Frank Romero Jr.

15 November 1937 - 27 January 2025

Frank Romero, 87, died peacefully and prayerfully at his home surrounded by his wife and children on Monday, 27 January 2025.

He was born on 15 November 1937 to Frank Sr. and Armida Romero (Calderon) in Benson, Arizona, where he spent his childhood and teenage years.

He joined the Navy in 1956 and served briefly until honorably discharged. Following his brief military service, he attended the University of Arizona, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Dad was manager at the Kress department store in Nogales, Arizona where he began dating our mother, Georgia Ann Ramos. Mom and dad began their 62 years of sacramental marriage on 9 June 1962 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nogales. In 1976, Dad began a successful career as a Certified Life Underwriter for New York Life Insurance Company. He became a Million Dollar Round Table agent, earning many sales awards along the way. Dad retired in 2000 to enjoy his home and growing family.

In 2012, Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His faith in God, zest for life, and many prayers pulled him through surgery and a long recovery. At the time, his surgeon told dad he could give him five more years. More than a dozen years later, dad lived to dance with his youngest daughter at her wedding, to see his youngest son get married and graduate with a Doctorate degree in Theology, to witness his oldest son retire as an Air Force colonel, to live many more happy years at home with oldest daughter, Lisa, to witness the birth of two more grandsons, and to enjoy many other blessings and graces. God is good!

A devout Roman Catholic, Dad was always involved in his local parish as school board president, Scout pack leader, music minister, and as financial assistant to the bishop and various pastors in the Diocese of El Paso. Dad was also a member of the Open Arms Catholic Charismatic Community for many years. As a testament to his faith, he worked extremely hard so that all his children could attend Catholic schools. Despite the many things dad did to provide for us, too numerous to list, his greatest gift to us and his grandchildren is his faith in Jesus Christ as expressed in the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Thank you, Dad!

Frank is survived by his wife, Georgia Ann Romero and his children, René Francisco Romero (and wife Sharmin Romero) of Kerrville, Texas; Ana Lisa Romero of El Paso, Texas; Felice Gabrielle Ketterer (and husband Christopher Ketterer) of Tomball, Texas; and Michael Anthony Romero (and wife Angela Romero) of Spring Branch, Texas; five grandchildren, Ben Francisco Romero,
Matthew René Romero, and Elena Faith Romero of Kerrville, Texas and Liam Douglas Ketterer and Daniel Christopher Ketterer of Tomball, Texas; and two sisters, Virginia Padia (and husband Paul Padia-deceased) of Denton, Texas, and Barbara Adric (and husband Uwe Adric) of Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Viewing at San Jose Funeral Home, 10950 Pellicano Drive, El Paso, Texas will be from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Friday, 31 January, with the rosary starting at 7:00 PM. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1050 N Clark Dr, El Paso, Texas on Saturday, 1 February 2025 beginning at 10:00 AM. A reception will follow immediately after Mass at the Romero household in El Paso. All are welcome to visit the family. Feel free to bring food, but not required, to share with family and friends. The Rite of Committal (burial) will take place at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas on Monday, 10 February 2025 at 9:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please make a special donation to the Catholic parish of your choice or to MD Anderson Cancer Center. (https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate.html)

Most of all, when you think of Frank Romero, say a prayer for him to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven in God’s good time. Thank you.