Oscar Rene Abeyta

Those who knew Oscar Rene Abeyta will remember him for his warm smile, his easy laugh and his knack for making friends of all. Oscar, 84, passed away Feb. 19, 2013 at Providence Memorial Hospital. Oscar proudly graduated from El Paso High School in 1946 and maintained those lifelong friendships through reunions and weekly lunch gatherings. He served two tours as a Marine, the second tour in Korea. After the war, Oscar earned his degree Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Texas, Austin. He worked for several chemical and petroleum companies and eventually became Sanitary Engineer for the City-County Health Unit in charge of controlling air pollution. Oscar married Guillermina Bombardelli in 1960 and together they raised four children, Miguel Ruben (Mike), Robert Daniel, Roxanne (Rowan) and Oscar Jr. In 1972 the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where Oscar worked for Hercules, Inc. After the kids left high school, Oscar and Guillermina moved to Fernandina Beach, Florida in 1987. Oscar retired from Hercules in 1994 and they returned to El Paso in 1996. Oscar loved photography, golf, wine making and travelling with Guillermina. He also read extensively, but his real passion was his relationships with friends and family. Oscar mentored and encouraged his children and rejoiced in their successes, and wherever he went he met someone he knew, always calling them "my friend." Oscar is survived by his wife and children, daughter -in-law Krista (Abeyta), son-in-law Mike Rowan, daughter-in-law Sandy Mallon, and grandchildren Ruben (Abeyta), Delaney and Adam (Rowan), and his brothers Salvador and Alfredo and their families. Since September 2011, Oscar lived at White Acres Good Samaritan Retirement Village recuperating from a stroke, where he was lovingly known as “the Mayor.” He made many more friends there, and the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Good Samaritan Society. Visitation: 5:00-9:00pm, Friday, February 22, 2013 at Sunset Funeral Home-West with a Vigil at 7:00pm. Funeral Mass: 10:00am, Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net