Obituary of Alfonso S. Vela Jr.

Alfonso “Ponchin” Vela Jr., 71, of Port Isabel, Texas, passed away on Monday, August 13, 2018 at his home in Port Isabel.

Ponchin was a lifetime resident of Port Isabel and a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. He was a shrimper in the shrimping industry most of his life and he will be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife Maria Elvia Vela; parents, Alfonso and Manuela Salinas Vela; maternal grandparents, Melchor and Elvira Salinas; paternal grandparents, Guadalupe and Simona Vela; 3 brothers: Jose Maria Vela, Martin Vela, and Rafael Vela Sr.; and 2 sisters: Mary Ann Vela and Mary Ida Vela.

Alfonso is survived by his loving son, Tomas (Debra) Vela; his loving brothers and sisters: Manuel (Graciela) Vela, Frances Vela, Diana Vela, Guadalupe (Elizabeth) Vela, Margarita (Ramon) Ramirez, Enrique Vela, Delfina Vela, Nilda Vela, Mary (+Jerry) Cruz, Melchor (Christina) Vela; as well as several aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2018 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito, Texas and will continue from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a rosary at 7:00 p.m., at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 705 S. Longoria St., Port Isabel, Texas.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 2018, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Port Isabel, Texas. Interment will follow at Port Isabel City Cemetery.

Honored to be serving as pallbearers: Guadalupe Vela Jr., Joe Maria Vela, Leo Espinosa Jr., Lee Ray Espinosa, Juan Ramirez, Edmundo Ramirez Jr., Christopher Vela, Melchor Vela Jr., and Jose Hernandez Jr.

You may sign the online guestbook, light a remembrance candle, or send words of comfort to the family of Alfonso “Ponchin” Vela Jr. at: www.thomaegarza.com.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors and Crematorium, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.