Ricardo "Rick" Prado

Ricardo “Rick” Prado went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 30, 2018. He was with his beloved wife, Mary Ann, of 29 years. He was born in San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday, July 7, 1943 and adopted by Jose Maria and Cristina Prado. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Prado; his son, Ric; and two daughters, Jo Ann and Melissa Ortega (Houston). He is also survived by numerous grand and great-grandchildren.

As a young boy, he enjoyed climbing trees and would try to climb as high as the tel-ephone men did, on their ladders. The work that was done by telephone men fasci-nated him and he eventually became friends with these men. They, in return, gave him their leftover supplies, like wiring. This would lead him to a career path in the military and civilian workforce.

On July 8, 1960, he joined the Army with permission from his mother. Two months prior, his sergeant brought him bananas and malts for him to gain the required weight. His sergeant also provide commissary passes to help with the weight gain. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas for basic training as a paratrooper and basic communications studies. He earned his wings as a paratrooper at the age of 17 and became a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne. He was involved in covert field ma-neuvers during the Korean Conflict and was later sent to Vietnam before the war was formally declared in 1962. By the age of 21 years old, he was honorably discharged, and moved to live in San Francisco to start his family.

He eventually joined Pacific Bell on December 13, 1965 and became a cable splicer. He worked on an AT&T project for the new BART system, which involved spicing and laying submarine cable in the railroad yard in the San Francisco area. In 1967, he was transferred to San Antonio with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company where he became the first Mexican-American cable splicer. He was also the first Mexican-American District Steward in the San Antonio area Communications Workers of America union (CWA). After 26 years, in 1987 he retired from South-western Bell Telephone Company.

In 1989, he married Mary Ann and lived in Houston for 10 years before returning to San Antonio. He has lived out his life with his wife and friends enjoying the retired life.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 03, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Trevino Funeral Home, 226 Cupples Rd. San Antonio, TX, with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 pm that same evening. Mass and Inurnment will be held at a later date. Expressions of sympathy and additional service inquires can be made at www.funerariadelangelcupples.com