Arturo Sanchez, Jr.

Arturo “Junior” Sanchez Jr., age 81, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2026. He was born on December 17, 1944, in New Braunfels, Texas. Arturo was the oldest of eight children and grew up in New Braunfels, Texas where he attended school and learned the value of responsibility at an early age while helping support his family.

As a young man, Arturo worked various jobs, including setting bowling pins at a local bowling alley and working in produce at a neighborhood grocery store. These early experiences helped shape his strong work ethic and lifelong love for people.

While in high school, Arturo met the love of his life, Toni Gutierrez. They were married on October 30, 1964, and recently celebrated 61 wonderful years of marriage. From that day forward, they were inseparable. Together, they built a beautiful life and raised four beloved children, grounding their family in love, laughter, and unwavering support.

Arturo relocated his family to Lancaster, Texas, where he began a long and dedicated career with Halliburton, retiring after 36 years of service. Afterward, he continued to serve his community by working in maintenance for Lancaster ISD before fully retiring in 2009.

Arturo had a deep love for sports and dedicated many years to coaching Pop Warner football in Oak Cliff, Texas. He coached his children’s football, baseball, and basketball teams, and even when he wasn’t officially coaching, his passion never stopped. He kept duffel bags filled with baseball gloves, bats, balls, and helmets, turning ordinary Saturday and Sunday afternoons into impromptu sandlot baseball games in the field behind the family home. Neighborhood kids would gather, and Arturo would transform an empty field into unforgettable memories. He was known as “the neighborhood dad.”

Giving back to the community was central to who he was. Arturo rearranged his work schedule to coach in underserved communities, becoming a role model and father figure to many. He loaded players into his pickup truck for practices and games, helped secure equipment, raised funds for necessities, and supported his teams when traveling to out-of-town championship games.

Arturo also had a lifelong love for bowling, dating back to his childhood days as a pin setter. He and Toni bowled together in a league, and he was a fierce competitor on the lanes, taking great pride in his bowling average.

He also loved cooking traditional Texas barbecue, often saying he was going to “burn some meat,” and cherished hosting family and friends for cookouts. A lifelong sports fan, Arturo didn’t just watch college and NFL football and basketball, he knew the stats, the schemes, and could talk for hours about offensive and defensive strategies and the nuances of the game.

Above all, Arturo was a family man, mentor, and friend, someone who gave freely of his time, his resources, and his love. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and the memories he created.

Arturo is preceded in death by his parents Arturo and Mary Sanchez, Sr.; siblings: Johnny Sanchez, Gilbert “Bigo” Sanchez, David Sanchez, and sister DeDe Sanchez; and son-in-law Alfredo Ruiz Jr.

He is survived by his loving wife Toni Sanchez; children: Lisa Sanchez Ruiz, Adam Sanchez, Eva Sanchez, and Christopher Sanchez; six grandchildren: Adam Sanchez Jr., Lauren Ruiz, Aaron Sanchez and wife Natasha, Marisa Sanchez, Christian Sanchez and wife Chloe, and Jacob Dylan Sanchez; four great-grandchildren: Paxton Clark, Kylie Clark, Palmer Sanchez, and Memphis Sanchez; siblings: Harold Sanchez, Blanca Sanchez, and Roger Sanchez; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, February 6, 2026 at Green Funeral Home -Red Oak, Texas.

Rosary will be 6:00 PM Friday, February 6, 2026 at Green Funeral Home -Red Oak, Texas.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish -Lancaster, Texas.

A reception will follow in the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Hall. 
 

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