Jose “Joe” Enrique Zapata, age 86, of Victoria, Texas, passed away on October 6, 2026. Born on June 25, 1940, in Kingsville, Texas, he was the eldest of nine children born to the late Jose and Marciala (Balzaldu) Zapata.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by two brothers, David Zapata and Joel Zapata.
Joe was raised in Kingsville, where he graduated from Henrietta M. King High School. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&I University. His professional career began in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he worked for 15 years with CPC International. He later relocated with his family to Victoria, serving with the Social
Security Administration before joining DuPont, from which he retired after 28 years of dedicated service.
A proud veteran, Joe served for six years in the Army National Guard. He was deeply committed to his faith and community, holding memberships in the Knights of Columbus Council #9088 and the Serra Club of Victoria, and was a devout parishioner of Holy
Family Catholic Church.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Gloria Lopez Zapata; his son, David J. Zapata; his daughter, Alicia A. Zapata; two grandchildren, Samuel D. Scavo and Olivia
A. Scavo; his brothers, Greg Zapata (Genie) and Arturo Zapata (Jeannie); and his sisters, Juanita Hernandez, Maria “Nikko” Galindo, Ampara Gracia (Mauro), and Lupita Mauro.
Services & Memorial Arrangements
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on Thursday, October 15, 2026, beginning at 9:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church. The recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 9:30 AM, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM.
Graveside services and interment will follow immediately at Resurrection Cemetery, where full military honors will be rendered by the Victoria Veterans Council.
Members of the Knights of Columbus will honorably serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that contributions be made in Jose’s memory to Holy Family Catholic Church, 704 Mallette Drive,Victoria, TX 77904.
The family invites you to share fond memories, words of comfort, and expressions of condolence online by visiting Joe Zapata’s memorial website atwww.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com and selecting the ‘Add a Memory’ icon in the ‘Show your support’ section.
