Noe Saldaña

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of our family's patriarch, Noe Alcocer Saldaña. Noe died on January 12, 2021, at University Hospital in San Antonio. He was born in San Benito, Texas on January 23, 1933, to Jose Leal Saldaña and Adelaida Alcocer.

Noe was drafted into the United States Army in 1953 and served until 1955. He married Teresa Vasquez on January 1, 1954, and they celebrated 67 years of marriage on January 1, 2021. One of his fondest childhood memories at the age of 14 was borrowing $25.00 to buy a job as janitor of the First Baptist Church in San Benito, Texas.

Noe was an insurance agent for Western & Southern Life Insurance and retired as Assistant District Manager after 25 years. He later went on to work at Universal Supply on Getty Street and drove the "Yellow Banana" for his good friend and owner of Universal Supply, Adolfo Ramirez. In 1990, driving back from Del Rio after a delivery, Noe came upon an overturned pickup and an injured man lying by the side of the highway. The man was doused in chemicals he was carrying. Without hesitation, Noe drove him to a nearby ranch and washed the chemicals off him until EMS arrived; possibly saving him from more severe burns.

After retirement, he enjoyed years of travel excursions with his wife and family including cruises to Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Matzlacan, Cozumel, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, and traveling to Alaska last year to visit his grandson and wife stationed at Fort Wainwright.

Noe was an active member of Tomas Valle Post 479 and served as Commander and Adjutant at various times in his over fifty years of involvement with the organization. One of his favorite places was Honolulu, Hawaii where he and his wife traveled for an American Legion National Convention. A true patriot, he was deeply moved by the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Noe and Teresa traveled with their daughter to Washington, D.C. and he was once again impassioned with visits to the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials and Arlington National Cemetery.

Noe leaves behind his inspiration and wife, Teresa Saldaña; daughter, Yolanda (Saldaña) Woods, of San Antonio; son, Noe Saldaña Jr., and wife, Lydia, of San Antonio; grandchildren, Vanessa Saldaña, of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Noe Justin Saldaña, and wife McKenzie, of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He is also survived by his sister, Ida Castillo Lopez and her husband, Andres, of Eagle Pass, Texas; his brother-in-law Johnny Vasquez and his wife, Linda, of Corpus Christi, Texas; and daughter-in-law Melissa Saldaña of Lewisville, Texas. Noe is also survived by his sister-in-law, Anita Vasquez of San Benito, Texas, and Socorro Saldaña of Brownsville, Texas, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, David Saldaña; his son-in-law, Gordon Alan Woods of San Antonio; his brother, Adan Alcocer Saldaña and sister Eva Saldaña Garza and brother-in-law Jose Vasquez.

Noe was loved by many and several people knew him as "Padrino" and "Grandpa." He leaves behind cherished friends Adolfo and Imelda Ramirez and their children Marissa "Missy" Ramirez and Al Ramirez; and Harrison (Butch) Lonidier of Castroville. Noe also leaves behind several "compadres" whose friendships he treasured such as Ernesto and Gloria Gomez, Del Rio; Rodrigo and Tere Martinez, Uvalde; Remijio and Blanca Velasquez, Uvalde; Gilbert and Mary Riojas; Joe and Veronica Villarreal; Juan and Elva Lopez, La Pryor; and Tomas Gonzalez, El Paso.

Noe enjoyed building birdhouses and watching birds and squirrels playing in his backyard. He would break out in song at any family celebration that involved mariachis and was known for singing his favorite songs, "El Rey"; and Frank Sinatra's, "My Way." Noe's final message to his loved ones was "Life is good. Keep singing and smiling daily and have no enemies".

The family would like to acknowledge and thank past and current members of the American Legion Tomas Valle Post 479 and Unit 479 Ladies Auxiliary of Uvalde, Texas, and Everardo (Lalo) Zamora, Veteran's Service Officer for Uvalde County. Special thanks to Dr. Dorothy Ann Rosson of the Kerrville VA Medical Center.

Visitation for Noe A. Saldaña will be Monday, January 18, 2021, starting at 12:00 pm at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary, 220 S. Getty St., Uvalde, TX 78801. A rosary will follow at 7:00 pm at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary. The Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 408 Ft. Clark Rd., Uvalde, TX.

A Rite of Committal and Interment with Military Honors will be held following the Funeral Mass at Hillcrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the American Legion Post 479 or the Unit 479 Auxiliary, 583 W. Main, Uvalde, Tx 78801. A celebration of Noe’s life will be announced once COVID-19 restrictions have passed.

Pallbearers will be Adolfo Ramirez, Al Ramirez, Noe Justin Saldaña, Harrison (Butch) Lonidier, Everardo (Lalo) Zamora, and Joe Saucedo.