Previous Services

Visitation: 11:30 a.m.

Chapel: 1:00 p.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 2:00 p.m. (In Procession)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

Houston Honor Guard

Visitation: 12:00 p.m.

Chapel: 1:30 p.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 2:30 p.m.  (In Procession)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

Houston Honor Guard

Visitation: 6:00 p.m. 

Rosary: 7:00 p.m.

Chapel: 8:00 p.m.

  - Service concludes here

Gather: 1:00 p.m.

Chapel: 1:30 p.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 2:30 p.m. (In Procession)

 In Loving Memory of Josefina Capetillo
(1946 - 2025)

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Josefina Capetillo at the age of 78. She was welcomed into Heaven by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 16th, 2025, joining her beloved husband, Elizardo Capetillo, who preceded her in death in 2008. 

Josefina was born February 9, 1946, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Soon after her family would move to Mission, Texas when she was the tender age of 6 months old along with her siblings. There she and her family were migrant workers of many different kinds of fields such as cotton, sorghum, strawberry and much more. Soon after becoming a teenager, Josefina met her future husband Elizardo "Lee" Capetillo. They met while working in the fields at the age of 14 and soon fell in love. Lee and Josefina were married at the age of 21 on April 16, 1967. It would be two years later in the state of Indiana that they would welcome their first born, Manuel Antonio.Their work lives took them cross country from Washington state, midwest until finally settling in Houston, Texas in the 1970's where they later had their daughter Annick Renee. Josefina began to work as a telephone operator at Bell South where she continued to flourish in her tenure there. In 1987, both Josefina and her husband surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. From this point on their lives became a living testimony and miracle of God's redemption and goodness to so many who knew them.

 Josefina was known for her radiant smile, which could light up any room, and her laughter that reflected her colorful, fun-loving spirit. Her kindness, humor, and vibrant personality made her a cherished friend to many. With a compassionate heart and a warm presence, she touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her. Josefina had a deep appreciation for classic and black and white movies, especially old westerns. Above all, she found peace in prayer and drew strength from her faith. The greatest joy in her life was spending time with her beloved grandchildren, who brought her boundless happiness. Her love for them was limitless, and they were the light of her life.

After nearly 30 years of service, Josefina retired from AT&T, where she built lasting friendships and left a mark on everyone she worked with. 

Josefina’s family was her greatest joy. She is survived by her son, Manuel A. Capetillo, her daughter Annick Capetillo Garza and son-in-law Ernest Garza, and her three adored grandchildren, Aaron Lopez, Eliana Lopez and Benjamin Garza, and her siblings Micaela Vela, Ignacio Lopez, Agapito Lopez, Jose A. Lopez, Jesus Lopez, Maria De La Luz Garza and Miguel Lopez and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. She leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and devotion to her family, and will be remembered for her steadfast affection and care. Josefina will be deeply missed by all who loved her. Her spirit will forever live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and all who knew her.

A memorial service to celebrate Josefina’s life will be held on Friday, February 7th, 2025, at Veterans Funeral Services, 10567 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77038. Gathering begins at 1:00 PM, followed by a chapel service at 1:30 PM and a procession to Houston National Cemetery at 2:30 PM.   In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Josefina’s memory by sharing stories, laughter, and love with those around you. Take a moment to reach out to someone you care about and remind them how much they mean to you, just as Josefina did throughout her life.

Houston National Cemetery

10410 Veterans Memorial Dr.

Houston, TX 77038

Meet in Lane #1 @ 2:30 p.m. (Not before 2:15 p.m.)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

Houston Honor Guard

John (Jay) Wesley McJunkin IV 

September 18, 1952 – January 20, 2025

Jay was an Army Vietnam Veteran, devoted family man and cherished friend, who passed away peacefully on January 20, 2025, at the age of 72. Born on September 18, 1952, Jay leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and a life well-lived. 

Jay was the beloved husband of the late Tracy Josephine Sinagro, with whom he built a beautiful family and life. Together, they raised nine children: John, Jana, Joey, Jaclyn, Brian, Jo Anna, Kristin, Anthony, and Branden. He was also a proud and caring grandfather who found immense joy in his growing family. He is also survived by his brothers Keith, Dan, and Steven, many nieces and nephews, and his beloved grandchildren, Destiny, Joahan, Matthew, Jayden, Eliana, Aleksis, Lily, Sunny, and Dae. 

Jay was born in Galveston, Tx and started building homes in Katy, Tx. He worked as far north as New Jersey, built communities in south Florida, and served throughout numerous cities within the Lone Star State; Jay poured his heart into constructing not only homes but the dreams of countless families. His craftsmanship and dedication left an enduring mark on his community.

Jay’s adventurous spirit extended beyond his profession. He was a black belt in taekwondo, ambitious bass fisher and multiple marathon finisher, demonstrating a rare determination and passion for life’s challenges. As a Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults candidate, he lived his faith through action, inspiring others with his leadership and passion for excellence.

When not working, running or walking, Jay could be found tending to his garden, nurturing life in yet another form, or enjoying the music of Bruce Springsteen, a lifelong favorite. His love for “The Boss” was rivaled only by the love he showed to those around him.

Jay’s life was one of service, dedication, and love. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, were supported by him, and were blessed to call him family or friend.

A funeral Mass will be held at Saint Martha Catholic Church in Kingwood, Texas 10 February 2025 at 10:30 am followed by a military ceremony at the Houston National Cemetery at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to the non-profit Prison Entrepreneurship Program https://www.pep.org/donor-journey-2025 in Jay’s honor.

Military Honors: 2:30 p.m.

Chapel Service to Follow

Military Honors Presented By:

Houston Honor Guard

Visitation: 10:30 a.m.

Chapel: 11:30 a.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 12:30 p.m. (In Procession)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

Houston Honor Guard

Chapel: 1:00 p.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 2:00 p.m. (In Procession)

Houston National Cemetery

10410 Veterans Memorial Drive

Houston, Texas 77038

Meet in Lane #2 @ 10:45 a.m. (Not before 10:30 a.m.)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

Houston Honor Guard

Visitation: 11:00 a.m.

Chapel: 12:00 a.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 1:00 p.m. (In Procession)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

Houston Honor Guard

Celeste Mary Frances Peters Byrd

A long name for a woman who unselfishly and lovingly contributed to many roles in her life. A sister, a daughter, a wife, an aunt, a cousin, a grandmother, a caregiver, a veteran, a mechanic, and a role that required the most sacrifice, strength and courage, a mother.

In whatever capacity you might have known her, she did her best to love you and to know you.

Celeste passed away peacefully at the age of 72, in Texas City, TX.

Born to Benjamin Joseph Peters and Rita Joan Farrell in Huntington Station, Long Island, NY on May 28, 1952. She graduated from Walt Whitman High School in 1970 and went on to serve in the Air Force serving at Offutt Air Force Base and then the Army, serving at F011 Hood. A natural caregiver, Celeste spent many years as a nanny for families in both Houston and Austin before spreading her care to numerous seniors at a variety of nursing facilities.

She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Byrd of Texas City, TX, son, Chris Byrd (Emre) of Barcelona, Spain, son, Caven Byrd (Kelley) of Tyler, TX, sister, Susan May (Craig) of Nazareth, PA, grandchildren Skylar, Jackson, Evan, Cailyn, Cameron and Colt, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Veterans Funeral Services, 10567 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038. Visitation begins at 11:00 AM, followed by a chapel service at 12:00 PM and a committal service at Houston National Cemetery at 1:00 for military honors.

Visitation: 9:30 a.m.

Chapel: 10:30 a.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 11:30 a.m. (In Procession)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

Houston Honor Guard

Date of Birth: January 12, 1938

Date of Passing: February 25, 2025

Chapel: 1:00 p.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 2:15 p.m. (In Procession)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Air Force

Houston Honor Guard

Houston National Cemetery

10410 Veterans Memorial Dr.

Houston, TX 77038

Meet in Lane #2 @ 9:45 a.m. (Not before 9:30 a.m.)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

Houston Honor Guard

Gather: 10:00 a.m.

Chapel: 10:30 a.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 11:30 a.m. (In Procession)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

11/8/1947 – 3/1/2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rudi E. Kingma on March 1, 2025, at the age of 77.  He was born on November 8, 1947, in Gross Zimmern, Germany to Ernest Halford Bent and Dorothea (Reitzel) Kingma. 

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ingeborg, daughter Carola, husband Dean Lowe and granddaughter Sabrina, daughter Cynthia, husband Carlos Perez and daughter Megan, sister Marianne Kingma, nieces Sabine and Michelle, sister Erika Ruppert, niece Christiane, sister Judy (Bent), husband Derik Karson, niece Heather, nephew Jason. Sister-in-law Ingrid Cortes, niece Donna and nephew Torrey. Along with many more loving family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Dorothea, his beloved mother-in-law Maria Vlasman, sister Evelyn Bent, and his favorite Aunt, Grace Dixon. 

Rudi grew up in Germany and then moved to New York with his mother. He joined the US Army as a young man and went on to serve 25 years in the US and Germany. He was a proud soldier, Combat Engineer, and Vietnam veteran serving with distinction and earning accommodations throughout his military career. After retiring from the military Rudi continued to work but most enjoyed spending time with his family and doting on his granddaughters. He was a wonderful father who cared for his family.

Rudi will be laid to rest with military honors at Houston National Cemetery on 

March 20, 2025, alongside his brothers in arms. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his honor to:

-Camp Hope

-Mission K9 Rescue

-or a charity of your choice

Visitation: 12:30 p.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 2:00 p.m. (In Procession)

Military Honors Presented By:

United States Army

Harty Clifton Van, Jr., 89 of Sulphur, LA and Friendswood, TX passed away on March 11, 2025 from Chronic Kidney Disease. Harty was born to Harty Clifton Van and Winnie Lou (Hoffpauir) Van in Sulphur, LA on September 25, 1935. He grew up in Sulphur graduating from Sulphur High School in 1953. Harty attended Louisiana State University on scholarship graduating in 1958 with a BS in Geology. He was a member of the social fraternity Delta Sigma Phi. After graduating, and being commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the U. S. Army, MOS 92A Supply Management Officer and later MOS 81A Petrolem Management Officer.  Harty then served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1979. His service took him and his wife Mary Evelyn (Newby) Van to France from 1958 to 1961 where he served on the US Army Petroleum Distribution Command Pipeline from St. Nazaire, France to Zweibrucken, Germany. He was stationed at Chalons Sur Marne, Terminal District on the pipeline and then at Ft. Hood, TX from 1961 to 1964. He served on the Post QM staff as the Commissary, Ration Breakdown, Bakery, and Central Meat Cutting facilities OIC.,  supporting 44,000 troops, then Germany from 1964 to 1966 serving as a petroleum staff officer with the 2nd. QM Gp. at Coffey Barracks in Ludwigsburg, Germany. He was in charge of petroleum products supply at Stuttgart, Augsburg, Ulm, Munich, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg supply points and 7th Army training areas at Grafenwohr, and Hohenfels, Germany when his tour was curtailed by one year and he went to Vietnam serving from 1966 to 1967 with the lst Logistical Command on the General Staff of MG Charles Eifler. He was a daily logistical status briefing officer. Additional duties included sponsoring the in country arrival of both the 199th Infantry Brigade from Ft. Lewis, Washington and the Queens Cobra Regiment from Bangkok, Thailand. Also, he served as the liaison officer to the 109th QM Aerial Delivery Co. and 623rd QM Depot and Aerial Supply Co. out of Cam Rahn Bay. Vietnam.  Harty returned to the states and was a guest instructor at the U. S. Army Armor School at Ft. Knox, Ky from 1967 to 1970.  He was an instructor for the Senior and Junior Officer Preventive Maintenance Courses.  He returned again to Vietnam serving as an advisor to the RVN Army in 1970 to 1971. Stationed in Nha Trang, he was Senior QM Advisor on MACV Team 11 and his support area included Buon Ma Thuot, Dalat, Phan Thiet, Ninh Hoa and Cam Rahn Bay. Next he was assigned to the lst Infantry Training Brigade at Ft. Jackson, SC where he served as lst Battalion Executive Officer and later as Director of Services for Ft. Jackson from 1971 to 1974. He then went to Rolla, Mo where he attended Graduate School at the University of Missouri – Rolla (formerly Missouri School of Mines). He graduated with a MS in Petroleum Engineering in 1975. He was a member of the Petroleum Honor Fraternity Pi Epsilon Tau. In addition, Harty served as the acting Professor of Military Science and Technology during the summer of 1975 while the University’s PMS&T and key staff were away holding ROTC Summer Camp. Harty was also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College having completed his work by correspondence. His final Army assignment was at the U. S. Army Quartermaster School  Petroleum and Field Services Dept. at Ft. Lee, Va. where he was a Lieutenant Colonel and Director of the Dept. in 1979. Harty was awarded a Bronze Star Medal w/oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/oak leaf cluster, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal w/2 stars, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/cluster, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/star, Presidential Unit Meritorious Service Medal, w/oak leaf cluster, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, QM Badge, 4 Over Seas Combat Service Bars, RVNAFHMFC, RVNGCUCW/P, National Defense Service Medal w/star, expert marksman qualification Medal with carbine, rifle, pistol and other lesser service awards over his 21 and one half years of service.   

Harty then started work as a Petroleum Engineer with Amoco Production Company GOM Offshore Division in New Orleans in 1979. While working for Amoco he served on the Minerals Management Services Gulf of Mexico Regional Technical Working Group for many years representing the Petroleum Industry and Amoco. He was also twice chairman for Clean Gulf Associates (CGA)  (a non profit oil spill response organization for the offshore production industry in the Gulf of Mexico). He was CGA’s guest speaker at the Desk and Derrick Clubs of Metairie (1988) and Baton Rouge (1989), LA. He also served on the Executive Committee of the Offshore Operators Committee for many years. He completed his work with Amoco in 1998 and retired as Manager Environment, Health and Safety, Amoco GOM Offshore Business Unit. He was a lifetime member and member of the Legion of Merit of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). 

Over the years Harty was an avid sportsman especially enjoying frogging. On his departure from Ft. Knox they declared Rana Catesbeiana (bull frogs) an endangered species after his many years of successful frogging at Ft. Knox. He also enjoyed hunting, and especially fishing. He fished many years in his beloved Ranger Bass Boats in Petroleum sponsored tournaments at Toledo Bend and local lakes. A close second on his favorite retirement activities was cruising with his beloved wife Evelyn where they celebrated their 66 plus anniversaries. Never bashful about grilling a steak or enjoying good food prepared by others, Harty & Evelyn enjoyed their retirement. Many a pleasant week was spent at their condo at Orange Beach, Al. where they relaxed with family and friends. Harty was a 60 year plus member of Masonic Lodge AF&AM 1125 in Killeen, TX.  He was a long time member of the LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation earning his purple blazer for his financial support of LSU Athletics. After retiring from the U. S. Army, he was always in Tiger Stadium on Saturday nights watching his beloved Tigers play football through the bad years, good years and their National Championships. He also closely followed the Tiger Baseball Program and enjoyed their many National Championships.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife.

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter Cheryl Irby of Friendswood, TX, son Mark Van of Houston, TX, 3 grandchildren, Jennifer McBride, Megan Adams, Mark Van, Jr. and 4 great grandchildren, Kaitlin and Colton McBride, Cooper Adams, and Brittany Van.

Arrangements are being handled by Veterans Funeral Services, 10567 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77038. Viewing and services are on March 20, 2025. Visitation is at 12:30 pm. Departure for Houston National Cemetery is at 1:45 pm with military burial service at 2:00 pm. He will be buried with his wife in the Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

The family would like to express their deepest thanks to Dr. Robert Taylor and his staff of Ochsner Health, Slidell, LA. for their expertise, kindness and compassion given to both Harty and Evelyn during their 40 plus years of health care.  Also to Dr. Efrain Soto of Park Lakes Family Medicine, Friendswood, Tx and a very special thanks to Dr. Abdul Abdelatif and his wonderful staff of CLS Health for his care. 

Family suggests memorials in his name be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Tunnels to Towers. www.stjudeorg or www.donationsupport@tunnel2towers.org 

Chapel: 12:30 p.m.

Houston National Cemetery: 1:45 p.m. (In Procession)