Victor Puente Sr.

Fort Worth businessman Victor Puente Sr. touched so many lives in the Metroplex. As founder of Southwest Office Systems and Puente Concessions, he was well known as an entrepreneur, community leader and friend. His two sons and daughter-in-laws : Victor Jr. ("Buddy") & Alice, and Vince & Mona knew him as "Pop" , his daughter Gina called him "Daddy" and his 6 grandchildren Victor III, Vince Jr., Lindsay, Haley, Victoria and Andrea and great-grandchild Launa called him "Papa".

Mr. Puente died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, May 20th at 6:29pm, surrounded by his family. He was spiritually ready to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was looking forward to being reunited with his wife Virginia, whom he enormously missed since her passing in 2009.Family and friends will celebrate his life at on Monday, May 25th 5:30pm at The Stayton (2501 Museum Way, Fort Worth), in the Sundance Room. Funeral Mass will be held at St Rita’s Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 26th at 11am. Graveside service will follow at Moore Funeral Home.

Memorials (in lieu of flowers): Should friends desire, memorials will be honourably accepted for The Victor Puente Sr. Leadership Development for Hispanic Youth Fund. Make checks payable to the YMCA - Victor Puente Sr. Fund at 512 Lamar, Ste 400, Fort Worth, TX 76102 with memo: Victor Puente Sr. Fund.

Victor was born November 2, 1926, in Breckenridge Texas into a loving family and was raised in very humble surroundings. In 8th grade, he received a double promotion to the 10th grade due to his outstanding athletic skills in football as a Breckenridge Buccaneer. Giving it his all, he suffered a knee injury that plagued him all of his life, but definitely did not slow him down. With his ambition as a driving force and a career in athletics not possible he dropped out of the 10th grade, and set forth to Fort Worth where he wanted to accomplish bigger and better things.

When he moved to Fort Worth, he had no place to stay so he made his temporary home at the downtown YMCA. Fort Worth is where he met his soulmate Virginia Dominguez who lived in the Northside of Fort Worth. Always the athlete, he competed in Fort Worth’s Golden Gloves Boxing leagues. In 1964, Puente’s vision of creating an office-equipment business with an emphasis on quality customer service, became reality with the founding of Southwest Office Systems, Inc. (SOS). Sons, Buddy and Vince joined the business in 1972 and together they took the reins of SOS to grow into the successful business that it is today. What began as a two-man typewriter repair company has grown to be the largest minority-owned, independent office equipment dealer in the Southwest headquartered in Fort Worth near D/FW International Airport. With SOS now a successful company, at the age of 63, Victor had other entrepreneurial ambitions. In 1989, Puente formed Puente Concessions to operate three newsstands/gift shops at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. His daughter Gina joined his airport business in 1990, and together they grew the company into not only retail but also food & beverage, currency and wineries.

Victor played the piano, gardened, boxed, worked out and maintained a healthy lifestyle. He loved to read about Mexico’s history and spend time with his many beloved Boxer dogs who were all near and dear to him. He also travelled the world with his wife and family. Although many people know him for his business achievements, his closer circle of friends knew how important Victor’s family was to him. Many sacrifices, support, motivation was given but most of all, an abundance of love was showered on Buddy, Vince and Gina and all of his family members. This Renaissance man left an incredible legacy of love of family, respect of the community and several businesses that employ over 250 people from the Dallas Fort Worth area.

Survivors are his children Buddy, Vince and Gina; daughter-in-laws Alice and Mona; grandchildren Victor, Vince, Lindsay, Haley, Victoria and Andrea; granddaughter Launa; cousin Nora Cruz.