Carlos Abel Ortiz Sr. “Chale”, age 65 of Corpus Christi, Texas lost his battle January 14, 2020. He was born in Evanston, Illinois on April 6, 1954. Carlos Abel Ortiz graduated from Mary Carroll High School, Class of 1973 and attended Del Mar College.
He married Elsa Ortiz on February 3, 1981. Carlos worked for CC Gasket & Fastener and also in Healthcare for Christus Spohn Health Systems for many years where he made lifetime friends. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church where Carlos and Elsa had their matrimonial ceremony and renewed their vows September 19, 2015. Carlos had a passion for art. He was our family MacGyver and loved making people laugh; he always had a good debate. Although he was a Dallas Cowboy hater and we loved him deeply we allowed him to remain in our family. His favorite team was the Chicago Bears; or any team that beat the Cowboys.
He is preceded in death by his biological father Manuel Ortiz; mom and dad, Olga and Miguel Alvarez; sister, Sandy Alvarez Chestnut; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ramona Cantu and Anastacio Cantu Sr.; brothers-in-law, Lorenzo (Larry) Cantu and Anastacio (Tacho) Cantu Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Elsa Ortiz; son, Carlos Abel (Abey) Ortiz Jr. and daughter Grace (Mark) Reyes Galvan; grandchildren, Jonathan (Mellina) Galvan, Ckaylin Ortiz, Joshua Galvan, Jason Galvan, Carlos (Abel) Ortiz III; one great-granddaughter, Kourtney Elizabeth Galvan; sister, Sally (Bert) Kraus and brother, Michael Alvarez; nephews, Beau Kraus and Justin “Dusty” Kraus; niece, Amber Avis; and brother-in-law, Guadalupe “Wale” Cantu; numerous family members in Corpus Christi, Lubbock, San Antonio and Indiana.
Pallbearers will be Beau Kraus, Dusty Kraus, Jonathan Galvan, Joshua Galvan, Jason Galvan, Dan Cantu, Shaine Burbage, Julian Garcia and Jayson Cantu.
Visitation is scheduled at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 20, 2020 at Memory Gardens Funeral Home. A Holy Rosary will be recited at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church located at 2509 Nogales St. Corpus Christi, Texas 78416. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 20, 2020 at Holy Family Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
