Reynaldo "Rey" Saldaña, Sr.

Reynaldo R. “Rey” Saldaña, Sr., 78, peacefully passed from this life on August 15, 2022. He was born January 28, 1944 in San Benito, Texas to the late Raúl P. and Beatriz R. Saldaña.

Rey was a proud graduate of San Benito High School, Class of 1962. He was an outstanding high school athlete and was a member of the Greyhounds’ 1961 district basketball championship team and 1961 Greyhounds’ semi-finalist football team. After graduating high school, he attended Texas Southmost College.

He retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company after thirty years of faithful service. In his leisure time, Rey loved to work on his yard, keeping it immaculately groomed. He enjoyed music and loved to dance. He and Mary Lou always enjoyed their getaways to casinos. He was a life-long sports fan and enjoyed his hometown Greyhounds, the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Cowboys, and the University of Texas Longhorns.

Rey is preceded in death by his parents, Raúl P. and Beatriz R. Saldaña; sister, Minerva Rosales; brother, Ruben Saldaña; and brother-in-law, Ramiro Partida, Sr.

Left to treasure Rey’s memory is his high school sweetheart and loving wife of over fifty-six years, María Lucia “Mary Lou” Villarreal Saldaña; children, Ray (Martha) Saldaña, Jr., Laura (Adrian) Soliz, and Lurae (Richard) Caldwell; ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Raul (Tina) Saldaña, Robert (Diana) Saldaña, Hilda Partida, Yolanda (Paul) Hernandez, Norma Saldaña, Richard (Linda) Saldaña; brother-in-law, Willie Rosales, Sr.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Saldaña family expresses their most heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Ronnie Martinez and Ray of Light and the wonderful caregivers that took such good care of our dad during his last couple of months, especially to Lili Sanchez and the wonderful staff at Greater Valley Hospice.

The family will receive relatives and friends Friday, August 19, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin Friday at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. The funeral procession will depart at 12:30 p.m. to St. Benedict Catholic Church for the celebration of a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. Following the Mass, Rey will be laid to rest at Mont Meta Chapel of Peace Mausoleum.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are John Rosales, Raul Saldaña Jr., Randy Partida, Rene Farías, Orlando López, and Dr. Joseph Ray Villarreal. Honorary pallbearers are Willie Rosales Jr, Ramiro Partida Jr., Nathan Villarreal, Jim Helms, Johnny Casas, Uvence Galvan, Joe Fonseca, Virgil Garcia, Robert Cortez, Margarito Claudio, and the members of the Greyhounds’ 1961 semi-finalist football team.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW A LIVESTREAM OF THE RECITATION OF THE HOLY ROSARY