Dates
Korean War Survivor, beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great and Great-Great Grandfather passed peacefully into the loving arms of His Savior on June 19,2024, in San Angelo Texas. Born on January 25,1931, Paul (Pablo) was the son of Reyes and Juanita Montelongo. Drafted into the United States Army at a young age, he was recruited for training at Camp Roberts in California, He went on to serve his country in the Korean War A rare and unique glimpse of his "New Testament" story and legacy has been recorded and stored in the "VOICES OF VETERANS" program in Austin, Texas and archived in the Veterans Museum, as a tribute to his military service.
His lifelong passion was sharing the miracle of his "near death" experience when the small New Testament, in his left pocket, blocked shrapnel from striking his heart. He knew the love of his life, Eunice, was waiting for him back home and made the return back to Texas safely, and soon after his return, they were married on June 7,1953 in San Angelo. The following year in April, their son, Paul Montelongo Jr. (Dora) was born, and several years later they were blessed with a daughter, Carmen Reyes (Luis))of Artesia, New Mexico. Paul and Eunice celebrated 70 years of marriage before her passing last year, In those wonderful years they lived a Christ-centered life, full of adventure, with so much love and enthusiasm. Paul had a special gift of guitar playing, at church, in a Christian band, at retirement homes, reunions, with family, most especially with Uncle Nacho and sons. He was a skilled Leather Crafter at ML Leddy's and Donaho Saddles for many years making saddles,chaps,boots, wallets,notebooks and many other tangible items that we will cherish all the days of our lives. His days were well spent along the Concho River, he's now fishing the ponds in Heaven where hopefully the fish are bigger and plentiful.
• Survivors include his grandchildren Paul D.Montelongo, Victoria Lopez, Veronica Reyes, Debbie Kinnibrugh, and Luis Reyes. Great-grandchildren are Haley(Josh) Kylie,Jesalyn, Lauren, Madelyn, Mia(Rafael) Justin, Anna, Olivia Brooke,Braylen, Liam, Spencer, Kambryn and one Great-Great-Grandson Giovani Diaz Also surviving are two sisters, Delia Fernandez and Consuelo Lozano
Paul was preceded in death by his loving wife, Eunice, his sisters Faye, Rebecca, Gloria and also by four brothers, Felipe, Moses, Antonio,and Bobby.
Serving as Pallbearers are Paul Daniel Montelongo, Josh Diaz, Joel Fernandez, Luis Reyes, Cole Kinnibrugh, Braylon Kinnibrugh, Honorary Pallbearers are Giovani Diaz, Tom Guthrie, Danny Hernandez,Justin Rodriguez, Liam Reyes,and Rafael Cruz.
The family would like to thank HOSA and Shannon Medical Center for their excellent and compassionate care of our Beloved Veteran. A celebration of his long faith-filled life is being arranged by Johnson's Funeral Home with visitation on Sunday, June 23, 2024 from 5pm until 7 pm and funeral service on Monday, June 24, 2024 at 2 pm in Johnson's Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Johnson's Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.