Obituary of Tomas Arroyo, Sr.

Tomas Ruiz Arroyo, Sr., age 79, of Austin, Texas, was called home to our Heavenly Father. Tomas was ready for peace when he passed away on Monday, June 12, 2023. 

Tomas was born in 1943 in Port Lavaca, Texas, along with his twin sister, Maria. He had 14 siblings. They were a family of farm workers, mostly picking cotton in Central Texas. Tomas bragged that as a child, he would do the books for the family. 

In the mid-1960s, Tomas took his work uniform to a cleaners on East 6th Street. That is where he met his future wife, Guadalupe Banda. They married in 1965 at Our Lady of Guadalupe and had six children. Tomas instilled that it was important to always tell your family that you love them. It is a lesson his children will not forget. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Romulo Arroyo and Micaela Arroyo; his beloved wife of 41 years, Guadalupe Arroyo; his siblings, Albert Arroyo, Romulo Arroyo, Lupe Arroyo, Samuel Arroyo, Joe Angel Arroyo, and Trini Martinez.

Tomas is survived by his children, Maria Ramirez (Coby), Teresa Gillenwater (Virgil), Margaret Castillo (Greg), Tomas Arroyo, Jr., Christina Valdez (John) and Romulo Arroyo; 11 grandchildren, Daniel, Alicia, Coby Ray, Stephanie, Jacob, Gabriela, Angelica, Maria, Lourdes, Nicolas, and Andres; his siblings, Jesse Arroyo, Augustine Arroyo, Santiago Arroyo, Maria Perez, Carolina Arce, Rodolfo Arroyo, and Richard Arroyo; numerous nieces and nephew, and many other loving family and friends. 

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at 5:00 p.m., with Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 p.m., at Mission Funeral Home Serenity Chapel, 6204 S 1st Street, Austin, Texas 78745.

Mass will be held on Monday morning, June 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1206 East 9th Street, Austin, Texas 78702. Burial to follow at Assumption Cemetery, 3650 S. IH 35 Frontage Rd., Austin, Texas. 

Rosary will be livestreamed to allow those unable to attend to participate. Follow the link at Mission Funeral Home Facebook Page