Anthony "Papa Tony" Lopez, Sr. Obituary

In the honor of the life of: Anthony “Papa Tony” Lopez, Sr.

Date of Birth 4/13/1942- Date of Rest 8/7/2025

He is preceded in death by his late and 1st wife Dolly Lopez and his Mother Natalie Lopez.

Left to Cherish his memory, his wife of 36 years, Irene Lopez.

His 5 children

Maryann

Irene

Denise

And his sons Anthony, Jr. and James

He leaves behind his 22 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren

He also leave behind his extended family of

Jo

Ray

Fonda

Cheryl

And Renee

That includes 14 additional grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 2 great -great grandchildren.

Tony was a man who lived fully, loved deeply, and left behind a legacy of strength, love, and unwavering spirit.

He was a man of grit and grace — someone who believed in staying strong, not just in body, but in character. He loved karate — not just the art of it, but the discipline, the focus, the lifelong pursuit of self-improvement. He found joy in working out, in staying active, in pushing himself to stay strong for the people he loved.

He also found peace in the outdoors — in yard work, in the satisfaction of a job done right, in the quiet rhythm of pulling weeds or gardening. These were his meditations, his moments of calm, and they spoke volumes about the kind of man he was: grounded, humble, and always in motion.

And when the work was done, he’d unwind with his favorite old Westerns — stories of courage, justice, and men who lived by their word. It makes sense, because in many ways, he was one of those men. Tough but kind. Quiet but full of wisdom. A protector. A provider. A good man through and through.

But above all else, he loved his family.

He adored his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. Each of them was a piece of his heart walking out in the world. And then, of course, there was Irene — his beautiful wife, his partner, his anchor.

A memorial service will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Saturday, August 23rd at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Bishop Jason Boyd and Reverend Dwayne Scruggs officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.