Lionel C. Mendez

Lionel  C. Mendez, age 88, of Sweetwater, Texas, passed away on Friday, May 7, 2021 at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital.

A Prayer Vigil will be held 6:30 P.M, Sunday, May 9, 2021 at Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel , followed by a rosary at 7:00 P.M.  with Deacon David Mendez officiating.

Holy Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 A.M., Monday, May 10, 2021 at Holy Spirit Catholic Parish with Father Nilo Nalugon officiating.  Burial will follow at Sweetwater Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Lionel was born November 12,1932 in Alice Texas, to his parents Thomas and Maria Mendez.

At the age of 19,  Lionel was drafted during the Korean War where he served as a solider in the United States Army Military Police Corps. He served our Country from 1951 to 1953 and was a proud veteran.
On October 6th 1957, Lionel married Andrea Martin in Bloomington,Texas and in 1965 Mr and Mrs. Mendez had moved their family to Sweetwater Tx, where their family continues to grow.

In 1969,  Mr. Mendez started working for  Sweetwater’s USG  where he retired in 1994 after being employed with the company for 25 years.
A hard working, and active man, after retirement Mr. Mendez continued to  work as an employee for the City of Sweetwater from 1996 until March of 2020 for a total of 24 years with the city.

A strong Pillar in the community, Lionel lead by example and had many important roles in many organizations over the years. He was President and Coach of the Junior and Senior league baseball Organization, and was involved in the Texas Education Advancement for Mexican Americans in the 60s. He was a Member of Knights of Columbus, and Commander of Sweetwater’s VFW Post #2479.
Anyone who knew him, knew he was a talented musician who loved to play his accordion.
He was the proudest Sweetwater Mustang Dad, Grandpa, and great Grandpa and loved his Dallas Cowboys. But his Greatest Love was his Wife and Family.
To many he was Lionel or Mr. Mendez, but to his family he was Popo.  Popo was a proud father of 7, Grandfather of 20, great grandfather of 37, and great great grandfather of 2. To know this man was to love him.
Mr. Mendez is survived by his wife Andrea Mendez, one brother, Richard Mendez and wife Francis, two sons,  Lonnie Mendez and wife Rebecca, and David Mendez and wife Ellie, four daughters, Mary Mendez, Dahlia Mendez, Theresa Mendez, and Cassandra Mendez. He leaves behind twenty grandchildren, thirty seven great grand children, two great great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his daughter Tiffany Mendez, and his parents, Thomas and Maria Mendez, four brothers, Rudy, Ray, Frank, and Cipriano, and four sisters, Lily, Maggie, Soila, and Ramona.

Pallbearers will be  Oliver Solis, Aarron DeHoyas, Bryan Mendez,  Payton Amonett, Branson Guelker, and Daniel Rodriguez.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Dominic Solis, Randy DeHoyas, Landon Hartkopf, Eric Thomas Martinez, Nicholas Gonzales, Cameron Solis and Colbey Solis.