Tributes

Belia Salinas was born to parents, Manuel and Josefina Gomez on January 20, 1928 in Mercedes Texas. She peacefully passed away on June 1, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas, at age 98. Belia was the first of 10 children and raised in Mission Texas. From her parents she learned to love God and to love life. She often commented on her beautiful childhood. Throughout her life, she was proof positive of what faith can accomplish. In Mission, Texas she met, married and started a family with Ramiro Salinas in 1949. Circa 1954 the family moved to San Antonio and together they had 14 children, seven sons and seven daughters. Belia and Ramiro dissolved their marriage in 1970. She alone successfully ensured each of her children graduated from McCollum high school. Mrs. Salinas was proud to show her wall of 14 graduation photos in her home on the southside. Half of the children took residence in other states. Mrs. Salinas laugh and smile warmed every heart in the room, you wanted to come closer just to be in her presence. She loved cooking (as she never burned anything), she loved sewing and crochet, reading historical books, reading the newspaper from front to back, and she loved tending her plants. For the last eight years of her life, as she struggled with diabetes and dementia, Velma, Ermine and Mark were consistently by her side. It was a peaceful ending to a life devoted to her family. Belia is proceeded in death by her parents, Manuel and Josefina Gomez, ex-husband Ramiro Salinas, daughter Crystal Salinas and her sisters, Maria Antonio Gomez, Caroline Gomez and brothers: Guadalupe Gomez, Alberto, Gomez, Manuel Gomez, Gilberto Gomez, and Oscar Gomez, all resided in or near Pico Rivera, California. Belia is survived by her daughters: Velma Ramoz, Therese Harlow, Velvet Carmona, Ermine Orta, Lu Divinia Edwards, and Jennifer Salinas, her sons: Joe Sachem, Richard, Frank, Robert, Alex, Mark and Eric, her sisters: Margarita Gomez, and Josefina Ramos, also from Pico Rivera, California. Her grandchildren, Krishna and David Salinas and numerous other grandchildren and great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Standing at only 4’ 10” Mrs. Salinas was an amazing light. “How can a light that burn so brightly suddenly burn so pale” (Art Garfunkle “Bright Eyes”)

Tributes

Belia G. Salinas

January 20, 1928 - June 1, 2026