Jose A. Sanchez

Jose (Joe) A. Sanchez, 89, passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2020 in Pasadena, TX. He was born on January 8, 1930 in Houston, the fourth child of Pedro Sanchez and Leonor Alvarado Sanchez. His mother passed away when he was two and he and his older sisters, Juana, and Isabel were raised by their maternal grandmother Josefa Reyna Alvarado (Grandfather—Luis Alvarado), and their maternal uncles Catarino ("Cata"), Margarito (Rufina), and Wenceslado ("Ben") Alvarado during the “Great Depression”. Joe served in the Korean War and was a very proud veteran. He didn't have many service stories that he shared, but we did find a few letters that he wrote to his grandmother Josefa, and his Uncle Cata. He wrote of volunteering for the Army Airborne jump school which he stated in the letter that he needed to be proficient in five different exercises in order to qualify. Unfortunately, he ended up with an injury that prevented him from qualifying for jump school at Fort Benning. After his years of service he did enjoy being a member of the American Legion as a veteran in his later life and was a regular donor to the various veterans organizations. Joe worked for many years as a machinist, but he was able to use his many years of playing and developing his golf skills into becoming a very popular caddie here in Houston. He knew every aspect of the game, including rules and scoring, and how to strategize and advise the members at the various golf clubs and golf courses that he worked at as a caddie over the years. He did enjoy telling stories about the many important doctors and lawyers that he caddied for. He also enjoyed entering golf tournaments and he won many trophies proving that he was very good as his game! Joe's greatest love was for his church. He was among the first members of the Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church in Houston back in 1960 which eventually became the Houston Spanish Robertson Seventh Day Adventist Church. More recently he was a long time member of the Houston Spanish Magnolia Park Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church and had many church friends throughout Houston. Joe spent many Saturday/Sabbath afternoons handing out church books and literature that he would donate in order to share his faith with others. Joe loved the Lord, his church, his family and friends and he will be sorely missed. Joe was single all his life and was preceded in death by his mother Leonor Alvarado Sanchez, his father Pedro Sanchez, his brothers: Pedro (Pedrito) Sanchez, and Pete Sanchez, his sisters: Juana (Janie) Nuñez, and Isabel Nuñez. He is survived by his brothers: Frank Sanchez, and Joe Sanchez, sisters: Lupe Serda, Rose (Charlie) Herrera, and Janie Martinez. He was a very special and dear person to his nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews, and great grand nieces and great grand nephews too numerous to count! Visitation will be held at Santana Funeral Directors on Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. Funeral services will also be held there on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 9:30 am. Interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

Jose A. Sanchez

January 8, 1930 - January 5, 2020