flores, Sr. and his sister, Anna Maria Hill.

Roger was born on January 17, 1946 in San Antonio, Santa Rosa Hospital.

He attended Mark Twain Middle School, Jefferson High School and San Antonio College.

Roger met Evangelina "mi Chula" in 1968 at Hemis'Fair 68 where they both worked. They were married on June 14, 1968 after a lengthy courtship of 3 months.

In 1976, Roger opened his first and most noteworthy restaurant Little Mitla. He operated Little Mitla, which he proudly frequently boasted had been in operation since 1923, until his death.

In 1979, Roger acquired La Paloma del Rio on the San Antonio Riverwalk. In 1991 Roger purchased the building which is now the Flores building at 215 Losoya.

Roger operated La Paloma del Rio Restaurant until 2000 when he sold the business. In 2003, Roger re-opened Paloma Riverwalk Parilla Grill in the same location.

Until his death Roger made it a point to be involved in his community through committee organizations and foundations.

He was crowned Rey Feo IIIV in 1985, was President of San Antonio Fiesta Commission, was a member of the Westside Lions Club, Order of the Masons, City Councilman of District 1 1995-1999, Honorary Texas A & M Kingsville Alumni, President of the Downtown Alliance, and Southwest School of Art & Craft Center Board.

He loved being at Mitla preparing special plates for all the "regulars" that came in. He loved to grow peppers in his backyard and jar homemade salsa for his friends.

He had many collections of precious stones, art, coins, and knives that he appreciated and took joy in finding.

Roger's family was his life and he expressed his love to them every day of his life when he would wake up every Saturday morning to take his mom to the grocery store, when he would volunteer to pick up his grandkids after school and take then somewhere for a "treat".

His day was complete when he would see his beautiful wife Evangelina come in the door of the Mitla and give him a kiss in her loving way as if there was nothing else in the world that mattered.

Every day he shared his adventures and seemed always to have a friend who he would help. That was his life his dream and his legacy. He is irreplaceable because all that had the privilege of knowing him know he was such and exquisite gift.

He was a son, husband and father who loved wholeheartedly and unconditionally. He is an irreplaceable loss for the Flores family and all who knew him. We will love him and cherish his memory, and we will always be blessed by his presence all the days of our lives because "he would not have had it any other way".

Pallbearers: Tom Rogers, Owen Seidenberger, Mario Benitez, Enrique Guerrero Jr, Jose San Martin III and Guillermo Guerra