Aubin Benitez

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ventura H. and Julia Casares Benitez, all of his brothers and sisters and the mother of his children, Maria Alicia Avila Benitez.

At his death, Aubin was surrounded by his surviving children and son-in-law; Aubin Benitez, Jr., and wife, Beverly, Mamie Campbell and husband, Raul, and their children, Pamela Culver and husband, George Arden and Griffin, Pricilla Crosser and husband, Samuel Campbell and Mila, Rudy Benitez and wife, Anna and their son, Daniel Benitez and J.C. Benitez.

The Benitez family was of early pioneer families that established the business community in Donna with grocery stores, movie theaters, gas stations, dance halls and other entrepreneurial efforts.

His family was of the original Spanish Land Grant "La Barreta" awarded to the Balli families.

During the great Depression years, young Aubin along with childhood friends worked in the Civilian Conservation Corp. C.C.C. camps in New Mexico and Arizona in 1935. Aubin returned to Donna to re-establish the family grocery business, Benitez Grocery.

He enlisted in the Army in 1942 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and served with Headquarters Company 702nd Tank Battalion. During World War II, he served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe as a machine-gunner.

He was awarded 5 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and EAME Campaign Citations. Aubin returned to his home town with an Honorable Discharge October 1945.

Obituary Comment:

"Mr. Benitez was one of the most unpretentious, yet complex people that I have ever met. We talked about his life in the U.S. Army and his devotion to the country. He told me how he had '5 battle stars' to mean that he had been in 5 battles. When I saw copies of his Discharge papers from 1945, I realized he was referring to the 5 BRONZE STARS he had earned for bravery in combat. We also talked about his devotion to God. He told me how he prayed every day since WWII for those that died in battle. Another great American Veteran has moved on." Dean L. Kellogg, Jr., MD, Ph.D., Department of Medicine, UT Health Science Center.

The family extends sincere appreciation for the excellent and compassionate medical care he received at the Geriatrics Extended Care Treatment Center at Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, to his primary doctors, Mark A. Prange, MD; Dean Kellogg, Jr., MD, Ph.D. and all medical and nursing staff.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 13, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Porter Loring on McCullough Ave.

ROSARY

WEDNESDAY

APRIL 13, 2011

7:00 P.M.

PORTER LORING

CHAPEL

MASS

THURSDAY

APRIL 14, 2011

1:00 P.M.

ST. LUKE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH

4603 MANITOU DRIVE

Fr. Jesus G. Anguiano celebrating. Interment in Fort Sam Houston Cemetery with full Military Honors.