Carmen Beltran Santos

Carmen B. Santos, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, quietly passed away on June 21, 2025. Carmen was born in Lucena del Cid, Spain, on July 7, 1930. She married Ben, the Sailor who swept her off her feet, on January 15, 1955.

Carmen, Ben, and their two sons traveled with the Navy around the world and finally settled in Jacksonville.

Carmen is preceded in death by her husband Ben of 51 years and is survived by her two sons and their families: Benjamin B. Santos, his wife Debra and granddaughter Sophie; Antonio B. Santos and his wife Peggy; grandson Tony II, his wife JC and great grandchildren Maalik and Zayaphine; and granddaughter Brittany and her husband Alex. She is also survived by a brother, Fernando, and an extensive family in Spain who also mourn her loss greatly.

She was an incredible woman who stepped out into the unknown when she left behind all she knew for a future with the love of her life. Carmen truly had a life well-lived; she was a spitfire who enjoyed people and devoted her time and energy to her family, her friends and especially to her grandkids. She was a devoted Navy wife who made ends meet when times were tough. She was an accomplished seamstress who sewed her son’s clothes when they were growing up and later crocheted tons of scarves in her spare time. Many of her friends have at least one of her scarves and probably one of her hand painted ceramic figures, too. Carmen also had a successful career of her own, working at Xomed until her retirement.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Hardage-Giddens Riverside Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32205. Carmen will be laid to rest next to her husband, Ben, at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery.