Julio Arriaga

Julio Arriaga, 72, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2025, in Brownsville, Texas. Julio was born on June 10, 1952, in Corpus Christi, Texas, and spent most of his life in his beloved hometown before moving to Brownsville to spend his final years surrounded by his daughters and loved ones.

Julio dedicated much of his life to serving his country. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 31, 1972, during the Vietnam War, completing multiple tours in Korea and Germany while returning to various U.S. bases throughout his career. He later transitioned to the Texas Army National Guard, where he continued his service until his retirement on December 31, 1994, after 20 years of dedicated military service.

His professional career was deeply rooted in his military experience, working as a skilled technician and mechanic specializing in tank systems and logistics. Beyond his career, Julio had a passion for working on cars, mastering electrical systems, and cheering on his Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans. He loved spending time with family, firing up the grill for a barbecue at every opportunity, and sharing stories with those closest to him. He also enjoyed watching classic western TV shows throughout the day as he rested.

Julio is survived by his children, Melissa Gatica, Patricia Salazar, Thomas Arriaga, and Michael Arriaga; his ex-spouse, Brunilda Fernandez; and his siblings, Joe Arriaga, Jimmy Arriaga, Javier Arriaga, Lucy Cornejo, Lousil Garcia, and Judy Reyes. He was a beloved father, brother, and friend who will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. The burial is to be held the next day, on Monday, March 10 at 1:00 PM at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, Texas.

Julio’s legacy of service, kindness, and devotion to family will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Services are under the guidance of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Flower Shop. 657 Springmart Blvd., Brownsville, Texas. (956) 350-8485

To send flowers or a plant to the family in the memory of Mr. Julio Arriaga, please visit Shalom Sympathy Florals at Sunset Memorial, place your order online at https://shalomflorals.com/shop or call (956) 572-3872.