A resident of Converse, Jonathan Lopez, age 78, died at home On December 19, 2014 in the arms of his loving wife after a decade or more of illnesses to include vascular dementia and three different types and incidences of cancer. Jonathan was preceded in death by his parents, Miqueas (Mike) Rodriquez Lopez, and Rebecca Delgado Lopez of San Benito, Texas; Brothers: Eli Lopez; Miqueas (Mike) R. Lopez, II of Corpus Christi; Manasas Lopez of Houston; two brothers lost as infants; Sisters: Dorcas Garcia of Piedmont, Alabama; Raquel (Kela) Rodriquez of California; Esther Alvarez of Amarillo; a daughter-in-law: Terrie Ledbetter Lopez of San Antonio; and two favorite brothers-in-law: Alex Alvarez of Amarillo and Antonio Bueno of California. Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Betty Garland Harkins of Converse; and a former wife of 20 years, Matilde Medina Lopez of San Antonio; Children: Virginia Iris Short and her husband, Kyle; San Antonio; Dr. Jonathan David (JD) Lopez and his wife, Margret, Fairfield, California; Cynthia Matilde Braddock and her husband, Curtis, and Gilbert Alex Lopez of San Antonio. Stepsons: James Texan Harkins of Las Vegas, and John Wesley Harkins and his family of San Antonio. Sisters: Elizabeth (Betty) Bueno of California; Dina Bower of Kentucky; Ana Marie Henault of Ft. Worth; and Rebecca Guajardo of San Antonio. Grandchildren: Alesia Maria Lopez Alonso, Mallory Ann Short, Hope Melody Braddock, Jonathan Esai Lopez, Gabriel Alex Lopez of San Antonio; Gilbert Carlos Lopez and Joshua Cole Lopez of Fairfield, California. Three step- grandchildren: Heather Marie Short of Sulfur Springs, and Mariza Valeria Zepeda; Wesley Hunter Harkins, and one great-grandson, Jayden Cesar Alonso, all of San Antonio; Special sisters-in-law, Anastacia (Patsy) Lopez of Corpus Christi; Carmen Lopez of Houston, and Estella Garland Greenway of Florida; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of wonderful friends and other family members and in-laws. Jonathan was born in San Benito, Texas on May 10, 1936 into a family that would include 13 children in all. Space was scarce and times were hard but the family was proud, honorable, and hard-working. It was from his parents and grandparents that Jonathan learned his sense of integrity and his work ethic, and learned how to be benevolent, caring, and helpful. Anyone who knew Jonathan would say that he was a "Johnny-on-the-spot, salt-of-the-earth" man. He was a born leader and this was learned from the many role models in his family and in the Presbyterian Church in his youth. Jonathan was a fourth generation Presbyterian and Jonathan's father founded the Hispanic Presbyterian Church in San Benito. Another example of family leadership was when Jonathan's older brother, Mike, returned from his tours of duty in WWII, he was instrumental in the integration of the public school system in San Benito. Jonathan worked hard all his life, helping his father in the family business of a broom factory in San Benito, beginning at the age of nine. He would have begun at seven or eight as was the custom in their family, but Jonathan suffered malaria at that age and endured a long recovery. In high school, Jonathan made good grades despite his popularity with the girls due to his height, good looks, and beautiful, long eyelashes. He was in the San Benito Greyhound Band and played the trumpet. One of his schoolmates and friends was the illustrious Freddy Fender, whose real name was Baldemar Garza Huerta. Other jobs that Jonathan held when he was younger included working as a floor manager at J.C. Penny's in San Benito where he met his first wife, Matilde (Mita); working on the King Ranch where he would pick cotton and vegetables in the hot summers and enjoyed lunches of canned sardines, corn tortillas, and fresh tomatoes and other vegetables from the vines that he would pick. Lunches were eaten right there in the fields or under a shade tree and he recalled always being grateful for the food and always ready to eat when it was time. Jonathan later attended Del Mar College in Corpus Christi on a music scholarship that he had earned, but knowing that he needed to help his parents and sisters financially due to a his father's heart problems, he joined the U.S. Air Force at the age of 20. In order to meet the minimum weight requirement, Jonathan said he had to go and eat 4 or 5 meals before 3 p.m. on the day that he was to weigh in and wear extra socks and some steel-toed boots in order to be accepted. Along the way in life, Jonathan attended The University of Maryland and (then) Southwest Texas State University. He retired from the Air Force as an E7 (Technical Sergeant) and he spent his career of 22 active duty years in Intelligence and Cryptology. He had many interesting posts in his tours of duty, including supervising the communications at the LBJ Ranch during the Viet Nam era while he was stationed at Bergstrom AFB in Austin. Jonathan demonstrated his leadership skills in the Air Force and was promoted to the position of Drill Sergeant very early on. He was scared, skinny, and lacked a good command of the English language. He later said, "I could not show that I was scared. I learned to be blunt and brusque from the start and not to waiver when giving directions". Jonathan was extremely respected all his life, in all arenas, and richly deserved that respect. Jonathan had a commanding presence about him, and a physical stature and stance that did not go unnoticed. People felt "safe" and in good hands when he was around. He "saved the day" for many, many people throughout his life. His military travels took him to Spain for almost a decade, to Alaska, Japan, Korea, Thailand, TDY's in Viet Nam, Okinawa, England, France, Germany, and several state-side locations. While in Korea, Jonathan initiated--on his own time and merit--the logistics and fund raising efforts to establish two orphanages for Korean children. That is just who Jonathan wasa caring helper of those who wanted to help themselves, and a motivator, leader, and mentor. Following the military, Jonathan spent 20 years in social services in San Antonio, working first for the Barrio Betterment Development Corporation in the late 1970's, then located within St. Timothy's Parish. He envisioned and spearheaded the painting of the murals on the outside walls of the Alazan Apache Courts housing projects on the west side of San Antonioart that locals and tourists enjoyed for many years to follow. Lacking proper equipment or money to purchase it, Jonathan had the artists to approach local grocers in the community and borrow enough plastic milk crates to stack against the buildings and make safe "ladders". The actual artists were drug addicts that Jonathan had brought together from the streets and alleyways and instilled in them a pride in their community and encouraged them to use their talents in a positive form of art rather than using it to spread graffiti and filth on buildings and overpasses. It worked!! The artists protected their buildings and their community from that time on. Jonathan also helped with St. Timothy's food bank, clothing closets, and other vital efforts. He assisted Freddy Garcia in his early efforts toward stabilizing the Victory Outreach Drug Treatment Program. He worked at Raleigh Hills Hospital for Alcohol and Drug Treatment (where he met his second wife, Betty, who also was employed there). After leaving Raleigh Hills due to cancer, Jonathan became employed for 15 years by Dr. Robert L. Jimenez, Psychiatrist, and Darlene D. Jimenez, RN, LPC, as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and manager. Additionally, Jonathan taught Chemical Dependency Counselor Training courses for St. Mary's University and for the Wackenhut Corrections/Prison Facilities. He ended his work life due to illnesses in 2006 after almost 10 years with Texas State University as a supervisor in the Residence Life area. While there, he served on the Staff Council of the University and won prestigious awards statewide for leadership. He initiated the ground work for the establishment of a scholarship fund for the children of the University's custodial workersmost of whom were life-time San Marcos residents. Jonathan was loved and respected and missed by many upon his retirement from the world of work. He will be loved and missed by his family and friends always. Jonathan Lopeza true red cardinal bird; he stood out among others and made a difference in a lot of lives all over the world. May God bless him and keep him in peace always. The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Schertz Funeral Home, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.. A Celebration of Jonathan's Life, with United States Air Force Honors, will begin at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Chaplain John Edwards and Dr. Steve Springer. All services will conclude in the chapel.
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