Marcelino “Pelon” Lopez, Jr., 66 of Vidor, TX. passed away July 3, 2013, at Baptist Hospital Beaumont, TX. Born May 27, 1947 in Port Arthur, TX to Mary Arriola Lopez and Marcelino Lopez. He grew up in Beaumont and was a 1965 graduate of Beaumont High School. Having voiced to his mother at the age of 14 that he wanted to “see the world”, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1965, was honorably discharged in 1969 proud to have served his country and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and trophy for ranking as a middleweight boxer.
After his discharge he was employed at Texaco/Huntsman and retired after 35 years of service. Marcelino had a kind and generous heart, loved his family and friends dearly, loved lemon meringue pie (he brought many a pie home when he worked at the A & P grocery as a teen), and his many trips to Louisiana.
Survivors include his parents, children Donna Schleicher of Keystone Heights, Florida; Marcelino (Marc) Lopez III and wife Crystal of Vidor, Marie Yvette Lopez and Marlisa Nicole Lopez, of Beaumont; grandchildren Madie Rose Bass, Shaylyn Hubert, Jayden Middleton, Blaiz Lopez, Kruz Lozano, Marcelino (Quade) Lopez IV; sisters Lenora Villareal (Jesse), Virginia Morales (Emmitt), Yolanda DeLaRosa (Hector), Rosie Barnes (Robert) all of Beaumont; his former wife, and mother of his children, Flora Parker (Richard); other family members and numerous dear friends.
A memorial service with military funeral honors will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 13, 2013 at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home, 1155 N. 11th St., Beaumont.
Cremation services are under the direction of the funeral home.