Reynaldo A. Canchola

Reynaldo Aragon Canchola went to be with his Lord on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at home, at the age of 87 years. He was born in Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico on March 23, 1920. His family moved to Cementville, Texas in September 1926. He followed his father's foot steps and went to work at San Antonio Portland Cement Co. (now the Quarry). At 17 years of age he began working as a laborer and retired at age 62 as plant superintendent, the first Hispanic to attain that position. During the 1950's he played Santa Claus during the Christmas holidays for the Cementville children. He was a member of the Black Cats company baseball team and a Scout Master. In 2003 he participated in a documentary developed by Trinity University students titled "The Cementville Story Being Told At Last", which later aired on television. He worked with family members and childhood friends. He served in the Army (1941-1945) during WWII overseas with the 9th AAF in England, France, and Belgium as a Medical Corpsman and Ambulance Driver. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Campaign Ribbon and the EAME Theatre Campaign Ribbon. He received an Honorable Discharge on November 17, 1945. He was honored as Knight of the Year on December 13, 1987 by the Knights of Columbus and was also a 3rd degree Knight. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Josefa Canchola, his sisters, Guadalupe Arteaga and Maria del Refugio Rendon and his son-in-law, Morris R. Cooke. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Falcon Canchola; daughters, Dahlia Castillo and husband Juan, Sylvia Cooke and Magdalena Estes; grandchildren, Novella Rae Allen, Michael A. Castillo and wife Erica, Nol Ray Allen and wife Sabrina, Manuel A. Castillo and wife Nichole; five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sisters, Maria Canchola, Antonia Canchola Garcia and husband Nieves. A Rosary will be recited 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. There will be an hour of visitation prior to the Rosary. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, November 8, 2007 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 102 Lorenz, San Antonio, TX 78209 or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 314 Merida St., San Antonio, TX 78207. Sunset Funeral Home.