Arturo R. Lopez, 67, of Markham, Texas, danced his way into heaven's gates Friday, April 23, 2021 in Sugar Land, Texas. He was born in Mexico to Matilde Lopez.

Arturo was a member of the Rose of Sharon Church, in Van Vleck, Texas. In 1980, his family along with several other relatives moved to Bay City to help build the church. His wife Janie Jo Lopez is the co-pastor and he stood beside her and supported their calling. Arturo was a minister and loved sharing and teaching the word of God with others in Sunday School class, one-on-one, and outside the church walls. Arturo would spend several hours at the kitchen table with his Bible and Christian books studying God's word in preparation for the lesson on Sunday. His Sunday School class remembers the time he spent making sure that they understood the lesson and that all their questions were answered.

He also preached, sang, danced and performed in dramas at church. He invented the "Arturo shuffle," his signature dance move with both hands raised up moving up and down and his two index fingers pointed towards heaven. This dance move can be used with all praise and worship songs. Arturo also took the duty of cleaning and maintaining the church grounds seriously "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." The church carpet had beautiful vacuum lines like the baseball field lines at Minute Maid Stadium. In his later years, he traveled to Mexico as a missionary. His church supported him by donating clothing, toys, bikes and other household items. He would give these donations to the less fortunate.

Arturo has been serving God since he was a youth, and it is no surprise that he met his wife in church. Mom and her family were newcomers to church. During prayer time mom made the decision to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Daddy prayed a beautiful prayer with her, and she peeked to see who it was that was praying for her. She was only able to see his shoes and she looked for the shoes after church. The rest is history. They were married in 1976 and he became her "Viejo" or scathing term "Viejo mugroso." Outside of church Dad and Mom spent time at home cleaning up the yard, going out to eat and being with family.

His kids and others remember Arturo for carrying a comb or a brush in his back pocket. The comb or brush came in handy during those childrearing days. He used it to spank his kids' hands saying, "Da me la mano" and be ready to stick your hands out and then turn them over on the other side. His kids agree that they needed those spankings especially after acting spoiled rotten. His kids also remember their daddy's nurturing side carrying them from one place to another after falling asleep. Arturo would pick them up and carry them to the car, then out of the car into the house. He did this until their feet were dragging on the ground.

His grandchildren called him "Da," "Grandpa" or "Dad." Some of them saw him as their father, grandfather, or both. He spent his time playing with them, taking them for rides up and down the street on his lawnmower, or simply asking them how they were doing. From time to time, some of them would live with him.

The other things Arturo loved doing was going for drives in his truck, enjoying the scenery around him with his windows rolled down and one arm hanging over the driver's door. At home he would have the music blasting listening to Christian music. Arturo was also known as the "human trash disposable." No food ever went to waste around him. He would consume all his food and then eat your leftovers or take them home to his little doggies, Cookie and Sandy. They would be waiting happily for him with their tails wagging, to see if he would have a treat in hand when walking through the door.

He was preceded in death by his brother Obed Martinez. Arturo is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Janie Jo Lopez; his oldest son Arturo & daughter in law Casey Lopez of Van Vleck, his daughters; Racheal & son in law John Garza of Houston, Jessica & son in law John Cline of Blessing, and youngest son Matthew Lopez of Markham. Grandchildren; Alyssa, Brianna, Dylan, Alayja, Aaliyah, John Cross, Jett & future grandson Jensen Arturo Cline. His mother Matilde López, his brothers; Adan Martinez, Laman Martinez, sisters; Noemi Martinez, Delia Reyes, Aidee Fonseca of Bay City.

The family will receive relatives and friends at 10:30 am Monday, April 26, 2021 at Rose of Sharon Pentecostal Church in Van Vleck with Funeral Services beginning at 11:00am with Joy Limones and Louis Villarreal officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck, Texas. Pallbearers for Arturo will be; Aaron Garza, Ray Morales, Juan Cruz, Luis Villarreal, Elias Martinez, Isaac Martinez. Honorary Pallbearers; Arthur Lopez, Matthew Lopez, John Garza, & John Cline.