Samuel J. Aguilera of Fort Stockton passed away peacefully on June 18, 2023, at his home.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 3 p.m. with a Catholic holy Rosary following at 7 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home on Main Street. Funeral services will be held the following day at 10 a.m. (Friday, June 23) at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Main Street. The burial ceremony will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery with arrangements made by Heritage Funeral Home.

Samuel was born in Fort Stockton to Jesus and Paula Aguilera on Oct. 16, 1932. He was drafted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and became a sharpshooter. He was stationed in Puerto Rico where he trained soldiers to fire weapons.

He married Nicolasa (Lola) Aguilera in 1961, and they were married for 58 years before she departed in 2019. He is also preceded in death by his parents and five siblings: Manuel Aguilera, Dora Sosa, Paula Acosta Mónico Aguilera, and Felicitas Guzmán.

Samuel worked as a plumber, learning the trade from his father, and acquiring his license as a master plumber. He worked independently until the age of 86.

Samuel is survived by a brother, Raymundo Aguilera of Odessa, and a sister, Élida Morales of Fort Stockton.

He had the following children: René Minjarez, Anna Minjarez, Osvaldo Aguilera, Elva Gaitán, Samuel Aguilera, Jr., and Marisa Aguilera. He also had a total of 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Osvaldo Aguilera, Samuel Aguilera, Jr., Manny Espino, Jadon Espino, Carlos Galván and John Morales.

The family of Samuel Aguilera wishes to extend sincere thanks to Angel Hospice, Veterans Affairs of Fort Stockton Outreach Clinic, and their close friends and neighbors of Jackson Street.

Arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend in Fort Stockton, Texas. If you would like to send your condolences to the family, you may do so by signing her guestbook at www. heritagefuneralhomeofthebigbend. com.