Alfonso James Emerson Jr., fondly called “Red” by everyone who knew him, was born in Sabinal on Jan. 20, 1925, and passed away at age 91 at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio on Aug. 13, 2016. A memorial service for Red will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Sabinal Church of Christ. Minister David Sprott will officiate. After attending school in Sabinal, Red left at age 18 to defend his country during World War II. He served in both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy as an aircraft gunner and seaman. Serving on three U.S. Navy ships in World War II, Red received the Bronze Star, five Silver Stars, 10 Blue Stars, and numerous Green Stars and Red Stars. He also received the Presidential Unit Citation for helping locate the Japanese fleet in the Pacific Ocean. After the war, Red returned to Sabinal and worked at various construction jobs for employers including the Fowler Brothers, Fred and Mackey Woodley, Doc Saunders, and Sammy Felts. Among building sites where he worked were Sunny Clime Farm and La Jita Girl Scout Camp. In 1972 Red went to work at the Waters Ranch in Utopia where he worked for the past 44 years, starting as a rock layer and eventually working his way up to foreman. He remained active on the ranch until the last few months of his life. Lou Waters said, “Red was a most loyal, honest, trustworthy, dependable person, and we were honored to have him living and working on our ranch all these years. He had an incredible memory and could remember details about rainfall, crops, and machinery from all the years past without ever writing down anything. He was a good, wonderful man.” Red was preceded in death by his parents, Alfonso James Emerson Sr., and Ruby Fowler Emerson; his three sisters and their husbands, Louise Slater and husband, Bill, Dorothy Anderson and husband, Lloyd, and Margaret Ann Merrill and husband, John. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Judy; son, Jamie Emerson and wife, Allyson; two precious grandchildren, Ashley and Casey Emerson. He is also survived by nephews, Arthur Ray Slater and Toby Anderson, and niece, Pam Thomas and husband, Mike. Arrangements are under the care of Uvalde Funeral Home.
THE PRECEDING IS A PAID OBITUARY.
Rate this article: