G.C. “Willie” Serna was born on a small ranch in Guadalupe County, TX to Pablo and Sara Serna. He was the fourth of seven siblings and proud to have been able to help his parents and each of his siblings and their families whenever he could throughout his lifetime. Most of his younger years and school years were spent in Seguin, TX.
He was the only one of his siblings to have continued school through the eighth grade because ranch owners convinced his father that he was “smart and needed to be in school”. He worked side by side with his parents and siblings as they traveled across the country as migrant farmers for many years until the age of seventeen. He then convinced his father to go with him to a Navy recruiting office in San Antonio and sign for him to be allowed to enter military service so that he could serve in WWII. However, the Navy recruiter told him “You don’t weigh enough, so go home and eat a lot of bananas for two weeks before you come back”. When he went back, he still didn’t meet their weight requirement. As he and his father walked out the door, he saw the Army Air Corps recruiting office was right next door and he met their requirements. He served as a Flight Engineer working in the nose of a B-25 Bomber.
At one point, his plane was fired upon in the Pacific Ocean and he and the rest of the crew went down. It took more than twelve hours for them to be rescued. For the remainder of his military service, he was then stationed in Okinawa, and experienced at least one more time in which he and three of his Battle Buddies were fired upon until Japan’s surrender in 1945. He happened to be on board the USS Missouri when General Douglas MacArthur accepted the signed surrender from Japan’s dignitaries and was able to take pictures of the historic moment. While he didn’t often speak of his time in service, those of us who heard him share those details have been blessed by them.
Upon his return home to Seguin, he was disheartened to be subject to the same continued prejudices that existed as when he had left for War. He couldn’t understand people’s discrimination, even towards so many who had fought for this country. That frustration allowed him to begin his journey into the Civil Rights movement. He learned from, marched with, and organized alongside Dr. Hector P. Garcia, the founder of the American GI Forum. He always felt indebted to Dr. Garcia for having taught him that his experience in life was one of the greatest educations he could have ever received. Throughout the years, he served as District, Regional, and TX State Director of American GI Forum.
Shortly after his introduction into Civil Rights, he saw and met the love of his life, Marcelina Ruiz, at a dance in New Braunfels. He always said he knew from the moment he saw her that he wanted to make her his wife. He even had words with one of his friends who attempted to gain her attentions that same
first night. He went on to marry Marcelina on February 8, 1948, just before Valentine’s Day because he said he didn’t want to wait for Lent to be over to have their wedding ceremony.
He and Marcelina went on to have and raise eight children; all the while, continuing to work in the various fields of various states of migrant farming crops until he finally settled into a job with the TX Employment Commission; where he worked for over twenty years; first in Lamesa, TX, where he and Marcelina had already settled; and then later moved the remainder of their children at home to San Angelo, TX in 1971. He continued to be active with American GI Forum all throughout those years and played a significant role in the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) organization for many years. With LULAC, he also served as Local, Regional, District, and State Chair at various points and dedicated much of his time fighting against injustices of redistricting, discriminations in schools, places of employment, and so many other forms of prejudices all over the state. He also served on various local boards including the City of San Angelo Planning and Zoning Board, Parks and Recreation Board, as one of the founding Board Members of La Esperanza Clinic, St Margaret’s Parish Council, and a multitude of other organizations throughout his life.
He had hoped to retire from TEC after the twenty years until, in 1989, Governor Bill Clements requested his assistance in going to work for the TX Department of Commerce investigating fund appropriations all over the state. He stayed with that position for four years. He had then thought that he would finally be able to retire and return to his home in San Angelo. However, that was not to be the case when he was called upon by Tom Green County officials to finish out the term of the Precinct One Justice of the Peace who had fallen too ill to complete her term. After his appointment was completed, he was encouraged to run and won the elected position to complete a total of twelve years in office.
His service to his family, country, community, and anyone who sought his assistance was what often kept him motivated; particularly whenever he believed there was any sort of injustice or prejudice involved. Throughout his ninety-seven years, he diligently worked to be a man of faith in God and believed that if it were not for God and his wife Marcelina, he could have never achieved all that he did in his lifetime.
Ret. JP G.C. “Willie” Serna, was called home by his Lord and Savior on July 25, 2024, to join his parents Pablo and Sara, along with his siblings: Pauline Perez, Miguel Serna, Seledonia Suarez, Amanda Dyer, Federico Serna, and Pearlita Gomez. He was also welcomed to his eternal home by his children: Lucia R. Serna, Willie C. Serna, Jr., MaryAnn Hernandez, John D. Serna, and Gabriel P. Serna. He is survived by his treasured and devoted wife of over seventy-six years, Marcelina R. Serna, along with his son Steven L. Serna, and daughters Alice McDougald, and Sara G. Serna. He leaves a legacy of faith and hope in service to his granddaughters Irene M. Serna, Krystal Hernandez, Marilyn Dennison, Jaclyn Serna, and Marisol Hernandez, one great grandson, and many nieces and nephews from all over. He will be missed by long time parishioners of St. Margaret’s of Scotland Parish, his dear friends Joyce, Ralph, George, and others at Station 618 Senior Center, and the many people he encountered, assisted, and served all over the country and state of Texas. We pray that all who knew him will remember him, speak and think well of him, and serve others in his spirit along the way.
A rosary for G. C. "Willie" will be held at 6 PM on Monday July 29, 2024 at Johnson's Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9 AM on Tuesday July 30, 2024 at St. Margaret's Catholic Church. Interment and military honors will follow at Johnson's Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.
