Juan Salazar

Juan Salazar is walking the streets of Heaven, free of sickness and pain. PRAISE THE LORD!  He will always be remembered as a hardworking, honest, and very dedicated individual.  Juan rose from picking cotton (or anything else that needed picking) at the early age of eleven, to help provide for his mother Guadalupe, his sister Manuela, and brothers Jose and Gilbert, to become the respectful individual and respected business man he became.

He started working at The State Chest Hospital working his way from maintenance to refrigeration technician.  After completing courses to learn the Heating Ventilation AC, and commercial refrigeration industry, Juan found employment with Coastal Engineering.  He also instructed evening classes at TSTC in his field.  Later, Juan opened his own business, J&S Air Conditioning, in San Benito.  He later became owner/manager of George Cunningham, Inc. Air Conditioning and Heating, which he managed for 33 years.  He was a successful, intelligent, gentleman, who always took time to open the Word of God with friends, customers or anyone wanting to talk to him and give him advice along the way. Juan fully retired in 2015 due to health issues.

He was baptized and a member of the Rio Hondo Baptist Church, "The Bridge", for over 35 years.

Juan loved hunting, fishing, camping and any outdoor activity with his family and friends. He also enjoyed taking mini vacations with his family.

He was a loving husband to Terry, whom she lovingly referred to as "My Knight in Shining Armor", an exemplary father to his children, and an awesome grandfather to his grandchildren who he loved very much. He taught them to be respectful, loving, hardworking, and family oriented individuals.  He was admired and dearly loved by all his family and friends and by all whose lives he touched. .

Juan’s doctors referred to him as a "walking miracle," always overcoming any health obstacles that he encountered. Through prayer and believing for his healing, he endured until the end.  Juan is now at home in the presence of His Lord and Savior!

He was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Guadalupe Salazar; sister, Manuela Saldivar; brothers, Jose and Gilbert Salazar; and baby, David Salazar.

Left to treasure Juan’s memory is his loving wife, Terry Ann Salazar; children, Juan Antonio (Sylvia) Salazar, Diana Salazar, Paul Escobedo, Albert (Bea) Escobedo, J.M. (Stephanie) Salazar,  Jeremiah (Alyssa) Salazar; grandchildren, Jonathan Salazar, Sierra Zepeda, Sergio and Orlando Gutierrez, Leilani Zee, Micaela Reyna, Keila and Nicholas Escobedo, Megan, Mariah, and Michael Escobedo, Karen and Katie Salazar, Nathaniel, Savian, Kaydence, and Jace Salazar, great-grandson, Jayden Gutierrez; sister, Lisa Cortez; numerous nieces and nephews that he adored.

The Salazar family will be receiving friends and relatives on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM at San Benito Funeral Home.  A Prayer Service will begin at 7 o’clock on Wednesday evening with Rev. Gene Horton and Rev. Mike Sullivan officiating.  A Funeral Service will be celebrated on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Rio Hondo Baptist Church-“The Bridge” with Rev. Danny Anderson officiating.

Honored to serve as active pallbearer are Paul Escobedo, Albert Escobedo, J.M. Salazar, Jeremiah Salazar, Nathaniel Salazar, Sergio Gutierrez and Orlando Gutierrez.  Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Juan Antonio Salazar, Emilio Olaya, Carey Woods, Pete Blanco, Jose Saldivar, Beto Corona, Johnny Gonzales, and Pete Perez.

Floral tributes honoring Juan are welcome or donations may be made in his memory to Rio Hondo Baptist Church (www.riohondobaptistchurch.org), The Lighthouse Fellowship-Harlingen, Lifeline Heart of Worship BTV Fund (www.lifelinehow.com), or National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org).

Juan’s family would love to thank Dr. Rolando Posada and his medical staff, Dr. Oladayo Sanusi and the medical team at DaVita Dialysis Center in Harlingen, Texas for their compassion and care.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to San Benito Funeral Home, 1400 W. Business 77, San Benito, TX.  (956) 361-9192 www.sanbenitofuneralhome.com