Juan Manuel Urteaga

SAN ANGELO Juan "Manuel" Urteaga, 89, of Ballinger passed away Tuesday, July 26, 2011. He was born Jan. 2, 1922, in Norton, Texas. He was in the U.S. Army. He married Epifania Sarsosa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Narciso Urteaga and Maria Sanchez Urteaga; and sisters and brothers Juanita Gamez, Joe Urteaga, Basilio Urteaga and Josie Lopez. He is survived by his wife, Epifania Urteaga; brother Lino Urteaga; daughters Gloria Torres and a very special friend and companion, Mose Rodriguez, and Adeliada Saldana and husband Joe Saldana; grandchildren that were considered his children, David Varela Jr., Louis Rodriguez Jr., Debra Bowman and husband Clarence Bowman, Diana Saldana and her companion, Andy Lopez, Rachel Jacques and husband Louie Jacques, Yvonne Martinez and husband Julio Martinez and Joey Saldana; a special great-granddaughter, Crystal Aguilar-Martinez, who he raised as his own; as well as 15 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Lino Urteaga Jr., Omar Urteaga, David Garcia, Ricky Urteaga, Ernest Torres and Samuel Martinez. A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2011, in Johnson's Funeral Home chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2011, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Mereta-Eola Cemetery. Family and friends may sign the online register book at johnsons-funeralhome.com.