Dates
Raul Francisco Lopez, Jr. peacefully passed into heaven with family at his side on August 2, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Carmen and Raul Lopez, Sr. welcomed their son Raul into the world on January 24, 1948, in McAllen, Texas. At an early age, they could see their son was smart, disciplined, and kind. Kindergarten in the Rio Grande Valley at that time was a privilege, and young Raul rode the city bus by himself to and from school each day. Only once did he miss his stop, but the five year old kept his composure and stayed on the bus until it completed its daily route, where he was greeted by his anxious and relieved parents. Raul has always been the calm during a storm.
Raul was a person of drive and focus and was a high-achieving student at McAllen High School where he earned top grades and played multiple sports. He excelled at football, playing linebacker for the Bulldogs and was named to the Rio Grande Valley’s All-Decade Team. He graduated from high school in 1966, where he made many lifelong friends, but most importantly it was where he met Deborah Sue (Debbie) Bloomfield, beginning a 60-year love story.
After high school, Raul was recruited to play football for the University of Texas at El Paso. After two winning seasons and a victory at the Sun Bowl, an injury forced him to reconsider his football career. He decided to return to McAllen, and most importantly, back to Debbie. She came home to the Valley after two semesters at Baylor University and together they enrolled at Pan American University, where Raul was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He graduated in 1970 and made the decision to follow in his father’s footsteps and serve his country in the armed forces; however, he could not leave for Officer Training School without asking Debbie to marry him. Raul and Debbie were married on April 3, 1971, at First Baptist Church in McAllen.
Raul completed a highly decorated 20-year career as an officer in the Air Force, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His service led them to Indiana, where they had their son Derek. They then moved to Merced, California, where their daughter Marissa was born. Raul was a navigator in KC-135 aircraft, taking him all over the world including Greenland, Alaska, Thailand, England, Spain and his favorite destination, Portugal.
Raul’s last assignment was Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, where he served as Deputy Base Commander. Debbie and Raul loved San Angelo so much that they decided to stay and raise their family in the friendly West Texas city. Raul retired from the Air Force in 1993, and decided to continue contributing his professional skills and passion for helping others by working with San Angelo Central High School to create and develop its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Over the next two decades, Raul, with the help of an excellent and committed staff of other Air Force veterans, provided thousands of students with encouragement and the skills necessary to make themselves the best that they could be.
Raul loved classic rock, driving his 1988 Porsche 911 to San Antonio for repairs, playing “old man golf” and spending summers in Hawaii with his beloved Debbie. Above all of his hobbies and interests, faith was always first for Raul. A follower of Christ, his faith showed in every aspect of his life. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, sisters, in-laws, and all of his friends. Raul thoroughly enjoyed watching his children and his grandchildren compete in all sports, and wouldn’t miss a game or meet if he could help it.
Raul is survived by his devoted wife Debbie; son Derek Lopez and his wife Kim; daughter Marissa Giesecke and her husband Wes; sisters Carmen (Bobby) and Norma (Rob); grandchildren Wyatt, Samuel, Wesley, Carmen, Whit, and Margot, and eight nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by countless friends, former students, golf buddies, fellow servicemen, and all that knew Raul’s kindness, loyalty, and generosity.
“The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” – Proverbs 20:7
The Visitation will be on Friday, August 9, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Harper Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church. Pallbearers include: Derek Lopez, Wes Geisecke, Wyatt Lopez, Samuel Geisecke, Wesley Lopez, Whit Lopez, Bobby Ramos, Rob Wickham.