Frances Vargas Velasco

Frances was born to Marcelino and Maria Vargas, on May 14, 1945, in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Charles H. Milby High School in 1964. She married David Ayala Velasco on June 8, 1968, and they lived together in Houston, TX. Together they raised 3 children.

God blessed Frances as a strong woman of faith and gifted her with many talents. She served, sang, and played the piano in the church. She was also a social butterfly, loved to carry on conversations, and blessed her friends and family with her light. She had various administrative jobs and eventually went back to school later in life to complete a Bachelor’s in Bilingual Education from Houston Baptist University. She then taught at Crespo Elementary and eventually worked her way to a Master of Education in Educational Diagnostician, also from Houston Baptist University, so that she would be certified as a Diagnostician to best serve children in the testing environment in the Houston Independent School District.

She also played a key role in supporting her husband in getting information about his brother Frank's fate as to where he went missing in the Korean War on 11/27/1950. Frank and two other men were positioned at the northernmost point in North Korea, closest to the Chinese border. Together they were able to find 10-12 veterans that had served with him in the Army in Peace Time in Japan, in 1948, before the Korean War broke out. This was a great comfort to both David and Frances to meet and know his brother’s friends! She was also actively involved in The American Legion Hall #472, The National Korean War Veterans Association, and The Korean War Veterans - Texas Lone Star Chapter. She was able to visit Korean War memorials with her brother-in-law’s name in Harris County, Austin, the Punch Bowl in Hawaii, Korea, and traveled to see the newest war memorial in Washington DC, dedicated in July 2022.

She is survived by; daughter, Virginia Ann Torres, son-in-law, Miguel Angel Torres, son, David Vincent Velasco, daughter, Dorothy Deanna Rodriguez, son-in-law, Timothy Rey Rodriguez, three grandchildren, Cecilia (Ceci) Maria Torres, Miguel (Mikey) Angel Torres-Velasco Jr., Ambriella (Amby) Rae Rodriguez, half-brothers Robert and Rudolfo (Rudy) Vargas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David A Velasco, father, Marcelino Vargas, her mother, Maria Vargas, brother Ruben A. Vargas, half-brothers Marcel Vargas, Reynaldo Vargas, and half-sisters Mary Fernandez and Alicia Morales.

Instead of gifting flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to either the Korean War Veterans Association or the American Heart Association in Frances Velasco’s name.