Milton James Lopez, Sr., of Beaumont, died Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth in Beaumont.
Born March 19, 1930, in Beaumont to Abbie Kuhn Lopez and Alphe Lopez, Sr., Milton moved to Crystal Beach in 1974 and had resided in Beaumont for the last two years. As a young man he was a sales manager for Falstaff Beer Distributing with seventeen years of service before retiring from Schuman Auto Supply of Houston.
In 1948 Milton graduated from St. Anthony High School and married Ann Broussard, his high school sweetheart. Together they reared 4 children and remained very much in love until her death in 1979.
Milton excelled in athletics. His high school accomplishments included varsity baseball, basketball and football. For many years he was part of a golf foursome that played every Saturday morning. Until his death he remained close to his sports friends and former teammates. He had an abiding love for the Dallas Cowboys and attended a game in Texas Stadium during its last season.
Always an avid fisherman, Milton loved to crab, fish and shrimp along Galveston’s east bay. After retiring and before Hurricane Ike he could be seen most any day on his riding mower taking care of his neighbors’ lawns.
Survivors include his daughters, Cindy Giglio and her husband Dr. Sam Giglio of Beaumont and Peggy Knoblock of Kemah; sons James Lopez of Beaumont and Milton Lopez, Jr. of Galveston; grandchildren Damian Giglio and his wife Nicole, Delia Giglio Gates, Eleanor Giglio, Netty Giglio, Katrina Gonzales and Ashley Segura; great grandchildren Erin Gonzales and Jenna Gonzales; sisters Bertha Rice and Dorothy Cranford; godchild Susan Free and many nieces and nephews who loved their “Uncle Milton”.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; infant son, Stephen James Lopez; brothers, Alphe Lopez, Jr. and Johnny Lopez; and stepmother, Thelma Lutenbacher.
A Christian Vigil will be conducted by Deacon Davis at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 20, 2010, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10.00 a.m. Monday, June 21, 2010, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 4445 Avenue A, Beaumont, with Reverend Stephen McCrate officiating. Entombment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Broussard’s Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Dominican Sisters, St. Dominic Villa, 6501 Almeda Road, Houston, TX 77021-2095.
The Lopez and Giglio families would like to express their profound gratitude to the priests, nurses and staff of the CVICU at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth for the loving care provided to their father and grandfather.
