By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
It was a somber scene as Del Rioans welcomed one of their own home for the last time.
Several hundred high school students and staff stood along Memorial Drive in front of Del Rio High School Tuesday afternoon as a hearse carrying former principal Dr. Jose F. Perez slowly went by.
Perez, who had recently been appointed the San Felipe Del Rio CISD’s Chief Operations Officer, died this past weekend hiking in west Texas.
His body was returned to Del Rio Tuesday afternoon as several hundred students and staff turned out at the school he led since 2016, and another 100 family and friends followed the hearse in vehicles.
Students and teachers were openly sobbing as he passed and several released blue and white balloons to slowly float skyward.
The Del Rio High School Marching Ram Band played the school song during the two-minute procession and then, as students returned inside the school, the band played the school’s fight song.
District police cars led the procession.
A public viewing will be held at the Trinity Chapel Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Trinity Chapel of Devotion. A Holy Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on both nights.
Perez’s service is Friday and he will be driven past the high school one fine time shortly before his 10 a.m. service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Burial will be held afterwards at Sunset Memorial Oaks Cemetery.
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Contact the author at joelalangton@gmail.com
