Marcelino Hernandez

On November 27, 2023, Marcelino C. Hernandez passed away at the age of 100. He was born on January 16, 1923 in Hondo, Texas to Apolonio Hernandez and Maria de los Angeles Chavarria. Growing up in Hondo and San Antonio he was known as "MC". He lacked formal education attending school only to the 3rd grade. He had to work in the fields picking cotton and pulling broom corn to help his family financially during the Great Depression. What he lacked in formal education he made up by being an avid reader. He taught himself math, history, science and followed world events by reading the newspapers.

At age 16 being 6ft 3in and skinny, he passed for an 18 year old and was accepted into the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). The CCC camps were started during the Great Depression for young men ages 18-25. The attraction for him and other young men was three meals a day and a bed to sleep on. During his two years in the CCC camp, he worked in developing state and national parks. He was also trained to use dynamite to clear large boulders and hills. After serving the maximum two years in the camp, he moved to Shreveport, Louisiana to live with his sister, Juanita Garza and her husband, Joseph.

In 1942, he volunteered for the military joining the Army Air Corp. He served in the 321 Depot Supply Squadron as an Automotive Equipment Operator (AAF). He also qualified as a Carbine Sharpshooter on March 24, 1944.

He returned to Hondo on furlough and married a Hondo girl, Clemencia Gonzales. That same year he was shipped to the Philippines. In 1945, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan training for the invasion of mainland Japan. Which never happened because Japan surrendered. He was honorably discharged January 20, 1946 earning a Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory Medal; American Theater Campaign Medal; and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

After his departure from the military, he returned to Hondo to raise a family and was hired by the International Harvester Company as a master mechanic. He work there until 1964.

In 1965 after a divorce, he moved to San Antonio. Texas to work in the psychology department of the Robert B. Green Hospital. Then in 1968, he was offered the position of Alcoholic Counselor at the Audie L. Murphy Veterans Administration Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He worked in that position from 1968-1988. While working at the V.A. he met his second wife, Enid June Koons Burdett, an RN in his unit. His first wife Clemencia died November 11, 1991 and was buried at Fort Sam National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

After retiring from the V.A., MC and June moved to Rockport, Texas where he built their retirement home. He was always an outdoors person who loved to hunt, fish and read a good book.

November 21, 2015 June passed away and he lived his life as a widower active in his church community. Due to health reasons, he sold his home in Rockport and moved to College Station to be with his daughter, Graciella and her family. So on July 1, 2022, he left his beloved Gulf of Mexico. Now he returns to lie in peace with the sound of the waves on the beach of his beloved Gulf of Mexico.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Clemencia Hernandez; their daughter, Angelina Hernandez, Taylor, Pacheco, Torres from Dallas. His second wife, Enid June Koons, Burdett; step-daughter, Genene Burdett Diaz from Floresville, TX. Brothers: Benito and Benedicto Hernandez (twins) from San Antonio, TX; Andres Hernandez, his wife Juanita from Shreveport. LA; Incarnacion Hernandez, his wife, Blanca from San Antonio, TX; Sisters: Alejandrina Hernandez from San Antonio, TX, Juanita Garza and her husband, Joseph from Shreveport, LA.

He leaves behind his daughter, Graciella H. Rodriguez and her husband Juan U. from College Station, TX. his step-daughter, Michel Archamult from Knightdale, North Carolina and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 10 am to 6 pm on December 5, 2023 at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home - Rockport, 816 E. Main Street, Rockport, Texas 78382. Funeral service will be conducted by Pastor David Bergquist on December 6th 2023 at 10 am at Peace Lutheran Church 1302 W. Market St. Rockport, Texas 78382, with burial to follow at Aransas Memorial Park, 1520 TX-188, Rockport, TX 78382.