Jose Efren Molina

Jose E. Molina, 97, Husband, Father, Great Grandfather and a respected architect and dedicated mentor who left an enduring mark on the Houston landscape, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2026 in The Woodlands, Texas. He was married to Martha Molina for 57 years and had 5 Children, 8 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren.

Jose was born in Mexico City to Efren Molina and Josefina Favela Molina and came to the United States as a student in 1944 where he graduated high school at Allen Military Academy in Bryan, Texas in 1947.

A proud alumnus of the University of Houston, Jose earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1955. Then, 39 years later in 1983, Jose Molina was appointed by Governor Mark White to the University of Houston Board of Regents for 6 years and during said tenure served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Regents and Chairman of the Academic Affairs and Campus Relations Committee from 1986 to 1987. Jose Molina was the first Hispanic ever appointed by a Governor to any of the Texas University Systems.

Mr. Molina served in the Army Corp of Engineers during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. After honing his architectural skills for several years at various local firms, he took a bold entrepreneurial step in 1972 by founding Molina & Associates Architects & Planners which later became Molina Walker Architects (MWA). This year his firm celebrated 54 years and continues its architecture practice. Mr. Molina served with distinction as the firm’s President for over three decades until his retirement in 2004.

Professional Legacy – Mr. Molina was a registered architect in over 20 states. While Jose initially focused his practice on commercial architecture, his portfolio gracefully evolved into the public and institutional sectors, making his firm a staple vendor for public works and education infrastructure in Southeast Texas. Over his 30-year career, he designed vital community spaces across the Greater Houston area, with key local school districts and institutions featuring his firm's structural designs including: being a member of the Joint Ventures for the George A. Brown Convention Center, Cesar Chavez High School, and UH Alumni Center and Associate Architect for the Harris County General Hospital. Jose Molina designed Shopping Centers throughout the US (i.e. Westchase Shopping Center), Community Centers, Churches (i.e. Our Lady of Corpus Christi – Perpetual Adoration Chapel), Elementary Schools (i.e. Jaime Davila Elementary School), Schools (i.e. Cesar Chavez High School), Sam Houston University, and the Science and Technology Center at Houston Community College (Stafford) and University Facilities in Houston, Fort Bend and Montgomery County. In addition, Jose Molina designed numerous METRO transit centers, public libraries (i.e. Patricio Flores Branch Library), multi-service community centers (i.e. West End Multi-Service Center in the Heights), county annexes, county infrastructure and municipal fire stations.

A Lifelong Mentor -Beyond his architectural blueprints, Jose’s greatest legacy lies in the people he built up. He was a passionate mentor who deeply encouraged his employees to grow, lead, and thrive. Under his guidance, his staff eventually transitioned into ownership of the firm. Today, his original vision lives on and continues to flourish through the successor firm, MWA Architects.

Jose Molina was a member of many civic organizations, including the UH Alumni Association and Cougar Club; he served as President to both Sembradores de Amistad Scholarship Foundation and Familias Unidas.

Jose Molina’s wife of 57 years, Martha Molina, and son, Efren Molina, predeceased him. Jose is survived by his sister Silvia Molina, children, Cynthia Molina, Theresa Yeager, Arlette Molina, and Rebecca Bryant, and his grandchildren, Brian Yeager, Alan Sisson, Amanda Murphy, Alexandra Bryant, Robert Molina, Tyler Bryant, Michael Molina and Ashley Bryant and great grandchildren, Sofie Morris and Margot Morris and Daughter and Son in Laws, Matthew Bryant, Jim Yeager, Brett Morris, Ed Davis and Julie Molina.

The family will greet friends at a Celebration of Life at 1:00 pm Sunday August 2, 2026 at Forest Park Funeral Home, 18000 I45, The Woodlands, Texas 77384.