OBIT-Saragosa Salinas

PENITAS – Saragosa Salinas, 90, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, at Barcelona Assisted Living in McAllen.

Mr. Salinas was born on Nov. 3, 1924, to Ruperto and Andrea Salinas on Jarachinas Ranch. He lived most of his life as a rancher and resided in Tierra Blanca.

He was drafted into World War II in 1945 when he was a junior in high school and was assigned to the 121st Evacuation Hospital in Korea as a medical technician. For his service, he was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Campaign Ribbon, the Occupational Ribbon and the Japan Victory Ribbon.

He served on the La Joya Independent School District board in the 1960s. Since he was not able to finish high school due to the draft, the Texas Education Agency and the La Joya I.S.D. awarded him a high school diploma in 2014 for his military service.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Maria Eva Salinas; children, Zaragosa Salinas, Elma Garcia, Mario Salinas, Diana Flores, Jose Eloy Salinas and Jose Leroy Salinas; and 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Lauro Salinas, Bartolo Salinas, Natividad Salinas and Jose Melito Salinas, and sisters, Manuelita Longoria, Mercedes Longoria, Gabriela Garza, Amparo Garza and Maria Garza.

A funeral mass was held on Sept. 22 at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in La Joya. Burial followed at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery.