Arthur H. Guerra Jr.

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, Arthur Howard Guerra Jr., entered eternal rest on April 8, 2024, at the age of 85. He was born on August 6, 1938, in San Antonio, Texas to Arthur and Henrietta (Billa) Guerra.

Art/Artie/Butch attended St. Gerard’s School (K-12), graduating in 1956. At St. Gerard’s, he excelled in all sports, but particularly football. He was class President all four years of high school. It was during this time that he met Bobbe (Roberta) Billmeier, who he would marry after college graduation.

Art began his college years at the University of Texas (Austin), attending on a football scholarship. He subsequently transferred to Texas A&I University (Kingsville), graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Art married the love of his life, Roberta Mary Billmeier in 1960, and the two shared a beautiful union of 64 years. They raised three children together.

Although Arthur was a loving father and grandfather, as well as a devoted husband, he was also a very skilled professional engineer and general contractor. He spent his early years with City Public Service (CPS Energy), followed by life-changing assignments with HB Zachry, including a magical year that took his family to Ponce, Puerto Rico. Art then moved to new frontiers: starting Southern Distributors in San Antonio, followed by a rewarding final chapter of work helping lead Williams Industries and State Construction.

In his spare time, he enjoyed spending time with family, his grandchildren, golfing, and traveling, particularly to his beloved Colorado. Art loved music. He played saxophone in his early years and instilled a deep love and appreciation of music with his three children.

He was a colorful storyteller and never met a joke he didn’t enjoy and couldn’t retell, usually better than how he heard it. He was a master craftsman when it came to woodworking and gifted his children and grandchildren with treasures from his hands from more than four decades.

Art left this world just as the solar eclipse of the sun was completing its special show, causing one Artie-fan to quip: “there’s something spiritual about him passing through the heavens during a celestial event, but I always knew he was a shooting star.” He will be forever cherished and deeply missed.

He leaves to cherish in his memory, his beloved wife, Bobbe (Roberta) Billmeier Guerra, his children: Michael Guerra (Tina), Patrick Guerra (Cathy), and Kelly Guerra Gomez (David); 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; his sister: Petesie (Mary Adele) Lee, and numerous close relatives and friends.

Art’s ashes will be interred at Holy Cross Cemetery (San Antonio) on April 22 at 1pm. A celebration of his life is planned for June 16, 2024, at place in San Antonio to be determined at a later date.