Preciliano "Benny" Benavides

Preciliano “Benny” Benavides, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by family. Born on March 31, 1935, in Bay City, Texas, to Ramon and Marcelina Benavides, Benny grew up in San Antonio, where he graduated from Lanier High School.

After high school, Benny proudly served his country for three years in the U.S. Army as a photographer. His passion for capturing moments and telling stories through images became the foundation of his life’s work. Upon his honorable discharge, Benny transformed his skills into a remarkable 40 year career with the U.S. Government—3 years with the Army and 37 years at NASA Johnson Space Center as one of the first Hispanic photographers where he documented the history and achievements of the United States Space Program including photographing 8 Presidents, Dalai Lama, and several other notable figures.

Benny was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ophelia Benavides and his sister Ruth Hernandez and brother-in-law Valente Hernandez Sr. of Houston, Texas and Tony Gomez Sr. of San Antonio, TX. He is survived by his sisters Nora Gomez of San Antonio, Texas and Gloria Sabo of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and brother-in-law John Sabo. He leaves behind his devoted daughters, Marian Olivarez and husband Joe Olivarez, and Irma Koziol and husband Ken Koziol, along with five cherished grandchildren: Nicholas Olivarez, Kaitlyn Olivarez, Ashley Olivarez, Sean Koziol, and Alexis Koziol and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Benny’s life was rich with creativity and curiosity. He loved the arts—photography, painting, pottery, and music—and shared these passions generously with family and friends. He enjoyed traveling, reading, and spending time with loved ones. His legacy is one of dedication, artistry, and unwavering love for his family. We thank God for sharing him with us for 90 years and allowing us an opportunity to create many fond memories. We will cherish all the countless, happy, and fun memories with him.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 26, 2025, from 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Forest Park East Funeral Home & Cemetery, 21620 Gulf Freeway, Webster, Texas 77598. Funeral will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Forest Park Funeral Home at 9:00 am.

As Frank Sinatra once sang, Benny truly lived life his way—with grace, passion, and an enduring love for family and the arts.