Obituary of Atilano M. Pina Jr.

ATILANO M. PIÑA JR.

EDINBURG - Atilano M. Piña Jr., 87, passed away Friday, June 7, 2019, at the Comfort House in McAllen. Mr. Piña was preceded in death by his wife, Emilia Zavala Piña; his daughter, Nora Vela; a granddaughter, Ruby Erica Esparza-Perez; his parents, Atilano Piña and Santos Muñoz; a brother, Javier Piña; his sister, Maria Piña; a sister-in-law, Susana Piña.

Atilano was a primary heir and descendent of Jose Manuel Balli who received ownership of La Barretta Spanish Land Grant located in Brooks and Kleberg Counties during the early 1800's. His great-grandfather, Atilano Piña was earliest marked grave at the Balli Cemetery in Donna, married to Natividad Balli Rubalcaba. Atilano was proud of his ancestors and hope to one day witness the rightful return of such land to the Balli family.

He had the honors to have been present at the dedication in 1998, where his great-grandfather Atilano Piña and Natividad Balli names appear in the Texas Historical Marker, south of Donna, between Run and Progresso.

Dad was a simple man with a big heart, that loved fishing, hunting, and had a passion for welding. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought so much joy to him. Atilano will be dearly missed and forever remembered by all who knew him.

Mr. Piña is survived by his six children, Ninfa Ochoa, Lucy (Rodolfo) Rodriguez, Eva Espinoza, Rebecca Treviño, Diana (Rodney) Ramsey, and Adan (Clara) Piña; 23 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren; a sister, Timotea (Jose) Tamez; two brothers, Jose Piña, and Guadalupe (Martha) Piña.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary, Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at Legacy Chapels 4610 South Jackson Road in Edinburg. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Edinburg. Pallbearers will be his grandson's, Anastaco (T.C.) Ochoa III, Nat Esparza Jr., Rudy Rodriguez Jr., Arnold Ozuna Jr., Danny Vela Jr., and Ramon Treviño. Honorary Pallbearers will be Randy Rodriguez, Adan (A.J.) Piña Jr., Adrian Ozuna, Brandon Vela, and Anthony Salinas.  

Pleas sign book here. 

Funeral services are under the direction of Legacy Chapels in Edinburg.