Geronimo Silva Marroquin's Obituary
Geronimo Silva Marroquin, who passed away at age 91 on March 11, 2020, surrounded by loved ones, always had a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eye and a song in his heart. Jerry, as he was known, was born on July 17, 1928, in Montemorelos, Mexico, to Salomon T. Marroquin and Andrea Silva Marroquin, who immigrated to the United States when Jerry was 6 months old. He had an older sister named Purita, who died before he was born, and three brothers - older brothers Edward and David and younger brother Salomon - all of whom he adored and preceded him in death. Growing up poor in a small Texas town during the Depression, Jerry found solace in having adventures with his beloved brothers and going to see B-westerns at the local movie house with money he earned shining shoes at his father’s barber shop.
A veteran of two wars, he left high school to serve in the Army at the end of World War II and served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Between the two wars, he caught the eye of the preacher’s beautiful daughter, Olga Medellin, and they married on Nov. 21, 1952. Their loving union held strong for 65 years until her passing on Nov. 22, 2017. They had three children - Bea, Jerome and Louis - who loved them both so dearly and feel blessed to have had two such faithful, loving and present parents.
Always friendly and outgoing, Jerry loved adventure, playing sports, painting on canvas, performing skits and playing his harmonica. Although he had a long and successful career as a commercial and technical artist at companies such as Zales, LTV, E-Systems and Raytheon, his true passions were his family and his work with his church of more than 60 years, Axe Memorial United Methodist Church. He led the ushers at the church for many years, and also during his lifetime sang in the Chancel Choir, taught Sunday school, worked with the church’s Boy Scouts troop and taught martial arts in Axe’s fellowship hall. Though a profound hearing loss caused him to slow his involvement in his later years, he never gave up serving the church, preparing the bulletins for Sunday worship each week and serving as usher whenever needed. If the church doors were open, you could depend on Jerry being there. He never let his hearing loss deter his worship. He may have been singing the wrong verse and slightly off-key, but he always sang loud and proud - as if only he and his Lord were in the room.
Jerry was the kindest and most sincere of men. He will be loved, missed and remembered for as long as those who knew him are on this Earth. He is survived by daughter Bea Knagg and son-in-law Richard Knagg of Garland; son Jerome Marroquin and daughter-in-law Terri Marroquin of Fallbrook, Calif.; son Louis Marroquin and his partner Evan Salituro of Arlington, Texas; grandchildren John Knagg (wife Terri), Eric Knagg (wife Jennifer), Alex Knagg (wife Vanessa), all of Texas; Bethany Marroquin, Josiah Marroquin (wife Lynette), Caleb Marroquin, all of California; and Micah Marroquin of Waco, Texas; seven great-grandchildren; and so many family members and friends who loved him dearly.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 20, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave. in Dallas. The family will have a private burial and will have a memorial service at a later date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Axe Memorial United Methodist Church in Garland.
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