Louis L. Sanchez Jr.

Louis Lerma Sanchez passed away on August 11, 2015, due to complications from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Myasthenia Gravis (MG). He was born on 4 Sep 1948 in San Antonio, TX to Luis Sanchez and Josefa Lerma. He grew up on the southside of San Antonio, graduated from Harlandale High School in 1967. He believed in the importance of education, and always wanted to go to college, but the demands of life kept getting in the way. However, later in life he finally made it to college, and graduated from Texas State University in 2006.

Louis joined the USAF in 1968 and served in Vietnam. He left active duty and went into the USAF Reserves, where he retired at the rank of CMSgt in 1999. During the 1970s, he was one of the first Hispanics to become a lineman at City Public Service. Then he switched over to a civil service working for the Civil Engineering electrical planning section at Fort Sam Houston, Brooks AFB and Lackland AFB. He was a perfectionist when it came to his projects. Over the life of his career, he received many awards and letters of recognition because of the quality of his work. He retired from civil service in 2010 due to medical reasons.

He loved to travel, and was fortunate that during his lifetime, was able to travel all around the world, including Italy, Germany, Paraguay, Mexico, Montana, and Hawaii.

Louis was raised in the Catholic faith, but he loved attending Cornerstone Church. He accepted Jesus as his Savior under the ministry of Pastor John Hagee. In 2014, Louis, his wife Helen, and sister Liz traveled to Israel, where he was baptized in the Jordan River, and prayed at the Western Wall. It was an amazing journey of faith, in the footsteps of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his beloved father Luis Sanchez. He is survived by his wife Helen Morgan-Sanchez, daughter Nicole Sanchez and husband Jay Pena, son Jason Sanchez, step-son Brandon Morgan and wife Rebecca, grandchildren Jasmine, Alyssa, and Cristiana Pena, Kevin, Natalee Brandon Judah Morgan. He is also survived by his mother Josefa Lerma Sanchez, sisters Anna Radke, Sarah and husband Joe Fletcher, Irma and husband Ruben Mireles, and Elizabeth and husband Gerry Peel. Other survivors include Gloria Sanchez, and numerous nephews, nieces, friends, co-workers, and his beloved church family.

Throughout the last few years of his life, there were many people who stepped up to assist us with his care, but there are a few we want to recognize. First to Gregory Treacey of Paralyzed Veterans of America, who moved heaven and earth to help us cut through the redtape, so Louis was able to receive all the veteran benefits that were due to him. You were our champion, our angel, our lifesaver, because what you did for us, allowed Louis to live out the last few years of his life in comfort.

Next, we want to thank Dr. Carlayne Jackson, the MDA ALS Clinic, and all the doctors, and medical staff at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System for your excellent care. We thank all our friends from the Myasthenia Gravis support group for your love and support. Finally, we want to thank the VITAS hospice nurses. We consider them our extended family because they cared for him like he was part of their family.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Roy Akers Funeral Home, 515 N. Main Ave., with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. A chapel service will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. with a procession to depart the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. for Interment in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors.