Meliton (Mel) Duarte Sanchez was born in San Antonio, Texas on the 23 ^rd of July 1936 to Pedro Ortega Sanchez and Angela Duarte Sanchez.  He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years Irma Mendoza Sanchez; his sons, William and Henry Sanchez; 3 granddaughters, Victoria Marie Sanchez, Marilyn Beth Hanner, Marycarmen Louisa Sanchez; also Jonathan Garcia whom he considered a grandson.  He was one of 12 children, only 3 are still living:  Teresa Widish, Angela Hoefl, and Sebastian Sanchez.

Meliton was very proud of his Westside roots.  He was educated by the Jesuits and the Sisters of the Incarnate Word at Our Lady of Guadalupe grade school.  Meliton attended Central Catholic High School where he was a proud member of the Glee Club and graduated with the class of 1957.  He attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated from St. Mary's University.  Additionally, he was in a graduate program on Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma.  He met his future wife Irma when he was studying at St. Mary's University.  They were married on August 16, 1974.

Meliton was honorably discharged after serving a total of 5 years in the United Stated Army.  As a civilian, he worked 5 years for the United Stated Atomic Energy Commission at Medina Air Force Base.  He then transferred to Kelly Air Force Base where he with others designed and modified the B52 bomber for carpet bombing during the Vietnam War.  He was awarded many commendations from the Air Force.  Also, while at Kelly, he helped found the LULAC Chapter 641 and GEORHE (Government Employees Organized for the Recognition of Higher Education).  Hispanic college graduates, both male and female were under-represented in all of the Federal Agencies.  GEORHE worked very closely with Senator John Tower to secure federal employment for these graduates.

Meliton continued his civil service career at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which he came to consider his second home.  He worked under HUD Secretary Jack Kemp in Washington D.C.  During his tenure there, he continued to be very active in identifying well-qualified but under-utilized Hispanics and successfully recruiting them for HUD and other federal agencies.  After 32 years as a civil servant, he retired.  During his retirement, he served on the Bexar Appraisal Review Board for 6 years.

His favorite pastime was listening to music from the 50's and 60's.  He was an avid fan of Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, and Fats Domino.  Meliton and Irma's song was 'Before The Next Teardrop Falls' by Freddy Fender.  John Wayne and Clint Eastwood were two of his favorite actors.  Meliton enjoyed watching old Westerns and World War II movies.  He and Irma's favorite film was The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

Having spent some time in Germany during his military career, Meliton learned to speak German.  After his retirement, he and Irma took several trips to Germany and other parts of Europe, including Rome, Paris, Vienna, Lisbon, Budapest, Prague, and Slovakia.  To his delight, Marilyn and Marycarmen accompanied them on several trips.  Among his favorite experiences was an audience with Pope Benedict at the Vatican and a family reunion in Munich.

He valued and encouraged education and travel.  Meliton always looked forward to St. Anthony de Padua's First Friday Prayer Breakfasts and to the Taco Breakfast after Sunday Mass.

We loved him and will always deeply miss him.  May he rest in the arms of our Lord.

A Rosary will be recited on Friday, August 20, at 11:00am with a Memorial Mass to follow at 11:30am at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church.  Graveside services will follow at 2:00 P.M. at San Fernando Archdiocesan Cemetery # 2.