The family will receive friends from 5pm to 7 pm at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan on October 3, 2019 with recitation of the Rosary at 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on October 4, 2019, 11 am at Santa Teresa Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Raymond was born in Robertson County, Texas, April 24, 1931, to Jose and Ignacia Lopez. He was part of a huge farming family before the family moved to Bryan. He was an upbeat character whose nickname was “Payaso” (clown) while growing up. He loved telling stories about riding horses, hunting small game, and fishing as a youngster. He was passionate about baseball and played for many years, even after he was a married family man.
His other passion was cars and he worked hard to learn how to be a mechanic. Raymond was the first in his family to own a vehicle. One day when he was on his horse and carting watermelons to sell, he was stopped by a man with a Model-T. The man admired the horse and was interested in swapping his car for Raymond’s horse. It was a perfect match! Raymond added wood to make a “bed” to carry produce. People in the area were soon waiting along the road to “hitch a ride to town”. His love of cars continued, and he spent his last 20+ years as a mechanic for the City of College Station.
Raymond and Virginia strongly believed in education for their six children. They were especially proud of their children, all successful in their chosen professions.
Raymond was a member of Santa Teresa Catholic Church since the early 1950s. He was involved with the Santo Nombre, participated in and was a leader in many of the church’s activities. Friends remember him calling out “numbers” when the church hosted Bingo games. Raymond and Virginia were “padrinos” to more than 100 children during their long and faith-filled marriage.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents (Jose and Ignacia), his wife (Virginia), siblings: Luciano, Chimiano, Clemencia, Vicente, Julia, Jose, Candelario, Angel, Helena, Felix, and Maria.
Survivors include siblings: Lupe Garcia, Hilda Lopez, Irene Arevalo, Marguarita Lopez, and Doroteo Lopez; children: Terri Dobson (Mark), Lucy Grimaldo (Rudy), Rosa Mata (Humberto), Raymond Lopez (Gina), Dora Gonzales (Alfredo), and Marty Lopez (Isabel).
He is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and, dozens of other children to whom he was simply “Popo Lopez”. He will be greatly missed by his family and community. The family would like to express special thanks to Traditions Hospice for the care provided during Raymond’s last days.
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