Felix Cortez Jr.

Felix Cortez, Jr. was born in Ballinger, Tx, to Felix Cortez Sr. and Petra Cortez on January 15, 1935. He graduated from Ballinger High School in 1953. He then enlisted in the Airforce in October 1953 and served until 1957. He moved to the civil sector, where he worked as an electronic engineer, specializing in radars.

He married his hometown sweetheart, Aurora Albarado on January 5, 1957. They were transferred to Mobile, Al where their daughter Veronica was born in 1958.

Their next stop was Spain where their oldest son Rueben was born in Zaragosa in 1961. While in Spain, they also lived in Madrid for a couple of years. While overseas the family traveled to France, Germany, Italy, and England.

They returned to the United States and were stationed at Tinker Airforce Base in Midwest City, Ok. Their youngest son Christopher was born in 1971 when the family lived in Oklahoma City.

Felix's work during these years involved being a lead engineer for the first AWACS surveillance plane.

The next transfer in 1972 took the Cortez's to Sacramento, Ca where they lived until 1974. Their final move was to Nashua, NH where Felix continued his work at Hanscom Airforce Base in Bedford, Ma until he retired in 1993.

Felix had promised Aurora they would return to Texas upon his retirement. He was true to his word, and they moved to Ballinger where Felix worked as a groundskeeper/maintenance man at the Ballinger Municipal Lake for 10 years. At that time, they moved to Rowena.

They were married for 60 years until Aurora's death in June 2017.

Felix lived in San Angelo since 2018. His last few years have been spent living at The Crest East where he has received exceptional care as dementia took its toll.

Felix is survived by his siblings Hermalinda, Otilia, Mante, Oscar, Rudy and Robert; his children Veronica Cortez of Escondido, Ca, his son Rueben Cortez and wife Lenore of San Angelo and his son Christopher Cortez and wife Heather of Greenland, Nh. He leaves behind grandchildren Nicolasa, Adrienne, Ashley, Adam, Jillian and Joshua and great-grandchildren Carter, Caleb, Cohen, Ethan and Sage.

A Rosary will be said for Felix on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 6:30 pm, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena, Tx. His Mass of Christian Burial will also be at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 10:00 am with Father Ariel Lagunilla celebrating. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery also in Rowena.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in Felix's memory.