TSGT Ismael A. López, 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 6, 2021.  A veteran who joined the United States Air Force at 18 years of age and was stationed at Laredo Air Force Base, his military career took him to Guam, Germany, England, New Mexico, Panama, and Virginia where he retired with his family after serving for 22 years.

A native of Laredo, Texas, and a resident of Hampton for 45 years, after retiring from the US Air Force he worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and the Langley AFB Officer's Club.

When he was not working and caring for his large family, Mr. López had a passion for golf, coaching Little League baseball and loved watching his favorite football team Dallas Cowboys.

Ismael is preceded in death by his loving wife, Heriberta López; his parents, Alberto and Vicenta López; his sister, Hortencia Davila; his brothers, Alberto López, Jr. and Heriberto López. He is survived by his brothers, Gilberto López from Laredo, Texas and Roberto López from San Antonio, Texas; his five daughters, Rosalinda (John) Hally, Rebecca López, Roxanne (Jim) Brown, Rita (Mark) Charnick, Reginia López and Rusty (Nicole) Wallace; grandchildren, Christina (Nathan) Hiltke, Mark Charnick, Jr., David López, Alessandra Hally, AJ Hally, and Raymond Brown; and three great- grandchildren, Ava, Luke, and Allison Hiltke.

The family would like to thank Tammy Spencer from the Veteran's Administration for her loving care and devotion to our father and his children. The family would also like to thank Nina Edwards from Hospice Care and Chaplain Vernita Baldwin.

There will be a viewing at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA 23669, on Thursday, June 10, 2021, from 6:30pm-7:30pm. Immediately following, the Holy Rosary will be prayed.  The Rosary Service will be live streamed on the funeral home Facebook page ( click here at 7:29 PM ).  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, June 11, 2021, at 10 am, by Rev. Msgr. Walter C. Barrett, at St Joseph Catholic Church 512 Buckroe Ave. Hampton VA. Interment with Air Force honors will follow in Hampton Memorial Gardens.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church Food Pantry, 512 Buckroe Ave., Hampton, Va. 23664.