Our loving father and grandfather peacefully passed away at the age of 96.  He was born to Felix and Maria Ortiz on August 24, in San Antonio, TX, third of eight children.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Anita M. Ortiz.

Pedro ("Pete") is survived by his two sisters Elvira Cortez, Delfina Alvarado and brother Felix Jr., three daughters and their husbands, Thelma Inez Muraida (Daniel), Esther Ortiz (Jeff Hislop), and Patty Ortiz (Dwight Hobart), seven grandchildren, Graciela M. Del Toro (Rafael), Laura C. Muraida, Daniel A. Muraida, Matthew P. Hislop, Zachery J. Hislop, Maya E. Shugart (Craig Goldschmidt), Peter R. Shugart, and four great-grandchildren Diego Del Toro, Elias Del Toro, Avia Del Toro and Xochi Goldschmidt.

Pedro learned the value and dignity of hard work early in life during the years his family worked as migrants, harvesting crops in Michigan. Those hard-won lessons served him well during WWII, as he endured the hardships of a foot soldier in Europe with steadfast dedication to duty.

The poverty of migrant life and the hardships of WWII gave way to the joy of meeting and marrying Anita Mercado in 1948. Together they began a family that would result in three beautiful daughters as "Pete" worked with his characteristic dedication and a blossoming creativity to build, not just their house, but a home that would be the center of their lives.

Pete was always busy, creating and building improvements to their home, even as he worked two jobs to make certain that his family was well cared for. And his artistic touch found further expression in the countless pieces of folk art he created, many of which have found their place in the homes of his family.

For a number of years Pete worked for a large bottling company, where his work ethic, and his engrained sense of fairness and justice made him a spokesman for his fellow workers. And speak up he did, whenever he saw injustices, regardless of the consequences. He went on to make a career in aircraft maintenance at Kelly AFB, working in the giant hangar, known as "building 375". True to form, Pete set the example, being the first on the job, not leaving until the work was completed, correctly. His efforts were rewarded on several occasions with performance awards and certificates of merit.

For all the hard work that comprised his life, Pete chose to spend his leisure time in simple fashion, at home with his daughters, their husbands and the grandchildren, fishing on the Corpus Christi coast, and going on long camping trips to major national parks and monuments with Anita.

No matter where he and Anita travelled across the country, the road always led back to the center of their lives, family and the home they built together in 1948.

He lives on in our own lives with Anita, as they travel the roads of heaven together.

The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to Carmen White and Alamo Hospice especially Ruby Ruiz RN, Martin Gomez CNA and Richard Sanchez for their great care and support.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m.
followed by a celebration of life at
The Angelus Funeral Home
1119 N. St. Mary's St.

Monday, January 29, 2018

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at
9:00 a.m. at the
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower
1715 N. Zarzamora
*No procession to the Basilica, everyone will meet there
anytime after 8:30 a.m. Monday morning.

Burial will follow at
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
with military honors