Genaro Zamora

Donna - Genaro Zamora, 92, passed away on Sunday, August 12th, 2018. He was born on November 18, 1925, to Andres and Celestina (Martinez) Zamora in Penitas, Texas. He had two older sisters, Andrea and Estefana "Fana", and one younger sister, Rebecca. Genaro graduated from La Joya High School in 1944, and enlisted in the U.S. Army serving in the Philippines in the Pacific theater until the end of the war. He was one of the first troops in the occupation of Japan. He later joined the Texas National Guard serving for over 30 years. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was one of many Valley Guardsmen sent to Louisiana for training exercises in case of escalation of the conflict. During the training, in December of '61 the Donna Redskins played for the 2A State football championship. He and a fellow guardsman chartered a bus from Louisiana to Austin Tx, so that all the valley guardsmen who were training, could attend the game. He continued to serve in the National Guard until his retirement. Genaro worked for Groce Wearden in Donna and while working his route, he met his future wife, "Mela" Rodriguez who worked for one of his clients. They were married in 1958 and spent the rest of their lives in Donna, Texas, raising two sons, Genaro Jr. and Roel. Genaro and Mela embraced Donna and all it had to offer. Genaro, in his later years participated in every parade he was invited to attend. He served on the first Parish Council at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, where he attended Mass weekly. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as President of the Donna VFW, to name a few. Genaro was proud of our country and his military service. He was always in his WWII cap and was never in public without it. He was a proud supporter of the Donna Redskins, and attended every game, rain or shine. One of his proudest moments was being chosen as one of the Valley WWII veterans to go on the first RGV Honor Flight in October of 2014. Honor Flight was founded in 2004 in tribute to our veterans who are flown to Washington DC to visit the WWII memorial at no cost to the veteran. One of his lowest moments, was the death of his son, Genaro Jr. to a tragic boating accident in 1982. Throughout life's trials and tribulations, Genaro stayed strong and faithful to God. Genaro is preceded in death by his parents, Andres and Celestina Zamora, his son, Genaro Zamora Jr., his loving wife of 50 years Mela (Rodriguez) Zamora, sisters, Andrea Bueno, Estefana Garza, and Rebecca Ramirez. He is survived by his son Roel Zamora of Donna, numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 15th, from 2 to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at McCaleb funeral home in Weslaco, Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, August 16th, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Donna, with burial to follow at Donna City Cemetery.