Trinidad Santillan born May 31, 1931, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on November 25, 2022, at the age of 91.

Known to most as Trine, he was born in New Braunfels, Texas, and lived the majority of his life in San Antonio, Texas. At the age of 18 years old, Trine decided to serve his country and enlisted in the Army. While enlisted he served his time at Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Lawton Washington, as well as Fairbank and Anchorage, Alaska. After 3 years of service, Trine was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Private-First Class.

To give thanks to La Virgen de Guadalupe for his safe return home, Genoveva, Trine's mother, took him to Mexico City, to pay a manda. while on the way they stop to visit family in Monterrey, Mexico and there at a family gathering is where he met Magdalena, the woman that he would spend the next 70 years loving. With Magalena living in Mexico, they spent 2 years falling in love over letters and visits to Mexico. Finally on August 14, 1955 Trine and Nena got married and she moved to the US. In 1962, they bought their home where they would end up building their life together and raising their daughter in. The love and admiration between them was a constant present throughout the years. From holding hands to making a joke at her expense to caring for her when she was sick, there was nothing Trine wouldn't do for his wife. Along with his wife, Trine was very devoted to his family. He had one daughter who he loved more than anything and treated his nieces and nephews like they were his own. He loved getting visits from his grandchild and great-children and telling them stories about his life. He was always ready to teach anyone who was willing to learn all the things he knew how to do.

Trine took pride in all he did, including his career. For 40 years he worked as a Maintenance Welder for  an asphalt company. There he was known as a hard worker that never missed a day and good at what he did. He loved what he did so much that even after he retired he continued to weld at home. Having a passion for working with his hands, he welded and did woodworking. From fences, swings, BBQ pits and step stools to his first grandson's bassinet, dressers tables and even a treasure chest, there wasn't anything he wouldn't make for a family member.  Trine also stayed active in any way he could, in his younger years he loved to hunt and fish, and was a certified scuba diver. In his later years he stayed active outside by welding and tending to his garden of chiles.

Trine lived a long and healthy life and will be dearly missed by those he leaves behind, his daughter Myrna (Armando); 3 grandchildren Robert (Sabrina), Erik and Erika (Mark); 4 great-grandchildren Nathaniel, Nicole, Adalynn and Navy; and numerous nieces and nephews. But we know he is at peace, reunited with his wife of 66 years, Magdalena, who he lost earlier this year. He has also been reunited with his parents Gerardo and Genoveva; his sisters Tome, Tana, Chove and Eva; his grandson Joshua and many other family members and friends that passed. Papi/Popo/Tio thank you for the wonderful memories you have given us. Thank you for showing us that a man could be strong and gentle. Thank you for all of the lessons you taught us. But most of all thank you for showing us how to be a wonderful human being.