Salvador Perez (Tulia)

Tulia, Texas—Salvador Melendez Perez passed away at the age of 97 years. He grew up in Anson Texas, Jones County in the Abilene area. He was the oldest son with four siblings.  He farmed and ranched alongside his parents, twin sister, Mary, with his younger brother Fred, and younger twin sisters, Catalina and Consuelo. He experienced the Great Depression first-hand and worked a variety of jobs to help his parents provide for the family. In 1939, he joined the Army, training at Fort Ord California.  He proudly served five years as a Corporal though World War II in the South East Asian theatre Burma Campaign.  After being honorably discharged from military service he continued to farm with his family in Texas and soon after his return to the states, he met the true love of his life, Mary Lou Pena. They were married over 60 years and raised their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the west Texas Panhandle.  Mary Lou preceded Salvador in death; she went to heaven in the fall of 2010. Salvador farmed and ranched thru Anson, Tulia and Dumas Texas the majority of his life.   He retired yet, continued to farm during cotton season well into his senior years.  He could park a combine tractor in an area squeezed tight with other equipment saying, “an inch is as good as a mile”.  Salvador was a proud Texan and an even prouder American; he believed that living in America was a great blessing.  He also loved movies with good endings, westerns were a favorite.  He did not believe in wasting time, quoting John Wayne often when he was working in on the farm reminding his children that, “daylights’ burning”.  Salvador’s wife, family, church and community always came first.  He was a long term member of St. Williams Catholic Church and Church of the Holy Spirit in Tulia, a Tulia Hornet Football Booster, and a contributor to the Boy Scouts of America.  He believed strongly in the values of the Boy Scout organization. He is preceded in death by his parents, Salvador and Soledad -Santos, his wife Mary Lou, his twin sister Mary, sister Consuelo, brother Fred, sons, Pete and Arthur, and loving daughter, Linda.   He is survived by his sister, Catalina, of Plainview, his son, Johnny, and his wife Bambi, of Kingwood, Tony and his wife Debbie of Tulia, Fred and his wife Roseann of Amarillo, Robert and his wife Danette, of Austin, and his loving daughter, Rosemary of Tulia. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ralf Pena and his wife Shannen of Spring TX, Sabrina Cornelius and husband James of Melbourne Florida, Shawn Cannon and Emily of Lubbock, Chris Lee Perez and wife Angel of Kearney Missouri,   Valerie Perez Valdez and her husband Alfredo of Tulia, Shana McDowell and husband Sy of Tulia, Valessa and husband Isauro Gutierrez of Plainview, Robin Lynn and husband Lance Neill of Stockdale, Valenda and husband Justin Bernal of Tulia, Jonathan and Stefanie Perez of Amarillo, Peter Vargas of Wichita Kansas, X’zybyn Perez of Amarillo, Brooke and Stephen Castaneda ,of Dallas , Mario and Christina Castaneda of Ft. Worth, Shaun and David Pena of Kingwood. Salvador was also blessed with many great grandchildren that he was fortunate to get to know during the latter part of his life.  He loved them all dearly. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, January 24, 2018 in the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit in Tulia. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulia under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia. A rosary will be held at 6:00 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2018 in the funeral home chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.kornerstonefunerals.com.