It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Vincent Joseph Bianchi on February 14, 2024. Vincent was born in Victoria, Texas on May 17, 1932 to the late Rose and Felix Bianchi. He grew up on his father’s farm on the Upper Mission Valley Road, and later on Sam Houston Drive in Victoria. He graduated from St. Joseph High School and received his degree in Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. He enlisted in the Army in 1955 and served at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio as a base pharmacist through 1957.
He married his wife, Patricia Melanie Walshak on June 4th, 1959 and they raised their 5 children in Victoria, Texas. In 1964 they opened Bianchi Pharmacy in Downtown Victoria. The drugstore was a staple of downtown Victoria until he sold the store in 1997. During his many years in Victoria he was an active member of Our Lady of Victory and later Holy Family Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Suburban Kiwanis for many years.
Vincent was a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan, a proud Longhorn and a huge lover of the University of Texas football and all of the other Longhorn sports programs. Vincent could frequently be found watching all of their games, whether it was on TV or in person for the many years he held Longhorn football season tickets. All five of his children graduated from UT and carry on his passion for all things burnt orange.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.
Vincent is survived by his wife, Patricia, his 5 children - Stephen, Stephanie (Rick McCaffrey), Gerard (Kara Merrill), Alicia (Kris Steinkuehler) and Brian (Brenda Ruhland); ten grandchildren Erik McCaffrey (Sara Davis), Shaun McCaffrey (Cathleen Meister), Brandon Steinkuehler (Chelsy Moore), Paige Steinkuehler, Matthew Bianchi, Nicholas Bianchi, Isabella Bianchi, Marielle Bianchi, Meera Merrill Verma, and Mia Merrill Verma; and 6 great-grandchildren (Willodean Steinkuehler, Grey Steinkuehler, Ada Steinkuehler, Maia McCaffrey, Declan McCaffrey and Finley McCaffrey)
Patricia, his children, and everyone who knew him will miss his kind and gentle, good-humored nature.
Visitation will be 5-7pm on Sunday 2/18 followed by a rosary beginning at 7pm both at Colonial Funeral Home on Red River St. in Victoria, TX. Funeral Mass will be held at 11am on Monday 2/19 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Victoria, TX. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Victoria immediately after.
Words of comfort, condolences and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.
