Julian Vasquez

Julian Vasquez of Waco, 86, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on July 25, 2024. A rosary will be held on August 2, 2024 at 7:00pm at St. Francis on the Brazos Catholic Church. Deacon Jessie Garza, his brother-in-law, will be officiating.

He was born on June 16, 1938 to Merced Ramirez Vasquez and Dolores Melendez Vasquez. He married Leonor Garcia on July 31, 1960. Out of this union, six children were conceived. Julian was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years; his parents; sons, David and one at birth; daughters, Dolores and Diana; two grandchildren, Emilio and Sylvia; son-in-law, Bonifacio Romo; and 10 brothers and sisters.

As a young boy he was a member of the Boys Club and an altar boy. While in high school he played the trumpet for the jazz band at University High. Julian met Leonor while picking cotton. He said while getting water at the truck he thought she was Chinese and said why was there a China girl picking cotton. Dad loved playing pool, bingo, golfing, fishing, playing dominoes, playing chess, solitaire and hunting with his brother-in-law. He was a very busy man but still made time for his family and keeping them grounded and humble. Yearly he would take us to Mexico where it was primitive on the ranch, it taught us what we had and they had are way different.

He was a former member of the Waco Charter of Texas Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors, Texas Certification Board of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling. Several community organizations including the WISD Bi-Lingual Education Committee, Tri-Ethnic Advisory Committee, City of Waco Charter Commission, St. Francis Stewardship Committee and Cursillistas. He was a CCD teacher at St. Francis for a while and both of our parents were marriage counselors there too. Our parents were both involved in helping build a playground at Barron Springs Elementary. He was also part of Pan American Golf Assoc. (First Hispanic). Julian used to write guest columns for the Waco Tribune Herald. In spite of his own character defects he helped hundreds of men, women, and adolescents recover from chemical dependency. However, his family came first and his next greatest love was God and his church, St. Francis.

Julian is survived by his daughters, Cynthia V. Mendoza (Gilbert G.) and Anita J. Vasquez of Waco; grandchildren, Anna Sanchez, Rosa Sanchez, Edward M. Sanchez (Lauren), Belinda Perez (Robert), Jacob Martinez, Eric Martinez, Robert Alvarado, Sr. (Maria), Virgina Russell (Andrew), Gilbert Alvarado, III. (Belinda), Monica Saucedo (Martin), Julian Alvarado (Emily), Giselle Mendoza, Joanna M. Garcia ( Jesus); bonus granddaughter, Alysia; 39 great-grandchildren and nine bonus great-grandchildren: David Ace, Olivia, Geronimo, Adel, Leonor, Guenevere, Scott, Nathan, Luca, Avalynn, Diago, Isiah, Makayla, Isaac, Kara, Maddox, Raina, Leah, Robert, Zaila, Eric Jr, Xavier, Dylan, Jasmine, Robert Jr, Chris’Angel, Jeremiah, Josh, Juliana, Diamond, Nathaniel, Louis Anthony, Ariel, Kallei, Jaxen, Eric, Joaquin, Destiny, Xaine, Noah, Ophelia, Lexi, Jesse, Edgar, Mariana, Giovanni, Nyasia, and Harmony; two great-great grandchildren, Cruzito Torres and Kamilla Torrez; sisters, Mercy Wilkerson ( Morris), Mary Lou Martinez (Gilbert), and Yolanda Beltran; brother, Mike Vasquez; brother-in-law, Deacon Jessie Garza; aunts, Janie Melendez and Julia Melendez from Waco, and Rosie Garcia from Corpus Christi; uncle, Luciano Melendez Junior (Cruz) from Corpus Christi; the Aguilar family who took in our Dad as family; special friend, Jovita Ramirez and her sons, Daniel, Edwin, and Alex; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces/nephews, cousins, ahijadas, ahijados, comadres, and compadres.

He gave his time, talent and treasure since his return to the church in many forms. Memorial donations may be made to St. Francis Church in lieu of flowers.