COL Manuel Lopez

Colonel Manuel Lopez was born January 1, 1938, in San Diego, Texas, to Rufino and Elvira Lopez. He passed away, surrounded by loving family members, on August 3, 2022, at the age of 84. He is preceded by his beautiful wife, Maria Rosario Lopez. Colonel Lopez was a member of the Class of 1956 at the Texas Military Institute, where he was both First Sergeant and an Officer in C Company and played varsity football. He attended Texas A&M University and graduated Cum Laude from Park College in Missouri with a degree in Political Science. He also was a graduate and former faculty member of the Command and General Staff College. His Army service spanned Thirty years with service as both an enlisted soldier and officer. He enlisted in 1957 and served in the 69th Armor Regiment in Germany as a Sergeant prior to attending Officer Candidate School. Commissioned in the Field Artillery in 1959, he initially served with the 2nd Missile Command at Fort Carson where he commanded an Honest John Missile Battery. Following this, he commanded the Headquarters Battery of the 2nd Target Acquisition Battalion in Korea. He then served with the 82nd Airborne and the XVIII Airborne Corps on the Operations Staff at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed in 1966 to Vietnam with the 1st Brigade 101st Airborne Division as the commander of B Battery, 2nd Battalion 320th Field Artillery. Following that assignment he served with the XVIII Airborne Corps’ Operations Staff. Subsequently, he became the Airborne Advisor to the Argentine Army. In the late 1970’s, he returned to Korea where he was the Fire Support Coordinator for the 2nd Infantry Division. Returning to Texas, he became the Executive Officer for the 2nd Armor Division Artillery. He then commanded the 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery and deployed that unit to Germany as part of the 2nd Armor Division Forward. He was next assigned as the Chief of Staff of the Division Forward. Colonel Lopez was subsequently stationed in Argentina as the Commander of the Military Assistance Group. During this command, Argentina and Great Britain went to war over the Falkland Islands and Colonel Lopez supervised the evacuation of the US Embassy. His final active duty assignment was as the Senior Advisor to the Arkansas National Guard. Upon retirement, he worked for the Hallmark Electronics Firm as corporate marketing manager. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and the Army Commendation. He was a Master Parachutist and a member of the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. He is survived by his children, Camilla Carla Weeks, Corina Carmen Cason, Alma Teresa Rucker, Manuel Edward Lopez and Ana Maria Lopez. Together, he and his wife Rosie had 16 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. He was deeply loved and admired by all and will be greatly missed. Pallbearers: Jeff Hanna, Amarion Mays, John Joseph Rucker, James Cason, Sam Rucker, Luke Rucker, Daniel Ward, Jude Pool Rosary Service will be at 6 PM, August 11, 2022, at Roberson Funeral Home, 98 West Main Street, Alice, Texas. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 12 at 10 AM, at St. Francis de Paola Catholic Church, 401 South Victoria Street, San Diego, Texas.

COL Manuel Lopez

January 1, 1938 - August 3, 2022