Benjamin Simental Sr.

A soldier has died. Benjamin Simental Sr., 92, was called by Our Lord to eternal peace on March 5, 2017. He is preceded in death by his wife, Guadalupe Gavaldon, his daughter Virginia Whitcomb, and his granddaughter Yvette Raegina Simental. He is also preceded in death by his father Manuel Simental, Sr. and his mother, Elisa Tenorio de Romero. He graduated from Bowie High School in 1943. Mr. Simental was a WWII hero, having served his country in the US Army Air Corps 3017th Unit from 1943 until the end of the war. He was stationed in England, earning six bronze stars for the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe, and Air Offensive Europe. After the war, Mr. Simental married the love of his life and continued to serve his country through the Department of Defense, retiring as a supervisor from the NIKE/HAWK Missiles Division at Ft. Bliss, TX. He grew up during the Great Depression, yet his childhood memories were rich and enjoyed recounting them to his children. Mr. Simental was beloved by his family and his colleagues. He is survived by his sons, Benjamin Jr. (Sandra Carter), Enrique (Sonia Urbina), Danny (Teresa del Olmo), Michael Angelo, Antonio, and Alexandro Joseph, and his daughters, Yvonne Marie (Kevin Wills), Maria Teresa, Alicia (Frank Thompson), Barbara (Crowe), and Eliza. He is also survived by his brothers, Enrique, Edmundo, and Fermin, and sisters, Natividad, Margarita, Hortencia, Elisa, and Dolores. He leaves behind 34 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren, as well as several nephews and nieces. As a member of the Greatest Generation, Mr. Simental leaves a legacy of unfettered faith in God and love for his family.

Services will be held on March 8, 2017 at 5:00 pm at Hillcrest Funeral Home, with a rosary at 7:00 pm. A mass will be held on March 9, 2017 at St. Francis Xavier Church. He will be interred next to his wife at Ft. Bliss with full military honors.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalms 23:8