It saddens my heart to inform you that my only brother, Joe H. Galindo, age 81, passed away early in the morning hours of January 12, 2024. He has earned his wings and has flown to be reunited with our parents, Enrique and Virginia F. Galindo, and with our dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Joe is survived by his sister, Irene Galindo and his friend of 48 years, Enrique Porras. Joe referred to Enrique as his adopted son, friend and caregiver. His other survivors include cousin, Queta Fierro, whom he referred to as his other sister. Other survivors include his cousins Dolores Dominguez, Tony and Rudy Flores, Jr., Dolores De La Hoz Macias, and Ricardo and Patricia Rodriguez. Joe is also survived by a very dear and very close friend, Rosita Piedra. He also leaves behind several other relatives and dear friends. We will miss him tremendously.
My brother was born on May 17, 1942 in El Paso, Texas. He had been an only child for 14½ years. What a surprise it was for him to know that he was going to have a baby sister, when he was a freshman at Burges High School. He was no longer an only child. Joe graduated from Burges High School and went to continue his education at Texas Western College, now known as UTEP. He graduated from college in 3 years and received a teaching degree.
Joe began his teaching career at Schuster Elementary. From there he went to tech at Newman Elementary for one year and then transferred to teach at the old Bowie High School. When the new Bowie was built and opened up, he continued teaching there for 30 years. He taught foreign languages which included French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Joe was always hungry to learn more. While teaching, he went back to UTEP to earn 3 Masters degrees and several educational administrative certificates. While he was teaching at Bowie, he helped create the Bowie academy. He did this because he was tired of seeing too many students failing many classes. He and other teachers stayed after school to tutor students in the classes that they were not passing. Almost at the end of his teaching career, he was promoted to the position of assistant principal at Robert E. Lee Elementary School. Joe retired in 2004 from EPISD after working for 40 years. While he worked for EPISD, he also taught at EPCC and at the University of Phoenix.
When Joe retired, he continued to read a lot. You could always see him with a book in his hands. Joe's health started to decline and Enrique was always there to care for him. Enrique was there until the end when Joe took his final breath. Enrique, Thank you for taking such good care of my brother. God Bless you always.
Enrique and I would like to thank his doctors for taking such good care of him throughout the many years. His doctors were Dr. Edward Leyva, Dr. Edward Assi, Dr. Tamis Bright, Dr. Thomas Alost, Dr. Ileana Martinez and Dr. Brittany Shoemake.
We would also like to thank the medical staff of Davita Five points Dialysis, Nazareth Living Care Center, Home Sweet Home Care, the medical staff at the Medicine shoppe on Grant Ave., the crew and medical staff of El Paso Fire Station #12, Elite Medical Transport and his neighbors. Thank you all for the outstanding care you gave my brother for many years.
I would also like to thank Father Cong Vo and the office staff from Saint Patrick Cathedral. Thank you Edna, for helping me put everything together. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Visitation will be on Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with a rosary at 7:00 pm at Funeraria Del Angel Central, 3839 Montana Ave., El paso, Texas 79903. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 9:00 am, at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1118 North Mesa. Burial to follow at 10:30 am at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 4848 Alps st., El Paso, Texas 79904.
