The Honorable Judge Roy Mancha Quintanilla, of League City, Texas passed away on Sunday January 4, 2026, in Houston, Texas at the age of 81.  Remembered as a man of honor, for his integrity and kindness, and being a true gentleman.

He was born on April 18, 1944, in McAllen, Texas.  He is preceded in death by his parents Rogelio and Victoria Quintanilla, parents-in-law Dalton and Edna Parker, brother Pedro G. Quintanilla, brothers-in-law: Gilbert Pena and Allen Parker, and sister-in-law Ina Parker.

He is survived by his loving wife Betty of 58 years, two sons Roy (wife Pamela) Quintanilla, and Donnie Quintanilla.  His brother Jose “Joe” (wife Norma) Quintanilla, and sisters Mary (husband Charles) Granger, Dolores Mendoza, Gloria Perkins, and sister-in-law Celia Quintanilla. Grandchildren Brandon, Ashton, Abigail, step grandchildren Bryan, Jaysen, Matthew, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He had a firm foundation in Christ and loved his family with all his heart.  He graduated from Ball High School in 1963 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He met his bride while stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC in 1967.  He saw the woman he’d be in love with the rest of his life while at a laundry mat her family operated.  He tried to get her attention each time he went in, finally he asked her on a date and she told him, “I’ll go on one condition….you have to go to church with me first”.  They married a few months later and were by each other’s side for the next 58 years.

In July 1968, they welcomed their first son Roy.  He was honorably discharged in September 1968 as a Staff Sergeant. After the service he began attending some college, and worked at Cook’s Discount Store in Jacksonville, NC working his way up to operations manager.  He then changed career paths and went into law enforcement as a police officer in Jacksonville.  After word getting back to his parents in Galveston of being involved in a gun shootout in downtown Jacksonville, his father Rogelio told him if he came back to Texas he would help him pay for college.  He moved back to Texas in 1974 to attend Sam Houston University majoring in Criminal Justice.  He would drive from Huntsville to Galveston on the weekends with his wife and child to work at the family restaurant, “The Taco House”.  In 1976, they welcomed their second son Donnie and he was accepted into Law School at the University of Houston.  

After graduating in 1979, he began his law practice as a general law practitioner in Galveston.  He was appointed as the Municipal Court Judge for the City of Galveston in 1996.  He continued his law practice for over 20 years until he became Judge of County Court at Law #3 in 2000 until 2010.  After 2010, he served as a visiting judge and was appointed by the State as a CPS Court Judge/Referee until 2023 when he retired.

He was an avid reader… he would finish most books in a day or two.  He loved to stay updated with the law and procedure.  He was always signing up for online continuing legal education seminars or attending in person even after retirement until his passing.

He encouraged family, friends, and anyone he met to challenge themselves to do the best you can with what God gave you.  He would encourage people of all walks of life to do more than they think they are capable of.  He himself in high school was told by his counselor that he should basically dig ditches and work with his hands.  Before his passing, he said I have accomplished more than I ever thought.  One thing would lead to the next in his life…. Marine, store clerk then operations manager, police officer, college student, lawyer, then Judge.  With all that, he said “I accomplished more in my life than I ever thought I would… but the greatest accomplishment of my life was to have such a good wife, good kids and grandkids.”  

He was dedicated to his community by serving on the Galveston County Resource and Crisis Center, CASA Child Advocacy Board, Noon Optimist Club, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, as a Galveston College Board of Regents, Board Director for Mainland Center Hospital, and one of his favorites… Galveston County Adoption Day.

You have finished your race. Rest well Marine…Semper Fi.

Services will be held at Clear Creek Community Church 528 Campus located at 4201 FM 528, Friendswood, Texas 77546 on January 24, 2026 at 10am. 

In lieu of flowers the family request donations in the name of Roy Quintanilla to the Galveston County Resource and Crisis Center https://www.rccgc.org/donate, Clear Creek Community Church “People in Need” Fund https://clearcreek.org/nextsteps/giving/, Marine Corps League https://www.mcleaguelibrary.org/, or the American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/.