Francisco "Frank" G. Maldonado Sr.

Francisco Guajardo Maldonado was born December 17, 1931, to Antonia Guajardo and Cirilo Maldonado. A proud graduate of the 1950 Class of Somerville High School, he continued to Blinn College with a baseball scholarship. Before completing his college education, he was drafted into the Army to serve during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in Germany for a year and a half before he was able to return home. During his service, he wrote to his sweetheart, Marcelina Orozco, who waited for his return. They later married on August 27, 1955, and lived in their first home in Somerville. They welcomed their first child, Veronica, and their family grew with the additions of Frank Gilbert, John Gabriel, Theresa, Stephen Andrew, and Mark Gregory. 

Frank worked in several occupations and chose to stay with the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Tie Treatment Plant in Somerville where he retired from after 31 years of service. 

Francisco, Frank, Frankie, Pancho, Deano, and Uncle Frank were only a few names that he had throughout his life, but the ones that he responded to the most were Hon, Dad, Poppa, Daddy, Popo and Old Popo by his family.

Not only did Frank have many names but he also had many talents, hobbies, and favorite things. He was a self-made engineer who always had a solution for any mechanical problem and had many gadgets and inventions that he came up with to make things easier. 

Frank was also a food connoisseur. He probably tried every restaurant in the area but because Chinese food was his favorite, he often had a bottle of sweet and sour sauce nearby to make all other dishes "Chinese". As for his sweet tooth, he always made sure to have plenty of donuts, apple pies, cakes, pan dulces, and especially apple or pineapple empanadas. 

For as much as Frank loved to eat all kinds of food, he also had his specialties that he cooked. One being his famous menudo that he would make during the winter months but especially for New Year's Eve. And he was well known for his barbecued brisket or chicken, which he was often asked to make for wedding receptions or large events, including the Somerville Stampede.

Most days of the week there was some kind of sport on television. His favorites were football, baseball and softball. It didn't matter whether it was little league, college, professional, or reruns, and the teams usually didn't matter unless it was a home state team, but he was particularly fond of the Aggies, Astros, and Cowboys.

However, Frank's favorite pastime was spending a day at the lake casting his vast array of fishing rods to catch crappie, catfish, or bass. After he bought out the local Walmart of their fishing gear, he moved on to the new Academy and began searching their inventory for lures, weights, rods and reels to add to his own inventory because there never seemed to be enough in his tackle box. 

Frank never knew a stranger and he could always make a connection with whoever he met, and his two questions were often, "Where are you from?" and " Do you speak Spanish?" often led to the most interesting conversations.

If you knew Frank these last few years, then you had to be familiar with his hand signals. A raised fist to signify something good, an "OK" to let you know he was fine, hands raised in a "who knows" shrug, a wave off if he were upset and a point upward that meant "Thank God."

Frank was a devoted husband to his sweetheart, Marcelina, and he was excited to celebrate their 69th anniversary with her just last week.

 Frank and Marcelina sat in the third pew on the left side in St. Ann's Catholic Church every Sunday and holy days, where he was a faithful member and one of the last pillars. He began his membership at St. Ann's with baptism, served as an altar server, was confirmed, married, renewed vows twice and will now be given the rite of committal there. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Hospice Brazos Valley, St. Ann's Catholic Church Somerville, or charity of your choice.