Arnoldo Mendietta Sr.
Alice – Arnoldo Mendietta Sr, 86, was called to the Lord on Feb 26, 2022, after a brief illness.
He was born on September 14, 1935, to Seferino and Victoria Mendietta, and was raised on the King Ranch until joining the Navy in 1955. He was very proud of serving on the USS McGinty Destroyer from 1955-1959. His adventures took him to Guam, Hawaii, and Seattle to name a few. During his Navy time he crossed the Equator where he earned the designation of shellback.
After his time in the Navy, he returned to Kingsville where he met the love of his life, Eleanor “Chata” Salinas. Dad always said that they would run into each other at the local dances, and after several “encounters” they finally became permanent dance partners when they were married on April 21, 1963 and remained as such until her death in 2012.
During his career, he worked for the Jim Wells County probation department and Borden’s Milk. He retired from Borden’s where he was the lechero in the San Diego area for most of his time. He enjoyed his careers as he loved meeting people and having conversations. He never met a stranger and when he would meet someone new, he would ask “de quien eres?” and would make all the connections to their parents or grandparents and how he had delivered milk to them.
He loved McDonald’s coffee and conversation. He was treated like McRoyalty at the McDonalds on Main St. Thank you, ladies, he loved it there.
He loved spending time with family, he was an awesome sous chef, and a comedian. Throughout his life, he played semi-pro baseball for the King Ranch along with golf, and later lots of softball. He enjoyed traveling, and there was a big road trip for his 80th birthday that covered over 5000 miles and over 10 states with his 3 lovely and amazing children who all survived the trip. He enjoyed watching a variety of TV from sporting events to novelas. He was always supportive of his children and was the best Popo ever.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, siblings Armando Mendietta Sr and Arcelia Munoz. He leaves behind his 3 children, Arnold (Tara) Mendietta of Alice, Melissa Mendietta of Houston, and Marissa (Charles Lott) of Georgetown and his 3 handsome grandsons, Carlo Mendietta of Austin, Andros and Nolan of Alice, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Christus Spohn Alice, the staff, doctors and especially Margot Rios, CNO along with the various home health companies that cared for him throughout the years. Special thanks to Aida Hernandez, The Neighbors – Orlando and Nelda Martinez, Abel Gonzalez, Odie Villegas, Sandie Paez, Belia Gaza and Tiffany Mendietta for their willingness to always help at the drop of a dime. You are appreciated more than you will ever know.
Pallbearers will be Carlo Mendietta, Christopher Smith, Charles Lott, Frank Vera, Juan Barajas and Orlando Martinez. Honorary pallbearers are Seferino “Nino” Mendietta and Armando Mendietta Jr, Andros and Nolan Mendietta.
Family will receive friends and relatives at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Rosas Funeral Home, with a Rosary recited that evening at 6:00 P.M. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, March 4, 2022 at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Alice, Texas. Burial will follow at the Santo Nino Cemetery of Rios Community with military honors by Alice United Veterans Burial Association.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to ROSAS FUNERAL HOME.
