Fort Worth veteran: Community gathers to honor 88-year-old

Francisco Mendez Fernandez Jr., 88, died on Oct. 25, 2026. His family held a funeral service for him on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Independence Chapel in Fort Worth.

The public visitation took place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at the same location. A reception followed the funeral service from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Memorial Suites C and D at Greenwood Funeral Home.

A graveside service is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. This final ceremony will occur at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery located at 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas.

Mendez Fernandez was born in Brownsville, Texas, on Oct. 28, 1938. He served in the U.S. Army at age 23 and was stationed in Germany for two years. He and his wife, Mary, moved to Fort Worth in 1967 and raised three children there.

The couple married on June 4, 1961. Mendez Fernandez is survived by Mary, his wife of 63 years. He is also survived by his daughter Vanessa Barrett and son Mark Fernandez. He leaves behind nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.