Arthur “Art” Lona Sr., 76, of Nederland, Texas passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont with his loving family at his side.
Art was born on July 17, 1945 in Port Arthur, Texas to Rebecca Hernandez Lona and Saturnino Lona. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1963 and then served in the Army Reserves for many years. He worked for Munroe’s Dry Cleaners for 25 years in outside sales; RPS Services for 5 years as a welding supervisor and Trinity Railroad for 6 years where he worked as a security guard. Art was a member of the Sertoma Club. He loved cooking, fishing, and golf and LOVED watching boxing. As a young man, he was trained by Dick Menchaca and competed in the Golden Gloves boxing tournaments. He was a proud member of the “Last Chance Cookers” and along with his 4 team members accumulated multiple prizes for best Ribs, Brisket, Beans and more. His favorite past-time was spending time with his family and friends at events like the Port Arthur Mardi Gras, cook outs, trips to the beach and camping. He enjoyed his time as co-owner/manager of a popular Mexican restaurant in the 80’s named, El Taco Tipico.
Art is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Sylvia Garcia Lona of Nederland; children, Tammy Lona Faulk, and her husband John Faulk of Nederland, Richard Lona and his wife Kim of Port Neches, Arthur “Artie” Lona Jr., and his wife Annett of San Antonio, Cheryl Gussman Cockrell, and her husband Wayne of Orangefield and Sylvia Ann Gussman Caldera, and her husband Pedro of Beaumont; his mother of 97 years, Rebecca Lona of Port Arthur; fourteen grandchildren; six great grandchildren and many other family members, friends and co-workers who will miss him dearly.
Memorial Services to Honor the Life of Arthur “Art” Lona, Sr. will be held at Melancon Funeral Home in Nederland, Texas at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2022, with a visitation to take place prior to services from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Private Cremation services will be held at a later date.
The family would like to thank everyone for their calls, text messages and prayers over the past few weeks. Art loved all of you and we know you loved him.