Baldomero Gallegos

Baldomero “Balo” Gallegos, 93, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 in Corpus Christi. Balo was born on Feb. 27, 1920 in Jackson County and was a lifelong resident of Vanderbilt and Corpus Christi.

Balo will be remembered for his peacefulness, kindness, generosity, smile, devotion and love to his beloved wife Esther who preceded him to heaven on April 19, 2012, sons Reynaldo, Balo Jr., parents Encarnacion and Refugia Gallegos, brother Alfonso Gutierrez, and sister Alvesa Diaz. 

He is survived by daughter Alicia, Alan E. Gomez, PhD, Fabian, Rudy, Delia, Tillie and their families and his lifelong friend Dolores “Lolo” Velasquez.

Balo served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1945, achieving rank of E-3.  During his 22 months of military service as a Plank Member of the USS AJAX, Balo received the U.S. Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asian Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and Honorable Service Pin.

He attended El Maton/Tidehaven and Industrial ISD public schools where he excelled at tennis. He continued his education at Victoria College where he earned his GED, and Texas A&M University College Station Extension Education Services earning his licensure as a county water district supervisor. He worked for Missouri-Pacific Railroad, Industrial ISD, and Jackson County Water District #2, retiring at 80 years. He was a community volunteer for Little League, Boys Scouts, FFA, Volunteer Fire Dept., and the VFW, serving as Post Commander and other offices and organizations. He was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Vanderbilt.

An evening prayer service was held April 4 at 7 p.m. at M.E. Rodriguez Funeral Home, 511 Guadalupe Street, San Antonio. Visitation was from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. La Misa de Despedida was celebrated on April 5 at Cathedral de San Fernando, La Villita, at 9 a.m., and burial followed at 10:30 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery where he will join his beloved wife Esther. Balo will always be remembered as a man of peace; a man who stood 10’ tall; a man who never met a stranger; and a man who was “the father” many never knew. R.I.P. Peninsular.