Edward Anthony Diaz

Edward Anthony Diaz passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 22, 2021 in El Paso, Texas. Born in Oklahoma City on March 10, 1928, Edward was the second eldest of eight children, born to Guadalupe Salazar and Manuel Diaz, both immigrants from Mexico and Spain, respectively. Growing up in OKC during the Great Depression, Edward gained a reputation for being a playful trickster and mischief seeker, often going on neighborhood adventures with his pal Cookie. As part of a devout Catholic family, Edward entered the seminary as a young boy in Ponca City, and relished his time there, enjoying nature and camaraderie with his fellow seminarian boys. Edward graduated from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, and taught theology at Little Flower Catholic School. Edward’s adventurous drive led him to joining the Air Force, where he served as a chaplain in Seattle, Biloxi, and Alaska. Upon separating from the Air Force and leaving the priesthood, the next phase of Edward’s life involved transitioning into the role of husband to Paulette Goguen, and father to two children, Teresa and Edward Xavier. As a civilian, Edward worked as a civil rights investigator in the southwest region for the Department of Health and Human Services, and later for the EEOC before retiring from civil service. When his wife Paulette was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, he became her caregiver until her passing in 2006. In a blessed stroke of fate, he reconnected with Rosa Ponce from his Little Flower School days, also mourning the loss of her spouse. Upon marrying Rosa in 2007, he moved to El Paso where they lived happily together for 14 years until his passing this April. Edward’s favorite pastimes were golf, reading, photography, martinis, classical music and musicals, animals, traveling, and all things Notre Dame. Like his younger brother John, he possessed a charming sense of humor and never met a stranger, making friends wherever he went, often telling jokes and sharing stories that endeared many to him for life. He leaves behind his loving wife Rosa, his children Teresa and Edward Xavier, and his granddaughter Charli. FUNERAL SERVICES Funeral mass will be offered Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 1:00 P.M. at the Immaculate Conception Memorial Chapel on the grounds of the Oblate School of Theology, 285 Oblate Dr. San Antonio, Texas 78216 Interment will be held at a later date at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with military honors.