Jose Angel Campos

Mercedes- Jose Angel Campos passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 27, 2022 at 89 years old.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Estela Jilpas Campos; his children, Joseph (Kristin) Campos, Agatha "Katie" Campos, Ariana Campos, and Juan Carlos (Jamie Diaz) Campos; his seven grandchildren, Jenna Campos, Gillian Gryz, Joey (Melanie) Campos, Jocelyn Gryz, Gabriella (Chris) Gryz Ziomek, Joshua Campos, and Dominic Mason Campos; his two great-grandchildren, Quinn and Paxton Crotty; his sister, Virginia Perez; his former wife, Lisa Campos; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia Campos; his brother, Eliseo "Chello" Davila; and his sister, Josefa "Chepa" Martinez.

Affectionately known as Mr. Campos, he was born on July 25, 1933 in Brownsville, Texas just a few months before a hurricane hit the area. His mother, Virginia, sought refuge at St. Thomas Church for him and his siblings and as a newborn, he was passed through the church's window for shelter. He shared stories of his childhood to anyone who would listen about goofing off with his siblings and sneaking into the Charro Days Carnival as well as scary stories about the cemetery that stood quietly across the quaint home they shared that still stands to this day.

At the age of 16, Mr. Campos joined the Army and was quickly sent to basic training. Despite his family's objections, he stayed in the military and found himself serving in the Korean War and assigned to communications, where he connected camps to each other by phone. He served in the Army until 1952. He was proud of his time in the military and his service to our country.

Mr. Campos' career post-Army began when he followed his brother, Chello, and relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where he lived for many years. His experience in the military led him to a career with AT&T there, and he became a life-long fan of all teams Chicago, including the Bears, White Sox, and Bulls. He later returned to the Rio Grande Valley and started his own restaurant in Harlingen and eventually accepted a job as an assistant manager with Bonanza working at their Brownsville, Harlingen, Weslaco, and McAllen locations until his retirement in 1995. His retirement did not last long, however, because he would eventually accept a position with Wal-Mart as their greeter where he worked for over 10 years. He may have appreciated this role the most because it gave him the opportunity to greet all kinds of people with his infectious smile.

The job Mr. Campos loved the most was being a caregiver to his family. He was a staunch advocate for encouraging his loved ones to pursue their education and gain their independence through any career or trade of their choice. He enjoyed traveling, taking car rides, visiting his kids, and celebrating all their accomplishments alongside them. He especially adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and saved every photo he received.

In his memory, we respectfully request you share a smile with a stranger, spend quality time with those you love, and serve your community in some capacity this holiday season. His family would like to express their sincerest appreciation to Gracia Hospice and Weslaco Nursing and Rehabilitation for their service and commitment to his care.

Visitation for Mr. Jose Angel Campos is scheduled for Sunday, December 4, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm with a Holy Rosary at 7:00 pm at Salinas Funeral Home- Chapel of the Heavens in Weslaco. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Mercedes, Texas. Interment will follow at Rio Grande Valley Veterans Cemetery in Mission, Texas.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Salinas Funeral Home of Weslaco.