Pedro Lopez Sr.

PEDRO LOPEZ, SR. EDINBURG - Pedro Lopez, Sr., 97, died Thursday, November 15, 2012, at his residence in Edinburg. Pedro was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during WWII. He joined Co. B. 142nd 36th Infantry Division in January 1941 and participated in the invasion of Italy at Salerno on September 9, 1943, fought in Naples-Foggia beachhead, the Rome-Arno campaigns and also made the invasion of South France on August 15, 1944. He was wounded three times during these campaigns earning the following decorations: Bronze Star, Combat Infantrymen Badge, American Campaign Medal, American Defense Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. Mr. Lopez was a member of the Disabled American Veteran, Veteran of Foreign Wars, American Legion Post 408, and the Texas Chef De Gare. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Juan Lopez. Pedro is survived by his wife, Raquel Lopez of Edinburg; five sons, Pedro (Sandra) Lopez, Jr., Eduardo (Dora) Lopez, both of Edinburg, Mario Lopez of Frisco, TX, Ronny (Linda) Lopez of Bonham, TX, and Leo (Lilly) Lopez of Denison, TX; a daughter, Irma (Bill) Turney of San Antonio, TX; a brother Horacio (Irma)Lopez; three sisters, Lala Navaro, Fida Salazar, Maria Luisa (David) Mosqeda, all of Edinburg; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. testimony service today, November 18, 2012, at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Monday, November 19, 2012, at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel officiated by Pastor Pedro Lopez III. Interment will follow at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 3895 of La Joya. The family would like to thank the following doctors: Dr. R. Aguilar, Dr. L. Rivera, Dr. M. Palacios and RN Abel Brions for the care given to Mr. Lopez. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.