Antonio Vera

Antonio Vera, 85, passed into eternal rest on Thursday, August 25, 2011.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marcos and Perfecta Vera; brother, Jose Vera; sister, Teresa Vera; and son, Marco Antonio Vera.-

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Maria P. Vera.-A devoted husband and father, he had nine children, Diana Kirkendall, Marco Antonio Vera (deceased), Javier (Linda) Vera, Patricia (Jorge) Valdez, Leticia (Luis) Jimenez, Graciela (Abelardo) Garza, Darlene (John) Baker, Alejandro (Alicia) Vera, and Antonio (Irene) Vera Jr. Grand Children: Elizabeth (Lazaro) Ramirez, Sheila (Enrique) Alvarado, Mark A. Vera Jr., Robert Vera, Lilia (Matthew) Trevino, Javier R. Vera Jr., Elizabeth Jimenez, Michael Vera, John T. Baker Jr., Leslie Vera, Alex Vera Jr., Lauren Vera and Allie Vera.

A veteran of World War II, Antonio proudly served in the US Marine Corp and fought in Guadalcanal and Okinawa.-He received a Purple Heart for his service after being heavily wounded in combat.-Following his honorable discharge from the Marine Corp, he worked at the Laredo Air Force Base and was a foreman in the paint shop until the base was inactivated in 1973 as part of the drawdown after the Vietnam War. He then transferred to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio until his retirement in 1981. Antonio, like his father before him, was an excellent carpenter converting many used television cabinets into beautiful chests, made end tables, shelves, bench seats, stools and jewelry chests.-He also constructed a portion of his home.-He passed on his love of carpentry to his sons.-A loving father, he instilled his sense of honor, duty, patriotism, punctuality, good ethics and morality to all of his children.-Because of these values, along with instilling the importance of education, his family remains united at all times and can count on each other in times of need.-His passing leaves family and friends suffering a great loss that is immeasurable.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. Dennis Cantu for the extra care he has provided for many years.-They also thank Dr. Michael V. Galo and the caring staff at Laredo Medical Center.