Frank Sandoval, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars and longtime resident of Hondo, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2021, surrounded by family.

Frank was born February 3, 1933, to Francisco and Leonor Sandoval. He grew up in Hondo and graduated from Hondo High School in 1951. He served in the United States Army and Air Force for 31 years.

Frank married his sweetheart, Carmen Sanchez, on July 14, 1962. Throughout the years, they enjoyed bowling in leagues together, serving together in the Catholic church, hosting soldiers for dinner who were far from home, dancing the night away, but mostly you could find them holding hands and enjoying each other's company over coffee. He was proud of his four daughters and never missed an opportunity to remind them how much he loved them with tears of joy in his eyes.

Active in the VFW, he would proudly march in parades with other veterans, meet and greet soldiers returning home from deployment at the airport, and volunteer at Wilford Hall Medical Center as well as the Brooke Army Medical Center Burn Clinic for over 22 years, helping the staff with inpatient records, and as a patient escort. It was common to find Frank sitting with wounded soldiers in their hospital rooms and bringing them comfort by just listening to them or lifting them up in prayer.

Frank left a meaningful legacy teaching his loved ones to love God, to revere and honor Him by keeping his commandments, to be proud of our country, to respect the flag always and each other, to live with integrity and never say goodbye but rather…until next time!

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Leonor (Santos) and Francisco G. Sandoval.

He is survived by his wife Carmen and their four daughters, Michelle (Dallas) Keilman, Vanessa, Kerensa (Steven) Boyd, and Vanchelsa (Bradford) Williams; six grandchildren; brother, John Henry Sandoval; and nephew, John Henry Sandoval,Jr.

His family has organized a memorial service to honor Frank's life and military service, which will be held at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. Visitation will be held at 9:30am. Rosary service will be at 10:00 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 am. Entombment will follow at the Hondo Cemetery, St. John Mausoleum, with the United States Air Force Funeral Honors Team providing military honors.