Antonio Chavez

After several months of declining health, Antonio Chavez of Robinson Texas passed Saturday, July 9, 2022 at the age of 94. Tony died peacefully with his beloved wife, Maria, and their three sons by his side.

Visitation: 5 – 8PM Thursday, July 14, 2022 at Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral Mass: 10AM Friday, July 15, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial to follow at Waco Memorial Park.

Tony was born Jan 17, 1928 in San Salvador, El Salvador to father Santana Cervellón Velásquez and mother Candelaria Asunción Chavez. His parents separated when he was just seven years old. He was the youngest of the three children with two older sisters Celia and Amanda. After the separation, his mother took him and his two sisters with her to the town of La Estancia where they stayed at her brother’s house in the countryside. His mother died in 1943 when Tony was fifteen years old.

After his mother died, Tony traveled north where he found work in Guatemala and México before arriving to the United States. He worked a variety of jobs to sustain himself as he traveled. He worked as a dishwasher and waiter at many restaurants and hotels. He even delivered newspapers for a while. When he initially arrived to the United States, he lived in San Francisco, California. He eventually made his way to Chicago, IL where he worked for Vail Manufacturing Company. There he ran the machinery that made office supplies. In 1955, he entered into the US Army as a private and served two years in Korea. He was honorably discharged and returned to Chicago finding employment again with Vail Manufacturing Company.

In 1960 he met his wife Maria in Chicago, IL and they married in December 1961. Soon after he married, he left Vail Manufacturing Company for better employment at General Motors (GM) at the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) plant located in Chicago, IL. There he worked as a crane hooker moving locomotive components from one production line to the next. He was employed for 24 years with GM EMD and retired in 1990. In addition to working at GM all those years, he worked a second job running a landscaping business that his son’s helped him with during their summer vacations.

Tony was the family patriarch, who helped family members in need and assisted them in establishing a new life and residency here in the United States. He was a devout Catholic and enjoyed giving to the church. He donated a bell tower and a portrait of “Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception” from the basílica in Puebla México to two churches that were constructed in his hometown La Estancia. Tony was an avid fisherman, who enjoyed fishing with his sons Steven and Edward. He enjoyed traveling and visiting family in his home country. He took pleasure constructing the landscaping around his home and attending to his garden during his spare time.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents, his two sisters, Celia and Amanda, and his son Vincent.

He is survived by his wife Maria of Robinson, TX; sons, Anthony of Aurora, CO, Steven of Robinson, TX, Edward of Schererville, IN; daughter, Mary of Daytona Beach, FL; grandchildren, Allison of Schererville, IN, Grace and Christopher of Aurora, CO; daughter-in-laws, Alicia of Aurora, CO, Patricia of Schererville, IN and beloved best friend Snoopy.

Tony’s legacy is one of helping charities and of being a beloved family member and friend. Anyone wishing to honor his legacy can donate to their local hospice organization. May Tony rest in peace and his giving spirit live on in all of us.

Place of Service: Sacred Heart Catholic Church , 2621 Bagby; Waco, TX 76711