Pete was preceded in death by infant daughter Nora, parents Isaac and Manuela, brothers Homer and Bernard, sisters Janie Gonzalez, Isabel Garcia, Mary Silvas, and Frances Buentello. He is survived by his loving wife of sixty years, Lily; his three sons Isaac (Lucinda), Peter (Belinda), and Ricardo; his daughters Laura Girard (Ferdinand), Gloria Aparicio, and Lillian Vasquez (George); sisters Rose Aparicio, Andrea Morales (Paz), Antonia Garcia, sixteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives, and dear friends he loved as family.
Pete graduated from Palacios High School in 1950. He attended Texas A&I University, and earned an Associate’s Degree from Wharton County Junior College in 1955. A proud patriot, Pete served in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Shortly thereafter, Pete began a 30-year career with the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller. In his career he was instrumental in implementing the FAA’s Operation Amistad, a program that helped teach Mexican pilots to better communicate with air traffic control. His FAA career culminated with his final two years served in Brownsville, Texas as Tower Chief. Pete's passion for aviation led him to earn his pilot's license as well.
In 1972, Pete and his brother Homer entered into a partnership in the shrimping industry, purchasing their first gulf trawler. Pete pursued his second career with the same passion as his first and was elected president of the Texas Shrimp Association, serving two terms. He was appointed to the Matagorda Marine Advisory Committee and the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council. He was also named an advisory board member to the City State Bank of Palacios.
The foundation of Pete's long and rich life was his faith in Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. As the spiritual leader of his family, Pete’s unwavering reliance and humble obedience to his faith served as a beacon showing the way forward in good times and in bad. Like his parents before him, it was his hope that this gift of faith will endure for generations to come.
Visitation will be from 6 – 7:30 pm Monday, July 9, 2018 at Rosewood Funeral Chapels. The Rosary will be recited at 7:30 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 pm Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral with the Most Reverend David E. Fellhauer, Bishop Emeritus of Victoria, officiating. Burial with full military honors under the auspices of the Victoria Veterans Council will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Diocese of Victoria for the Education of Seminarians, P. O. Box 4070, 77903-4070 or Holy Family Catholic Church (Guatemalan Orphanage) 704 Mallette Drive, Victoria, Texas, 77904.
Share comforting words at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
