COVID took ‘Pops’ from family
Hardworking grandfather, 76, becomes another unvaccinated victim of the virus
When Arturo Ortiz Gonzales Jr. — a man of few words — had something to say, people stopped to listen.
Friends and family tried to recall those words and the lessons he taught them on Friday afternoon at his funeral.
Many wore blue shirts and face masks at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South to honor the lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan affectionately known as “Pops” or Grandpa.
He was also called “Mr. Miyagi” by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren for his resemblance to the fictional karate master. TV screens at the chapel flipped through photos of a family man with a thick white mustache. He often dressed as Santa Claus for the children on Christmas.
Gonzales, 76, died Aug. 27 after being hospitalized for three weeks with complications from COVID-19. He is one of the more than 4,035 San Antonio residents whose lives
were ended by the coronavirus. And like the vast majority of those who’ve died, he was not vaccinated.
He is survived by his commonlaw wife Melinda Hernandez, sons Anthony Gonzales, Andrew Gonzales and Allen Gonzales, daughter-in-law Troylyn Gonzales, sisters Joann Martin and Carmen Sanchez, 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He also left behind another tight-knit family — his co-workers at Church’s Chicken.
“He was always there and always on time,” said Monica Ramos, who worked with him for years at the fast-food restaurant on Goliad Road. “He was like our Pops.”
Arturo Gonzales started working at Church’s at the age of 16 and was a dedicated employee for six decades, working nearly every position. He was still working at Church’s as a shift manager when he got sick.
“He never wanted to call in or take off. That’s him. He was a workaholic,” said Melinda Hernandez, who was introduced to her love through her daughter, who also worked at Church’s.
Family members believe that’s why he wasn’t vaccinated. He was busy working.
“I didn’t know that he hadn’t
had the shot,” his son Anthony Gonzales said. “I’m still having a hard time with it.”
The last few weeks of his father’s life were spent at the hospital, where his condition improved only to deteriorate again.
Currently, there are more than 1,100 COVID-19 patients in San Antonio-area hospitals.
Before catching the virus, Arturo Gonzales had diabetes but was active and healthy. It wasn’t his time to go, his family said.
Troylyn Gonzales said the family was fortunate that his nurse would Facetime them so they could see him before he died. COVID-19 restrictions at hospitals prevented the family from seeing him in person.
His goddaughter Annette Butler said she hopes that people will hear his story and consider getting vaccinated. She believes that’s why she and more than a dozen other family members were able to survive after getting infected this summer.
In addition to being vaccinated, Butler received monoclonal antibody infusion therapy, which is meant to reduce the likelihood of patients with mild to moderate symptoms going to an emergency room. She credits the free treatment for helping her beat the virus.
“This virus is a beast. It felt evil,” she said.