Humberto David Martinez

Humberto “Beto” David Martinez of Hebbronville, Texas, was called home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 2, 2026, passing peacefully at home on his 79th birthday after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Surrounded by the love of his family, he entered into the presence of our Savior, a testament to God’s mercy and faithfulness.

Born on January 2, 1947 in San Antonio, Texas, Beto grew up in Hebbronville, Texas, where his childhood friendships would last his entire life and where he learned the values that defined him: faith, integrity, responsibility, loyalty, and hard work. There, in high school speech class, he met the love of his life, Nelda Benavides. He carried Nelda, Hebbronville, and his deep love and pride for his family's land in his heart throughout his life.

On July 31, 1971, he married Nelda Benavides Martinez, and together they built a home filled with love and steadfast devotion. Beto was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 54 years; his children, Humberto “Bert” Martinez (Anabel Montalvo) and Amy Martinez (Brooks Goldsmith); and his cherished grandchildren — his “partner,” Humberto “Dos” Martinez II, and his “princesses of La Vista Street,” Zoe Goldsmith-Martinez and Ava Goldsmith-Martinez. He is also survived by his siblings, Anabella Farias (Leo Farias) and Mario Martinez (Velma Martinez), and was preceded in death by his parents, Ascension and Zulema G. Martinez, and his brother, Ascension “Chon” Martinez.

A committed Catholic, Beto was a longtime member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, where he served on various committees dedicated to supporting the church and the wider community. His faith was not only something he professed, but something he lived daily through service, generosity, and quiet example, including a memorable pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Father Pablo Cisneros, OFM, that further deepened his love for Scripture and the Church. He was honored to serve as godfather to Jaime De Los Santos II, Mario Martinez II, and his grandson, Humberto “Dos” Martinez II.

In his professional life, Beto rose to become Area Director for USDA Rural Development, where he served more than 35 years overseeing numerous counties across Texas. He became a strong advocate for rural Texans, working tirelessly to improve the lives of those he represented by initiating and supporting a multitude of projects that strengthened small communities and helped families and businesses thrive. Some of the projects he was most proud of included housing and infrastructure projects in Jim Hogg and Duval Counties, including a detention center and apartment complexes in Hebbronville, and a water expansion project near Taft, Texas, that brought safe, reliable running water to families who had long gone without it, hauling water home in buckets for more than a decade.

Long after his formal career ended and throughout his retirement, Beto remained a trusted advisor known for his commitment to truth and integrity, lending his knowledge and experience to numerous projects in Hebbronville and other South Texas communities to improve life across the region. A man deeply committed to his ranching heritage and land stewardship, he worked the family land with the same dedication that defined his public service and served as a director for Beefmaster Breeders United and the Live Oak Beefmaster Breeders Association.

He served as County Commissioner in Hebbronville from 2017 to 2020, working faithfully on behalf of his neighbors and friends. Beto also sponsored and served as auctioneer for the Jim Hogg County Fair and the Duval County Fair, supporting students’ projects and the beloved annual traditions. In 2018, he was proud to be named Rancher of the Year by the Jim Hogg County Fair Association. Beto was an active member of the Jim Hogg County Museum Foundation, the Historical Commission, and other local efforts, helping to preserve history, honor heritage, and invest in the future of the place he loved.

Those who knew Beto will remember his easy smile and laughter, quick wit, and love of a good story. A big fan of comedian and storyteller Jerry Clower, he knew all his stories by heart. He enjoyed old western movies - especially John Wayne films - and listening to talk radio. He also loved watching wildlife at the ranch, sitting for hours observing the animals. A history buff with a remarkable memory for dates and facts, Beto was a true morning person, filling the house with whistling and song at the start of each day.

Though his illness came suddenly and his battle was brief, his faith never wavered. His family witnessed the Lord’s mercy in granting him peace and surrounding him with love. The family is deeply grateful for the prayers, visits, and acts of kindness from friends and family.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 16, at 5:00 p.m. at Funeraria del Angel Howard Williams, with a rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 17, at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. All who knew and loved him are invited to attend, share memories, and give thanks for a life well-lived in service to God, family, and community. A private burial will be held at a later time.

The family welcomes flowers and, for those who prefer, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, in honor of Beto’s generous heart and his lifelong commitment to Hebbronville and his faith.

Pallbearers will be Ernesto Gutierrez, Isidro Gutierrez, Dr. Joe Gutierrez, Danny Martinez, Humberto “Dos” Martinez II, Rick Martinez, Juan Carlos Ramirez, and Armando Ybarra. Honorary pallbearers will be Leonel Farias II, Mario Martinez II, Eduardo “Wayo” Montalvo, and Aaron Pena.

Beto will be remembered as a man of faith, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a loyal friend whose life reflected integrity, service, love for his community, and a deep pride in his family’s legacy and the land that shaped him.

For his family, the fact that he departed this life on his birthday feels like the quiet mark of a man who lived in alignment with his purpose, arriving and departing on his own terms, with his work here lovingly complete. Even as he is deeply missed, his family takes comfort in the promise that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” and in the hope that this is not goodbye, but “see you again” in Christ.