Fidel Lopez

Fidel Lopez, Sr., 74, passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021, at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg. He was born on a Sunday, April 7, 1946 to Raul Lopez, Sr., and Margarita Ramirez Lopez.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Rodolfo Lopez, Sr.
Left to cherish his memory is the love of his life, Josefa M. Lopez, whom he was married to for 51 years.
He is survived by his 3 children; Fidel (Maria Orlie) Lopez, Jr., Gisela (Javier) Lopez-Olivarez and Desiree (Martin, Jr.) Lopez-Rocha, 7 grandchildren; Christopher Javier Olivarez, Tristan Javier Olivarez, Felicia M. Lopez, Orlando Fidel Lopez, Adriana Margarita Rocha, Iliana Margarita Rocha and Anthony Rocha. He is also survived by his siblings; Raul (Rosalinda) Lopez, Jr., Elvira (Richard) Villarreal, and Sergio (Belinda) Mandujano.
Fidel graduated from Edinburg High School in 1965 and attended Pan American University pursuing a degree in history. Shortly before graduation, he enlisted into the United States Army. He went to training in Frankfurt, Germany for a year and after completion of training, he was deployed to Saigon, Vietnam which he served 2 tours.
He made his country proud by fighting alongside his 221st SIG CO battalion and garnered the following commendations: Soldier of the month, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign medal, Vietnam Service medal, and Army Commendation medal.
Fidel and his beloved wife were owners of Lopez Drive Inn in Lopezville, Texas. The community knew him as always giving to those that needed help. He was a real estate agent, worked for the Texas Department of Human Services for 25 years and the United States Immigration & Naturalization Department for 5 years as an immigration inspector. He held a 2nd degree black belt in karate and a purple belt in jiu-jitsu. Dad loved to hear Elvis songs and could recite every lyric. Dad was a wonderful husband, a loving father and grandfather. Fidel & Pepita loved each other immensely. Pepita was the love of his life. His wife continues to cherish the hundreds of love letters they would exchange while he was stationed in Vietnam, along with the many years they shared together. He will be dearly missed.
The Lopez family would like to thank the VA Clinic, Dr. Rafols, Dr. Brown, the many nurses and his therapists; Anna, Shayla and Vanessa, for caring for Fidel during his illness. Also, a special thanks to Fidel’s neighbors, Charlie & Blanca Garcia, Eddie & Irma Santos, for always watching over Fidel for so many years.
His family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary to be prayed at 6:00 PM in the Chapel of Peace at Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home, 322 East Kuhn Street in Edinburg. Catholic Mass will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1302 East Champion Street in Edinburg. Catholic burial will follow to Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 3601 North Taylor Road in McAllen. Having the distinguished honor to serve as pallbearers will be: Orlando Fidel Lopez, Christopher Javier Olivarez, Tristan Javier Olivarez, Raul Lopez, III, Rodolfo Lopez, Jr., Victor De Jesus Martinez Becerra, Juan Manuel Vela and Gerardo Garza. Funeral services have been entrusted to Johnny Garcia, Manager/Funeral Director and staff of Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home in Edinburg.

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