Edmundo G. Salazar, Sr.

Edmundo G. Salazar, passed on September 14, 2023 in New Braunfels, TX surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation will begin on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 1 p.m. followed by a rosary at 7 p.m. and on Friday, September 22, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and will be departing at 10:30 a.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary.  A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 22, 2023 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.  Interment will follow at La Pryor Cemetery. 

He was born to parents Ramona Gonzales and Eduardo Salazar on April 30, 1945 in La Pryor, TX.

Edmundo grew up in La Pryor, TX.  He lost his mom at the young age of 5 years old. He was raised by his grandparents Felipa and Antonio Gonzales along with his 5 other brothers.  He learned the value of hard work growing up working the fields, working as a ranch hand, and holding jobs around town, including as school janitor.  Since a young age, Edmundo had a passion and dreamed of becoming a major league baseball player. As a young teen, Edmundo was paid to play baseball with surrounding traveling baseball teams. He worked on his craft and by his late teens through his early twenty’s he was invited to the Houston Astros baseball tryout camps three times.  As the camps came to and end, he survived the “cuts” along the way earning a selection on the all-star roster to play in the final draft game.  After his baseball dream came to an end, he picked the hobby of playing the accordion. He was a self-taught accordionist, till his last days of life.  He was the band manager of La Conexion Tejana during the late 70’s through late 1980’s.  He recorded under multiple labels including Joey Records, Dina Records and Fiesta Records.  He had fond memories traveling across Texas playing in the band and sharing the stage with other well-known Tejano artist. Edmundo also played and donated his time and talent to his local church, St Joseph Catholic church for many years. Later, at the age of 77, he recorded eight new singles out of his kitchen/dinning room studio with the assistance of close friend Rudy Gomez.    

In his early twenty’s, Edmundo started his career with Missouri Pacific and after 35 years of service, retired with Union Pacific. He started as a trackman and worked and earned his way through the ranks. He was recognized through his career, earning multiple positions; welder, track inspector, track-foreman, assigned to “special assignment” throughout the state of Texas and Road-Master.”  

Edmundo married Francisca Gonzales, in La Pryor, Texas on January 7, 1963.  They lived in La Pryor for most of their lives with a few years in San Antonio.  Edmundo was blessed to have celebrated 52 years of marriage with his beautiful wife.

He is survived by his four children, son, Edmundo (Becky) Salazar Jr, daughter, Maria Esmeralda “Mayla” (Abraham) Jackson, son, Arnoldo (Lourdes) Salazar, daughter, Sylvia (John) Rosales, three brothers, Ernesto (Irma) Salazar, Emilio (Maria) Salazar,  Abel (Louise) Salazar, sister-in-law Maria Nelia Salazar, thirteen grandchildren, Jose Noel Quijano Jr., Jennifer Shae Salazar, Chelsea Yvonne (Ruben) Lopez, Samantha Marie (Anthony) Chesbrough, Edmundo Salazar III, Macy Liane(Ryan) Ybarbo, Sadie Marie Mahnesmith, Ashley Nicole (Junior) Anderson, Edmundo Jesus Quijano, Frederic Brian Salazar, Lillian Kate Salazar, Arnoldo Salazar Jr, John Daniel Rosales Jr., eleven great grandchildren, Christian Lopez, Makenzie Lopez, Jonah Lopez, Carter Noel Quijano, Elliott Jay Quijano, Sophia Iliana Chesbrough, Hazel Quijano, Marcella Irene Ybarbo, Ava Nicole Anderson, Asher Francis Ybarbo, Lorenzo Brian Salazar, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Francisca "Kika" Salazar; parents Ramona and Eduardo Salazar, brothers Eduardo “Lalo” Salazar, Raul Salazar, Guadalupe "Lupe” Salazar, maternal grandparents, Felipa P. and Antonio B. Gonzales.

Pallbearers will be Edmundo Salazar, Jr., Arnold Salazar, Jr., Edmundo Salazar, III, Frederick Brian Salazar, Arnold Salazar, Jr., Jose Noel Quijano, Edmundo Jesus Quijano, and John Daniel Rosales, Jr.