Roll Call Tribute
Hector Saldana '50 August 22, 2017 8:47 AM updated: August 22, 2017 9:00 AM
Mission Park Funeral Chapels Cherry Ridge obituary
3401 Cherry Ridge Dr
San Antonio, TX 78230
Telephone: (210) 349-1414
Website: http://www.missionparks.com
Hector Antonio Saldana
July 30, 1926 - August 20, 2017
Hector Antonio Saldaña died peacefully early Sunday morning, August 20, surrounded by his loving family. He was 91.
In his life, he was a cattle rancher, horseman, finance manager, U.S. Navy man, star high school athlete, record producer, husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather.
The second generation Texan was born on July 30, 1926 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He was the second youngest of nine children.
Saldaña grew up in Laredo. He played high school basketball at St. Joseph’s Academy where he was a star forward on the team and wore No. 28.
He was drafted in 1944 and served as a radio operator on naval planes during World War II and the Korean War.
After World War II, he attended Texas A&M University where he received a business degree in dairy manufacturing.
He worked briefly as a dairyman, as well as for U.S. Customs. In 1954, he began his long career at Great Western Finance Co.
In 1956, he married Hilda Galindo, the love of his life and caregiver at the end of his life. They lived in Houston and Corpus Christi where they raised five children, later settling in San Antonio in 1968.
With his brother, Francisco, and sister, Irene, he was a part of a cattle and grass-planting operation, which transformed the El Peyote Ranch, beginning in the 1950s to the present.
Saldaña indulged his children, encouraging them in their dreams and all-important education. He loved listening to the music of Eydie Gorme & Los Panchos, Herb Alpert and Ace Cannon.
He was an excellent swimmer, enjoyed a good cookout and visiting with his siblings, nieces and nephews and sharing stories and laughs and discussing ranch business.
Saldaña was a cancer survivor and retired in the mid-1980s to ranch full-time in Cotulla, Zapata and the Laredo area where he lived for more than 20 years.
He returned to San Antonio in 2010 after a second divorce to deal with health concerns and to enjoy life as a grandfather and great-grandfather.
In his final years, he traveled to West Point and to New Orleans and spent every Christmas at the family ranch. One of his happiest moments was traveling to El Peyote Ranch for the 100-year anniversary in 2016.
He had a beautiful smile, a wonderful laugh and a generous spirit. And as always, Hector Saldaña looked great in a cowboy hat.
He is survived by his Children, Hector Saldaña, Jr., David Saldaña (Deborah), Cynthia Saldaña Cuellar (Edward), Anna Saldaña Ford (Thomas Molnar) and Sara Saldaña Gonzalez (Daniel); Former Spouse and Caregiver, Hilda Guerrero; Grandchildren, Jason Saldaña, Jonathan Hicks, Nicholas Saldaña, Matthew Smith, Joseph Cuellar, Stephen Cuellar, Natalie Balusek, David Ford, Rachel Hoffmeyer, Sarah Cuellar, Michael Gonzalez, Spencer Saldaña, Vincent Saldaña, Daniel Gonzalez, Jonathan Molnar, Paul Cuellar, Andrew Molnar, Antonio Saldaña, and Christopher Molnar (deceased); Great Grandchildren, Daryn Hicks, Gavin Hicks, Francisco Saldaña, Jaxon Hicks, and Travis Hoffmeyer; Sisters-in-law, Josefina Saldaña and Naomi Saldaña; and Numerous nieces and nephews. His Pallbearers will be: Jason Saldaña, Jonathan Hicks, Nicholas Saldaña, Matthew Smith, Joseph Cuellar, Stephen Cuellar, David Ford, Michael Gonzalez, Spencer Saldaña, Vincent Saldaña, Daniel Gonzalez, Jonathan Molnar, Paul Cuellar, Andrew Molnar and Antonio Saldaña.
SERVICES
Visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M. with the Rosary to follow at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 350 Sutton Drive. Visitation will begin at 9:00 A.M. with the Funeral Mass to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, August 24, 2017 at St. Paul Catholic Church. Interment will follow at San Fernando Cemetery III.
Visitation
AUG 23. 05:00 PM
St. Paul Catholic Church
350 Sutton Dr.
San Antonio, TX, US, 78228
Rosary
AUG 23. 07:00 PM
St. Paul Catholic Church
350 Sutton Dr.
San Antonio, TX, US, 78228
Visitation
AUG 24. 09:00 AM
St. Paul Catholic Church
350 Sutton Dr.
San Antonio, TX, US, 78228
Funeral Mass
AUG 24. 10:00 AM
St. Paul Catholic Church
350 Sutton Dr.
San Antonio, TX, US, 78228
Cemetery Details
San Fernando Cemetery III
1735 Cupples Rd.
San Antonio, AK, 78226
3401 Cherry Ridge Dr
San Antonio, TX 78230
Telephone: (210) 349-1414
Website: http://www.missionparks.com
Hector Antonio Saldana
July 30, 1926 - August 20, 2017
Hector Antonio Saldaña died peacefully early Sunday morning, August 20, surrounded by his loving family. He was 91.
In his life, he was a cattle rancher, horseman, finance manager, U.S. Navy man, star high school athlete, record producer, husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather.
The second generation Texan was born on July 30, 1926 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He was the second youngest of nine children.
Saldaña grew up in Laredo. He played high school basketball at St. Joseph’s Academy where he was a star forward on the team and wore No. 28.
He was drafted in 1944 and served as a radio operator on naval planes during World War II and the Korean War.
After World War II, he attended Texas A&M University where he received a business degree in dairy manufacturing.
He worked briefly as a dairyman, as well as for U.S. Customs. In 1954, he began his long career at Great Western Finance Co.
In 1956, he married Hilda Galindo, the love of his life and caregiver at the end of his life. They lived in Houston and Corpus Christi where they raised five children, later settling in San Antonio in 1968.
With his brother, Francisco, and sister, Irene, he was a part of a cattle and grass-planting operation, which transformed the El Peyote Ranch, beginning in the 1950s to the present.
Saldaña indulged his children, encouraging them in their dreams and all-important education. He loved listening to the music of Eydie Gorme & Los Panchos, Herb Alpert and Ace Cannon.
He was an excellent swimmer, enjoyed a good cookout and visiting with his siblings, nieces and nephews and sharing stories and laughs and discussing ranch business.
Saldaña was a cancer survivor and retired in the mid-1980s to ranch full-time in Cotulla, Zapata and the Laredo area where he lived for more than 20 years.
He returned to San Antonio in 2010 after a second divorce to deal with health concerns and to enjoy life as a grandfather and great-grandfather.
In his final years, he traveled to West Point and to New Orleans and spent every Christmas at the family ranch. One of his happiest moments was traveling to El Peyote Ranch for the 100-year anniversary in 2016.
He had a beautiful smile, a wonderful laugh and a generous spirit. And as always, Hector Saldaña looked great in a cowboy hat.
He is survived by his Children, Hector Saldaña, Jr., David Saldaña (Deborah), Cynthia Saldaña Cuellar (Edward), Anna Saldaña Ford (Thomas Molnar) and Sara Saldaña Gonzalez (Daniel); Former Spouse and Caregiver, Hilda Guerrero; Grandchildren, Jason Saldaña, Jonathan Hicks, Nicholas Saldaña, Matthew Smith, Joseph Cuellar, Stephen Cuellar, Natalie Balusek, David Ford, Rachel Hoffmeyer, Sarah Cuellar, Michael Gonzalez, Spencer Saldaña, Vincent Saldaña, Daniel Gonzalez, Jonathan Molnar, Paul Cuellar, Andrew Molnar, Antonio Saldaña, and Christopher Molnar (deceased); Great Grandchildren, Daryn Hicks, Gavin Hicks, Francisco Saldaña, Jaxon Hicks, and Travis Hoffmeyer; Sisters-in-law, Josefina Saldaña and Naomi Saldaña; and Numerous nieces and nephews. His Pallbearers will be: Jason Saldaña, Jonathan Hicks, Nicholas Saldaña, Matthew Smith, Joseph Cuellar, Stephen Cuellar, David Ford, Michael Gonzalez, Spencer Saldaña, Vincent Saldaña, Daniel Gonzalez, Jonathan Molnar, Paul Cuellar, Andrew Molnar and Antonio Saldaña.
SERVICES
Visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M. with the Rosary to follow at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 350 Sutton Drive. Visitation will begin at 9:00 A.M. with the Funeral Mass to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, August 24, 2017 at St. Paul Catholic Church. Interment will follow at San Fernando Cemetery III.
Visitation
AUG 23. 05:00 PM
St. Paul Catholic Church
350 Sutton Dr.
San Antonio, TX, US, 78228
Rosary
AUG 23. 07:00 PM
St. Paul Catholic Church
350 Sutton Dr.
San Antonio, TX, US, 78228
Visitation
AUG 24. 09:00 AM
St. Paul Catholic Church
350 Sutton Dr.
San Antonio, TX, US, 78228
Funeral Mass
AUG 24. 10:00 AM
St. Paul Catholic Church
350 Sutton Dr.
San Antonio, TX, US, 78228
Cemetery Details
San Fernando Cemetery III
1735 Cupples Rd.
San Antonio, AK, 78226
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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