Pedro (Pete) Ortiz, Jr., 85, of Port Arthur passed away on Monday, December 14, 2015 at Cypress Glen Nursing Home in Port Arthur.
He was born on June 7, 1930 to Olivia Ramirez Ortiz and Pedro Ortiz, Sr. in Brownsville, Texas. Pete has been a resident of Port Arthur/Groves for 43 years. He retired from Gulf Oil (Chevron). Pete served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War, where he received a Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and One Bronze Star and One Silver Star, United Nations Service Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award. He was affiliated with Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and was a longtime member of Knights of Columbus, including the 4th Degree of Knights of Columbus.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife and mother of their children, Angelita V. Ortiz and their daughter, Linda Sala.
He is survived by his loving wife, Fatima Ortiz of Port Arthur, his daughters, Norma Bryan and husband, Bob of Port Arthur, Judy Swanzy and husband, Linn of Aledo, Texas, Angela Ward of Groves, her son-in-law, Vincent Sala of Spring, Texas along with 8 grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchidren.
He is also survived by his sisters, Ava Morales and Gloria Guevara both of Brownsville, Texas, Ophelia Vasquez of Pasadena, Texas and Yolanda Garza of McAllen, Texas, his brother, Gilbert Ortiz of Edinburg, Texas.
Visitation will be on Thursday, December 16, 2015 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with a rosary to be prayed at 6:00 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Friday, December 17, 2015 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Groves. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.