TRINIDAD GONZALES

TRINIDAD GONZALES
EDINBURG - Trinidad Gonzales, age 93, passed away Monday, September 13, 2010 at Edinburg Regional Medical Center.  A native of Falfurrias, TX, he was a decorated WW II US Army veteran. Gonzales received two bronze stars and a purple heart. After helping defend his nation he became a member of the American G.I. Forum, and served as First State Vice Chairman (1952-53) and Treasury (1953-54). By 1958 he became the first Mexican American Special Investigator for Hidalgo County District Attorney's office. In 1960 he was named the Edinburg Honorary Chairman for the Viva Kennedy Club, and was invited to President John F. Kennedy's inauguration. 
     He was preceded in death by his wife, Maria B. Gonzales in Jan 2009, sisters, Ramoncita Ramirez and Isabel Garza, brothers, Jesus Maria Gonzales, Jesus Garcia, Adrian Alberto Gonzales, Vicente Gonzales, Alejandro Gonzales and Ernesto Cabrera, Jr.
     He is survived by his children, Juan Antonio "Tony" (Hilda) Gonzales of Edinburg, Irma (Arturo) Gomez of McAllen, Trinidad (Sylvia) Gonzales, Jr. of McAllen, Norma (Domingo) Lopez of Edinburg, Sylvia (Adrian) Guerra of Edinburg, sisters, Florinda Lopez of Falfurrias, Juanita Rodriguez of Edinburg and Petra Ramirez of Premont, 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
     Visitation will be held from Thursday, Sept 16, 2010 from 12 noon to 9:00 pm at Skinner Silva Funeral Chapel on West Sam Houston in Pharr with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 7:00 pm in the evening.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Friday, September 17, 2010 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Edinburg.  Interment with Military Honors provided by the American Legion, Post 101 of Pharr will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Edinburg.
     Pallbearers will be his Grandsons:  Jorge Gomez, Martin Gomez, Marco Antonio Gomez, Daniel Lopez, Carlos Lopez and Adrian Alberto Guerra.
    Gonzales will be remembered for helping members of the community that came to his home and office. Never one to turn anyone away, he welcomed them in and listened to their concerns. Along with his wife, Maria, they lived to serve others as best they could and lived by their Christian values and the motto, "it is better to serve then to be served." Gonzales will be missed by his family and those he helped throughout his lifetime.   
     Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Skinner Silva Funeral Home of Pharr.
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