Jaime Franco

Jaime was born on August 10, 1948, in the small pueblo of La Regina Julmes, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was born to Ramiro and Luciana Franco and was blessed with siblings Leticia, Elma, and Ramiro Jr. As a child, he found comfort and guidance growing up amongst the Franco and Gomez families. He truly treasured the moments he got to spend with his grandparents, Papatito and Mamaria, and found tremendous peace while snuggled within their warm embrace.

When Jaime was about five years old, he migrated with his parents and his sister Leticia to the Borderland eventually settling in El Paso, Texas. Elma and Ramiro Jr joined the family shortly after. Culturally challenged, he struggled with the new customs and language of his new surroundings, but he quickly persevered and adapted quickly. Jaime was so intelligent and willful, and nothing could hold him back. He became the pillar of strength he was known to be throughout his life at this tender age and became a role model to his siblings. He loved hard and led with stoic strength.

Jaime eventually became a mighty Highlander as he entered high school at Bel Air in El Paso, TX. He was a gifted athlete, leader, and a man amongst the boys. Proud to be a Highlander, he carried that pride throughout his life and continued to keep his time at Bel Air close and sacred to his heart. He graduated in the spring of 1967 and began an entirely new chapter of his life.

Jaime was an intensely proud American and joined the Vietnam war effort, enlisting in the United States Air Force later that year. He did his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base outside of San Antonio and was later stationed at Robins Air Force Base near Macon, Georgia. He became a proud member of the 2955th Combat Support Squad as a skilled aircraft mechanic. He traveled the States going where the Air Force needed him, his expertise, and his squad. Jaime was assigned to Chanute Air Force Base shortly after where he learned to work on the largest bomber and transport aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, the famed B-52 and The Hercules C-130. Being a master of his craft, Jaime developed a unique fondness for working on a particular B-52 affectionately named the Superman. It became his favorite and he followed its bombing campaigns and history until it was eventually retired.

He was eventually transferred overseas to Udorn, Thailand, and was stationed at the Royal Thai Air Force base. This was a critical forward operating base for fighter, bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft, and was a crucial command center for major operations in Laos and Vietnam. Here, Jaime worked on the fighter and bomber aircraft that were crucial in the disruption of supply lines used by the North Vietnamese. These air campaigns were vital to the war effort and he was never prouder to be an American soldier.

Unfortunately, this was also the critical moments in time that Jaime was exposed to Agent Orange, a carcinogenic chemical used to clear out excessive vegetation of the jungle canopy. Jaime would later relate to his brother and younger sister the horrific memory of the odorous herbicide.

Jaime was honorably discharged in 1972 and returned to El Paso with the assistance of his firecracker red, 1969 Mustang, his pride and joy at the time. He began a career in HVAC and eventually found the love of his life, Guadalupe Franco, settled down, and got married. Jaime and Lupe became proud parents to three children; Michael Adrian, Corina Michelle, and Edward James Franco, all proud graduates of Del Valle High and forever honored and grateful to be the children of Jaime and Lupe.

After time, Jaime studied long and hard to become a member of the United States Postal Service. As a building maintenance mechanic, he worked hard, honorably, and with extreme devotion until his retirement on December 31, 2016. From 2017 and beyond, Jaime devoted his life to his family and to the Vietnam Veterans of America in the El Paso area. He was determined to make a difference until the very end.

Sadly, Jaime Franco was taken from us in the early afternoon hours of November 13, 2025 after a very long, hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. According to his doctor’s and the VA, his exposure to Agent Orange was what ultimately led to his demise. He was 77 years old. He passed peacefully with the sounds of Little Joe, James Brown, and The Tower of Power playing in the background. He was surrounded by his wife Lupe, his children Cori, Eddie, and Adrian, his sisters Lety and Elma, his brother-in-law Mon Del Rio, and his most loyal companion, Scout. He was constantly surrounded by the love of his family for the days and hours before he was sorrowfully taken from them, too soon by all accounts. He rests in the warm, comforting, and peaceful embrace of God now; no more pain, no more sorrow.

Jaime is survived by his mother Luciana, his wife Lupe, and his three children, Cori, Eddie, and Adrian Franco, his son-in-law Mario Villa III, and his grandchildren Jeremy Nathaniel and Samantha Aubri Villa. He leaves behind his beloved sisters and brothers-in-law Lety and Mon Del Rio and Elma and Pete Atilano, as well as his brother and sister-in-law Ramiro and Patricia Franco. He and Lupe are proud godparents to Pete Rene Atilano, Matthew Crawford, Diane Del Rio, Vanessa Gomez, Andrew Crawford, Jasmine Del Rio, and Jessica Casas. Jaime was a great, great uncle at the time of his passing and remained the pillar of strength for his family and community.

As mentioned before, Jaime was very involved with the Vietnam Veterans of

America and was in the process of re-establishing and bettering the Vietnam Memorial at Bel Air High School. He found countless veterans of El Paso who served while in high school or as recent grads, and was adamant about having them memorialized on the grounds of Bel Air and within El Paso. His work continues under the direction of 1st Sergeant for the ROTC of Bel Air, Hugo Rucobo, Bobby Rangel, and Linda Mais.

Although Jaime’s physical presence may no longer grace our lives, his spirit will continue to inspire and uplift us. May his memory be a blessing, and may we carry forth his legacy of love and compassion in all we do. “May your light forever shine brightly in our hearts!”

“As we leave today remember that our Lord is ahead of us to guide us. He is on our side and above us to guide and protect us from all evil. Lord, please pray for our families, friends, and our troops worldwide. Please shield them from harm.

As we leave here today, remember how good we have it. As family, brothers and sisters, unified by the great, the just, and the kind.”

-Jaime Franco