********************************************************************** Carlos Urrutia 11 June 2017 *********************************+************************************ Colonel Carlos Urrutia II, U.S. Army Air Corps, was born on August 29, 1925 in San Antonio, TX. The son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Cook and the grandson of the late Dr. & Mrs. Aureliano Urrutia passed away peacefully on June 11, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. Carlos Urrutia II was a remarkable and honorable man who had two passions in life; his wife of almost 60 years Yolanda, and flying the most powerful fighter planes of his day. Carlos joined the U.S. Army Air Corps on September 4, 1943, 6 days after his 17th birthday. Carlos flew the P51D Mustang in WWII, and survived being shot down behind enemy lines. Among his many awards and medals, Col. Urrutia II received the presti- gious Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. Following WW II, Carlos attended Texas A&M University and graduated in 1950 with a degree in Geology and Geophysics. After graduation, Carlos was recalled to duty by the United States Air Force and flew F-80 and F-86 fighter jets in the Korean Conflict, again surviving behind enemy lines. After returning home, Carlos worked for forty years as a geologist/geophysicist and as a Manager and Vice President for Geophysical Services Inc. and later Halliburton. His career sent him on assignment to over 100 countries across the globe. Carlos lived a full and fulfilling life. He loved family gatherings and celebrations, shared a wonderful sense of humor, and enjoyed many hobbies including gardening, working on anything mechanical, and cheering on his Aggies in his beloved blue jeans and Texas A&M t-shirt. He will be greatly missed, but his memory and honor will live on forever. Carlos is survived by his wife Yolanda Urrutia. He is also survived by his children, Carlos Urrutia III, Ana Maria O'Neal, Diana & David Grace, Albert Urrutia, Sandra & Travis Sales and Patty Urrutia, and by his grandchildren Heather & Ryan Davis, Cristina O'Neal, Elizabeth O'Neal, Caroline Grace, Andrew Urrutia, Allison Urrutia, Katie & Brad Kirbo, Emily Sales and James Sales. Col. Urrutia II is also survived by his great grandchildren Blythe Davis, Carson O'Neal and Jonnie Marie O'Neal. A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 23, 2017 at 11:00am in the Lady Chapel at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 7810 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, TX 77379, with a reception immediately following at the church in McGivney Hall. Entombment will follow a t 1:45pm at the Houston National Cemetery located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Col. Carlos Urrutia II to The Wounded Warriors Project. Carlos supervised 3 field crews for me (Ron Weaver) in Midland in 1979 -80. He was a very hard working, intelligent and humble man. He would jog 2 miles every morning in Midland to stay in shape. He was in the Air Force Reserve after he left active duty and did his monthly service and two weeks service with the reserve all the time while in Midland and was still doing that when I worked with him in New Orleans in the early '90's. He was still flying every month for the Reserve at that time. Carlos was working for GSI in Colombia and had come to Bogota on break and was staying at the Tequendama hotel, which for years was where all the GSIers stayed. There was a reception at the time in the hotel for the Miss Colombia pageant but it was by invitation only. Members of the moneyed class and diplomatic corps were invited and their presence was announced when they entered the reception. Carlos, ever the enterprising doodlebugger, dressed in his finest suit, showed up at the reception and was announced as the Consul of Spain. That got him in and he met his future wife and was engaging in an entertaining conversation, when a loud voice announced the entrance of "the Consul of Spain". Security found him quickly enough and he was summarily expelled from the reception. The rest is history. He was entombed at Houston National Cemetery on Friday, June 23rd. He is survived by his wife Yolanda and numerous children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Below find a link which details a little bit about Carlos' grandfather. His grandfather was forced out of Mexico and took refuge in San Antonio along with a lot of other Mexican government officials in that period of Mexican history. His grandfather donated a lot of the land that currently comprises Breckenridge Park in San Antonio. He was also one of the founders of the Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio. Dr. Aureliano Urrutia's Gates