Juan Esparza

Juan Ruben Esparza, 60, of Beeville, formerly of Corpus Christi, died Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. Mr. Esparza was born May 9, 1953, in Beeville to Jesusa Arrisola. He was a 1972 graduate of A.C. Jones High School, a 1974 graduate of Bee County College and a 1976 graduate of Southwest Texas State. He worked for CCISD for 30 years. He taught English and Spanish at Cunningham Middle School, Hamlin Middle School, Grant Middle School and Tom Brown Middle School, retiring in 2005. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jesusa Arrisola; a sister, Elvira V. Herrera; sister-in-law, Lupita Vidaure; and two nephews, Luis Herrera and Robert Villarreal. Survivors include a brother, Lupe Vidaure; a sister, Victoria (Inez) Villarreal of Corpus Christi; a nephew/son Melivanel (Mary Lou) Cantu; grandchildren Joshua Cantu, Matthew Cantu, Lorraine Garza, Justin Cantu and Jordan Cantu; two great-grandchildren; 24 nieces and nephews; and 25 great-nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Angelus Funeral Home. A rosary will be recited there at 7:30 that evening. The funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Richard Gonzales officiating. Pallbearers will be Melivanel "Mel" Cantu, Leonardo Cantu Sr., Joshua Cantu, Matthew Cantu, Justin Cantu and Jordan Cantu. Honorary pallbearers will be all his nephews and nieces. Angelus Funeral Home