Obituary of Arnulfo Quintana, Jr.

Arnulfo Quintana, Jr., age 84, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife and two sons in Harlingen, Texas on September 17, 2024.  He was the first-born son of Arnulfo Quintana, Sr., and Jesusa Quiroz Quintana on July 7, 1940, in San Antonio, Texas. 

In 1958 Arnulfo graduated from Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, Texas. On February 28, 1962, Arnulfo joined the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country for 6 years at a Strategic Air Command.  During the Vietnam War, Arnulfo was assigned to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, which served as a launch site for B-52 bomber operations.  Arnulfo was responsible for loading and storing large payloads into the B-52 bombers during the war. On September 28, 1963, he married his wife, Sonia Lopez Quintana, and they were married for 63 years.  Arnulfo and Sonia had three sons who all graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.  Arnulfo retired from Southwestern Bell/AT&T after 30 years of service.  He was also a union steward for the Communications Workers of America (CWA), representing and defending the interests of his fellow co-workers.

Early in his life, Arnulfo was a musician and played bass guitar in a rock & roll band. He also trained and became a certified lifeguard.  As an adult, Arnulfo was a Eucharistic Minister and Money Counter at St. John Neumann Catholic Church under Monsignor Robert Silverman.  He also donated his time volunteering as a soccer and baseball coach in his community for over 18 years and not only taught children the fundamentals of sports but about dedication, commitment, and self-discipline.  He devoted all his time to supporting his sons in sports, music, and all school activities.  Later in life, Arnulfo took pleasure in vacationing with his wife and friends in Europe, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.  For many years Arnulfo and his wife took dance classes at the University of the Incarnate Word and learned different styles & techniques of dance and favored Latin & Ballroom dancing.  Arnulfo enjoyed participating at Texas Aggie football games and was an avid & accomplished golfer at various country clubs with his close friends.

Arnulfo mostly valued God, the Catholic Church, his 63 years of marriage to his wife, his family & friends, and Country.

Arnulfo was predeceased by his grandparents Arnulfo Quintana, Maria Del Refugio Quintana, Gregorio Quiroz and Luz Quiroz, his parents Arnulfo Quintana, Sr. and Jesusa Quiroz Quintana, and his son Arnulfo Quintana, III.  Arnulfo is survived by his wife Sonia Quintana, and his sons Gregorio Quintana and Michael Jesse Quintana. In loving memory and prayer, you will be missed.

The family expresses gratitude to Father Jesse Garza for providing Arnulfo Quintana, Jr., with his Last Rites and final prayer and to the nurses and doctors who took care of and treated him at the hospital.

Memorial services will be held at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 6680 Crestway Dr., San Antonio, Texas 78239. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 27, 2024, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., followed by a Rosary at 11:00 a.m. Thereafter, the funeral mass will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by a burial at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, located at 17501 Nacogdoches Rd., San Antonio, Texas 78266. A memorial reception will follow after the funeral mass at the Scott Room at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.

You may sign the online guestbook, light a remembrance candle, or send words of comfort to the family of Arnulfo Quintana, Jr. at www.thomaegarza.com.

Local arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home and Crematorium, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.

Arrangements in San Antonio, TX, are under the care of Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 7735 Gibbs, Sprawl Road., San Antonio, TX 78239, (210) 599-2035.