Jorge Paul Gomez, age 30, departed life among us in the early morning hours of September 29, 2022 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Just three days before we celebrated his thirtieth birthday, September 26, 2022.
Some of you shared his life’s journey through your experiences at the schools he attended or his work assignments here, near, and abroad. We can imagine him as a high school student at Sylvan High or Central High with his passion for cars, especially NASCAR, video games, music, and pranks.
He liked to play jokes on his Mom when she called his phone. He changed his voice and accent to make her think she had called the wrong number! “Joe’s Pizzeria…!” and then a burst of laughter when she fell for it.
We expect for life to end after many years spent with family, friends and experiences that shape lasting memories. But for Jorge, life was short and lived in a hurry. He travelled so many places some of us can’t even find on a map: Afghanistan in service to his country, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, and Hawaii where he fell in love with the ocean and beaches. His last post was with the 82nd Airborne at Ft Bragg.
Jorge’s Dad remembers some of his finest qualities: he was playful. At seven months he seemed to have a sense of his work schedule and would wake up in the middle of the night just to play when Dad was returning home. He could be surprising: after his dad worked in Miami for two months, Jorge surprised him by walking! No longer the little baby his Dad remembered. Later, Jorge surprised us all by announcing he was married and expecting a baby!
Jorge was well-intentioned. He watched his Dad work on cars, hammering out dents and getting them ready to paint. After getting to the point of readiness, a loud CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNKING revealed Jorge “helping” with the repairs by swinging the hammer on the nearly finished car—his idea of “fixing” it!
But mostly, Jorge was loving. He loved serving in the Army and forged relationships built on love, respect, and trust. He was committed to each of you who stood alongside him in uniform, and it is a joy to his family to see so many of you here today!
Jorge loved his family: his mother Martha Pacheco and step-father José Luis Pacheco; his maternal grandmother Isabel Radales; father Jorge Gomez; sisters: Emily Gomez, Mia Pacheco, and Madeline Gomez; brothers: Robert Gomez, Julian Gomez, Daniel Pacheco, and Jordan Pacheco. He spoke to his Mom most days, always remembered birthdays and special occasions; and never missed an opportunity to tell his family how much he loved them. Jorge is sadly missed by them and he will be forever remembered by his many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
When you think of Jorge, celebrate the good memories you have of him. Remember that life is fragile and short and should be lived to the fullest.
If tears could build a stairwell and memories were a lane, I would walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again. No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye…. You were gone before I knew it, and only God knows why.
My heart still aches in sadness, and while silent tears still freely flow, what it means to lose you no one else can really know.
Lord make me an instrument of your peace; where there is anger, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. Oh divine Master, warrant that I may seek not so much to be consoled, as to console; not so much to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
A visitation for Jorge will be held Sunday, October 23, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 West 12th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204. A funeral service will occur Monday, October 24, 2022 at 10:00 AM, 5800 West 12th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204. A burial will occur Monday, October 24, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, 1501 W. Maryland Ave, North Little Rock, AR.
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