Jose Aguilar

Nov. 18, 1939 to Jan. 6, 2008

Jose Fernando "Fred" Rodriguez "Shati/Gordo" Aguilar was born Nov. 18, 1939 in Newgulf, the 14th of 15 siblings. He died Jan. 6, 2008 in Truth or Consequences, N.M.

Mr. Aguilar was reunited with his parents, Pedro and Genoveva Rodríguez Aguilar and other relatives and friends who predeceased him, including siblings: Genoveva, Pedro, Adela Uresti "Carlos", Santiago, Consuelo, Paul, Juan Fernando and his brother Armando's wife, Ofelia.

Left to mourn his passing are his beloved wife and traveling companion, Lee Ann; his cherished daughter, Jonella, her husband, Rich, and their daughters; his precious granddaughters; Gabrielle and Nancee Steiger; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Janie Dickerson and Lalo Cantú and Consuelo and Gilberto Alanís; his brothers and sisters-inlaw, Jess and Claudia, Andrés, Arturo, Armando and Julio and Genoveva; his brother Pedro's widow, Josephine, and Paul's widow, Elvira; Fred's best friend and compadre, Ramón Vela and his wife, Mercy; his godchildren, David Vela and Elena Aguilar; and extended family members and friends.

Mr. Aguilar was co-captain of the Boling High School football team. He served honorably and proudly from 1959 to 1963, as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy and with the Fleet Marine Force of the First Marine Division. Following his military duty, he continued a career of service as an X-ray technician at Children's Hospital, Seattle, Wash.

After their retirement, the couple moved to Sierra Vista, Ariz., and finally settled in Las Cruces, N.M. They both enjoyed traveling and took extensive road trips throughout the American Southwest.

Local family and friends will celebrate a Memorial Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Houston on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m. A celebration of his life will follow immediately thereafter at Genoveva and Julio Aguilar's home in Houston.

The preferred charity to which bequests in Mr. Aguilar's name may be made is the Food Bank at Blessed Sacrament Church, 4015 Sherman St., Houston TX 77003.