Carlos D. Estrada

Rev. Carlos Duran Estrada,pastor, went to be with the Lord on May 31, 2025, at the age of 73. He was born in Villa Union, Coah., Mexico on February 19, 1952, to Carlos Duran Espinosa and Maria de Jesus Villarreal de Duran, and later adopted by Luis Estrada and Manuela Duran de Estrada.

He lived his young life in Del Rio, San Antonio, and Pawnee, Texas. The family later moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where he graduated from Foy H. Moody High School in 1972. There he met his wife of 52 years, Elida G. Jaquez, at Templo Bautista, where his father was the pastor. They married on April 6, 1973, and had 3 children.

Carlos started working at Gault Aviation until 1975. At this point, he found employment with Dowell in the oilfield industry, and moved with his wife and children to Sonora, Texas, finally settling in Eldorado, Texas. Carlos later attended and graduated from Angelo State University, in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Spanish.

At this point in his life, he felt the calling to the ministry and was ordained at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Sonora, Texas. He worked as a bi-vocational pastor in Sonora and Eldorado. In 2000, Carlos and Elida moved to Kingsville, Texas where Carlos worked with the Texas Railroad Commission out of Corpus Christi. He also continued his ministry, preaching in churches like Iglesia Bautista Palito Blanco and Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in Woodsboro, TX. After retiring from the Railroad Commission, he became pastor at Iglesia Bautista Palito Blanco until his passing. Carlos will be remembered for his passion for fishing, hunting, golfing and football (Cowboys).

He is preceded in death by his parents Luis and Manuela Estrada, and his brother Luis B. Estrada.

He survived by his wife, Elida J. Estrada, daughter Carla J. Estrada, sons Carlos J. (Blanca)Estrada and Caleb J. Estrada, and his sister Alpha Omega (Denis) Abaunza. Also 6 cherished grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A visitation for Carlos will be held Thursday, June 12, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415. A funeral service will occur Friday, June 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Memory Gardens Funeral Home. A committal service will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.