Obituary for Roberto Ignacio Campos Harlingen – Roberto Ignacio Campos died on Monday, June 11, 2018 at the age of 92 in Harlingen, Texas. During his long life, Campos served his country, community, and family with honor and distinction. Campos was born February 1, 1926 in Harlingen, the third child of Ventura and Antonio J. Campos.
Campos attended Harlingen public schools up until the time he put away his school books and baseball glove to join the U.S. Navy in 1942 at age 16. Campos fibbed about his age in order to serve his country. He attended landing craft school in San Diego, California and was assigned to the USS Kilty, a retrofitted World War I Wickes-class destroyer.
Campos served as a gunner on a Higgins boat landing craft, making 30 landings in the Philippines and South Pacific, often times under fierce enemy fire. The USS Kilty earned 10 battle stars during World War II, and Campos earned a number of decorations, including two Bronze Stars awarded by the government of the Philippines. In 1951, Campos joined the Harlingen Fire Department, becoming the city’s first Hispanic professional firefighter.
He served the citizens of Harlingen and surrounding areas for 36 years, retiring at the rank of Assistant Chief in 1987. Campos married Gaudencia Hernandez in 1953. They would have celebrated 65 years of marriage in November.
Roberto was a humble man who rarely spoke of the horrors of war that he witnessed during World War II but military service and a strong upbringing gave him the foundation to lead a life of service, honor, and dignity. As a young father, Campos volunteered to umpire Little League baseball games. Baseball was one of his great loves.
Decades after WWII, he lamented that he had not brought his glove aboard the Kilty as had many of his WWII shipmates. Found in his childhood possession was a first place certificate for an Interscholastic league baseball tournament between Harlingen and San Benito in 1938. Campos enjoyed many years as an active member of VFW Post 2410 and American Legion Post 205.
As a charter member of the Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Underage Service, he attended numerous reunions all over the country. When he would take to the road, he would often make plans to stop and visit with his former shipmates. Because Campos never completed high school, this past February, the Trustees of the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District presented him with an honorary high school diploma at a special school board meeting.
Above all else, Campos was a proud father of four and grandfather of five, inspiring his family and leading by example with a life dedicated to hard work, honesty, and community service. Campos is survived by his wife, Gaudencia, and his four children: Gloria Campos Brown (husband Lance Brown), Deborah Bowen (husband Richard A. Bowen, LtCol USMC RET), Roberto I. Campos, Jr. (wife Norma Silva), and Clarissa Campos; five grandchildren: Roberto Campos III, Enrique Joel Silva, Gregory and Anthony Brown, and Lola Lopez; brothers Pablo Campos and Reynaldo “Tony” Campos; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. The Campos family would like to thank the doctors and staff of the VA Administration, Retama Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Gracia Hospice for their kind and gentle treatment of their father and grandfather during his last days.
Visitation will be at the Rudy Garza Funeral Home, Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and a rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 15, 2018, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Harlingen, followed by burial under the auspices of the American Legion Post #205 at 1:00 p.m. at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery, 2520 Inspiration Road, Mission, Texas 78572. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be the Fire Dept. Honor Guard; Robert Jones, Mike Vega, Sergio Lopez, Derek Halvorson, Eric Infante and Virgil Garcia.
In lieu of flowers, the Campos family suggests a donation to the VFW or American Legion. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. – Martin Luther King, Jr. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Roberto Ignacio Campos please visit our Sympathy Store.
Today’s Events Visitation 2018 JUN 14. 12:00 PM – 09:00 PM Rudy Garza Funeral Home – Harlingen 1702 E. Harrison Avenue Harlingen, TX, US, 78550 rgfhtx@aol.com www. rudygarzafunerals.com Rosary 2018 JUN 14.
07:00 PM Rudy Garza Funeral Home – Harlingen 1702 E. Harrison Avenue Harlingen, TX, US, 78550 rgfhtx@aol.com www. rudygarzafunerals.com Order Flowers for the Rosary Guaranteed delivery before Roberto’s Rosary begins. Upcoming Events Funeral 2018 JUN 15.
11:00 AM St Anthony Catholic Church 1102 E Van Buren Ave Harlingen, TX, US, 78550-7176 Order Flowers for the Funeral Guaranteed delivery before Roberto’s Funeral begins.
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