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Arthur Estrada, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, was called home by the Lord Jesus Christ surrounded by his family singing praise and worship songs, leading him on his journey to heaven on October 17, 2024, at the age of 83. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ramona (Louis) Estrada and Domingo Ybarra; siblings, Homer Estrada, Fr. Domingo Estrada, Max Weltens and Wanda (Jim) Seifert. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ruth Estrada; siblings, Jerry (Vickie) Estrada, Virginia Weltens, Catherine Almaraz, Jesse (Sylvia) Sanchez, Sam (Jerri) Sanchez and Yvette Trevino; children, Lawrence (Lisa) Estrada, Michele Lorraine (Oscar) Gomez, Rochelle Estrada and Andrew Estrada; grandchildren, Joshua Estrada, Gabrielle Estrada, Sarah Estrada, Hannah Estrada, John Estrada, Mary Estrada, Abby Gomez, and Micheal Estrada; great grandchildren, Charles Montemayor and Noah Montemayor; and numerous nieces and nephews. Arthur was a father figure to many, and thought of Sonia Alaniz, Larry Cain and Frank Rodriguez as his own children. Arthur was born in San Antonio, Texas, on August 27, 1941. He first met Ruth in 1960, bonding over their mutual love of dancing and going on to share a long and happy marriage of almost 60 years. He had a lifelong passion for fishing on the coast, loved to tell jokes and stories, and always had a crowd around him laughing. Arthur was a very good cook and was well known for his salsa recipe. Arthur served honorably in the U.S. Navy and believed in working hard to support his family. He was among San Antonio’s inaugural class of EMS workers and spent 34 years in service to the San Antonio Fire Department. He also worked in various roles at the San Antonio Water Board, Kelly Air Force Base, Rodeway, Sears, Boeing Fire Department and FEMA. Arthur loved the Lord and was a devout Roman Catholic. He attended Mass daily and was often first to open the doors at St. Leo the Great in the early mornings. He served as a Eucharistic Minister, shepherded more than 30 pilgrimages to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, visited multiple sites around the world where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared, and prayed all 20 mysteries of the Holy Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet every afternoon at 3 p.m. A visitation will be held Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. James Apostle Catholic Church (907 W. Theo Ave.), with a rosary to be recited at 6 p.m. Funeral Service will be Friday, November 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. at St. James Apostle Catholic Church; interment with military honors to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joshua Estrada, John Estrada, Michael Estrada, Jerome Estrada, Christopher Estrada, Frank Rodriguez, Michael Rodriguez, Miguel Sanchez honorary pallbearers, Larry Cain and Mark Weltens. All friends and family are welcome.

Tributes

Arthur Estrada

August 27, 1941 - October 17, 2024