Known affectionately as Pepe in Rocksprings and Joe in Hondo, Jose Rios, Age 82 years, 6 months, and 21 days, of Hondo, Texas, died on Sunday, October 10, 2004. He was born in Sabinas, Coahuila, Mexico on March 19, 1922, the oldest son of Juan and Emilia Rios. Jose was baptized and confirmed as a Catholic in Sabinas. When Emilia died in 1930, Juan gave his consent for Jose to cross the border into Texas with his uncle Secundino & aunt Conception (Escamilla) Rios. They adopted Jose and a sister Antonia. Jose attended schools in both Brackettville and in Rocksprings. As a youngster in Brackettville, Jose was an alter boy at St. Mary Magdelen Catholic Church. In Rocksprings, Jose was also active at Sacred Heart of Mary. On June 29, 1942, he married Angelita Guedea, daughter of Alejandro and Enriqueta Guedea of Hondo. They were married in the Edwards County Courthouse in Rocksprings. On August 12, 1942, Jose and Angelita were married by a priest at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hondo. Jose and Angelita had five children, three daughters and two sons. Jose and his family have lived in Hondo since 1954. During that time, Jose worked as a bricklayer, stone mason, and after his retirement, as an electrician. He has always been an active member of the Catholic Church, first at Our Lady of Guadalupe and then St. John's. Joe was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AARP. He enjoyed traveling, fishing, reading and working on home projects. His home is a testament to his ability to build things. Perhaps most important to Jose was the company of his friends and his family. In his later years, he never tired of going to Yancey. Jose was a World War II veteran. He joined the U.S. Army on January 29, 1943, at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. He was trained in California and sent to the Pacific front. His assignment was in Honolulu, Hawaii, as part of the 607th Coast Artillary Battery. He returned to his family in Rocksprings in November of 1945. Jose lived briefly in Uvalde and worked at the White Mines for several years. He also attended Southwest Texas Junior College and earned a certificate of completion on July 16, 1950. He was preceded in death by his adoptive parents; natural parents Juan & Emilia Rios; brother Refugio Rios; sisters Jesus Vasquez, Antonia Rodriguez. Jose is survived by his wife of 62 years Angelita (Guedea) Rios; daughter Lita Garcia and companion Ernest Salazar of Hondo, son J. A. Rios of Hondo; daughter Emily DeLeon and husband Rudy of Hondo; son Ed Rios and wife Patsy of Lufkin; daughter Delia Ann Pedroza and husband Lawrence of Hondo; five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; sisters Laura Ross of San Antonio, Maria Reyes Pineda of Monterey, Mexico; brother Luis Rios of Burlington, Iowa; half brothers Jacinto Rios and Nicolas Rios both of Cuidad Victora, Mexico, and stepmother, Bernabe Rios, also of Cuidad Victoria. His life touched many individuals, including numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews and godchildren. All looked up to him as a role model, as a solid family man and Christian, a hard worker, a giver, a father, a grandfather, and a great grandfather. He will be truly missed. The Rosary will be at 7:00 pm Wednesday, October 13, at the Guinn-Horger Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Thursday, October 14, the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. The palbearers were Kimberly A. DeLeon, Steven A. DeLeon, Isaac K. DeLeon, Roland DeLeon, J. Hector Garcia, Velma R. Garcia Hernandez. The burial will be at 2:30 pm at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.