Claude Lumley

Claude Winston “Sonny” Lumley was born in Scott, Georgia on September 7th, 1932. Sonny joined the United States Army in April 1953 and began traveling the world. He served in Vietnam in addition to tours in Japan, Germany, Italy and various assignments in the continental United States. He retired from the Army in 1973 as a Master Sergeant. His decorations were the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. After the Army Sonny attended the University of Texas at San Antonio where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He became a history teacher and golf coach at Holmes HS in San Antonio and finished his teaching career at H.M. King HS in Kingsville. It was because of the Army that he met and married Maria Olga Rangel on August 6th, 1959 in Vicenza, Italy. He stayed by her side until her death from Alzheimer’s disease in 1996. He later met Maria Leal in 1996 and married her on November 17th, 2001. They stayed happily married for the rest of his life. He was blessed to have married the two most wonderful women in the world! Sonny was an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother and friend. He rarely had a bad word for anyone and greeted everyone with open arms. He enjoyed his family, golf, hunting, fishing and Dallas Cowboys football. He was called home by his Father in Heaven on August 29th, 2019 and was welcomed by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sonny will be sorely missed by all but is together in Heaven with his family and friends that have preceded him. We like to think he’s enjoying papoo’s barbeque with mamoo’s rice and beans and fresh tortillas and mamaw’s banana pudding at a great reunion in paradise. We all look forward to seeing him again one day.

Sonny has been preceded in death by his former wife-Maria Olga Lumley, mother-Jonnie Daniels, father-Claud Lumley, brother in law-Jack Thomas, nephew-Reggie Thomas, mother in laws-Herminia Rangel and Conrada Leal, father in law- Presciliano Rangel, sister in laws-Herminia Rangel Henderson and Irma Lerma Rangel.

He is survived by his present wife-Maria Leal Lumley, sisters-Ruby Thomas, Mary Sue Lumley Couch and Elaine Lumley Brantley, brother in law - Valdemar Leal, sons-Marc David Lumley, Virgilio Luis Saldana and Carlos Alberto Saldana, daughters-Margo Dawn Lumley and
Sara Graddy, daughter in law-Monica Dee Lumley, son in law- Rick Graddy and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Wednesday, September 4, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, with the Holy Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery.

Services are entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd. Kingsville, Texas 78363.