Carlos Alberto Lopez

The spirit of Carlos Alberto Lopez returned home to his Creator at 4:05 p.m. on January 21. A service of worship and praise for the Triune God whom Carlos loved all his life and served as minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for over 50 years and of celebration in thanksgiving for Carlos' life will be held at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 28. Interment will be in San Antonio. A native of Cuba, Carlos was born on July 8, 1923, to Teresa Nicolau and Juan Alberto Lopez, both deceased. He and his mother were able to come to the United States in 1954 during the Cuban Revolution because his two younger sisters were already here and married to U.S. citizens. Mrs. Lopez remained in Miami, Fla., with her daughter Raquel while Carlos settled in Albuquerque, N.M., where his sister Reina and her family lived. Carlos was graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1959, was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in December 1962, was graduated from San Francisco Presbyterian Seminary in June of 1962, and became a citizen of this country in April of 1964. During those years he married Karen Knudson from South Dakota in August of 1958, and produced three children: Dan, Teresa, and Alicia. In the following years of ministry he served three churches as pastor: Second Presbyterian in Albuquerque 1962-68; Delta-Divine Savior Larger Parish in El Paso, Texas, 1968-78; and Divine Redeemer in San Antonio, Texas, 1978 until his retirement in 1990. His wife, Karen died suddenly of a heart attack in the spring of 1990. His daughter, Teresa died just as suddenly of a heart attack in January of 2003, leaving behind her husband Mark Murray and her 14-month-old daughter, Sydney. Through the Presbyterian Church during his years in El Paso Carlos was very involved with Border Ministry in cooperation with the Northern Mexico Presbytery. He served as moderators of Tres Rios Presbytery and the of the Synod of the Sun and while in San Antonio was on several committees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Even after retirement Carlos remained active in service to the church and various organizations in which he had been actively involved during his ministry: Presbyterian Pan-American School Board as member and then president; San Francisco theological Seminary Board of Trustees for 10 years; Presbyterian Village Foundation in Little Rock. He was active with Planned Parenthood in San Antonio in LGBTQ organizations within and outside the Presbyterian Church. In 1994 he married the Rev. Sally Stockley Johnson and supported her in her ministry in the Presbyterian Church until her retirement in 2006. They moved to Little Rock in 2008 and affiliated with Westover Hills Presbyterian Church where Carlos enjoyed teaching Spanish classes, singing in the choir, and leading Wednesday night worship. He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved daughter, Teresa Lopez Murray (Mark). He is survived by his wife of almost 23 years, his son Dan Lopez (Kristin), daughter Alicia Martinez (Eric), step daughter, Julie Holt (Kent), Charlie Johnson (Robin), Voris Johnson (Darrell); grandchildren, Nicholas, Zachary, Milo, Maren, Jude, and Ellie Lopez, Sam and Ally Wait, Sydney Murray, Jennifer and Jonathan Thompson, and Gray and Hope Johnson; by his two sisters, Reina Martinez (Marty) and Raquel Tedder; and by numerous nieces and nephews and their children. Memorials may be made to Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, 6400 Richard B. Hardie Drive, LR 72207; Presbyterian Village, 510 Brookside Drive, LR 72205; Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkstone Circle, NLR 72116, and San Francisco Theological Seminary, 105 Seminary Road, San Anselmo, Calif. 94960. Cremation Arrangements Entrusted to Arkansas Cremation. www.ArkansasCremation.com.