Amador Vela

Amador Vela, 86, born in Laredo, Texas on November 02, 1924, son of Julian Vela Pena and Virginia Trevino. He was a WW II veteran, having served with the 3rd Infantry division in Europe, where after a year in combat, he was captured and held as a prisoner of war by the Germans. He was released after termination of the war in 1945.
He was married in 1947, to Elvira Viri Dalrymple Vela, having recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.
In 1948, he accepted a position with U.S. Customs Export Control and settled in Brownsville, where his three surviving children, Sandra George Tetreau, Javier Amador, and Dan J. Vela were born, raised and reside.
After his U.S. Customs position he managed the Jovita Perez Shipping Agency and then was owner of Tabasco Shipping Company. In 1967, he became owner of C V Export Warehouse, serving the Port of Brownsville.
He was a past Commander of the Rio Grande Valley ExPrisoners of War for many years, and was serving as Commander for a second term when he became ill.
The Velas from Jim Hogg County were the first settlers in the area, and he never lost his passion for ranching, continuing this business as a hobby.
He was blessed and is survived by five grandchildren, Andrea, Javier II, Amanda Vela, Shannon Reynaldo Garza III, and Jessica Arturo Kalifa, and six greatgrandchildren, Alexandra, Jay Antonio Vela, Andrew and Abigail Kalifa, and Julianne and Reynaldo Garza IV. He is also survived by a sister, Virginia Leal, as well as numerous nephews and nieces from Laredo, Texas.
He was a loving family man, and will be missed and remembered dearly by those that knew him.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, October 24, 2011 with the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. in the DarlingMouser Funeral Home Chapel. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at St. Lukes Catholic Church with burial to follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Military honors will be conducted at the gravesite by the American Legion Post 43 Funeral Honor Guard.
Pallbearers are Javier Vela II, Humberto Vela, Jr. RN, Julian Vela III, Rene Rodriguez, Dan Dalrymple, Jr., and Reynaldo Garza III.
Honorary Pallbearers are George M. Tetreau, Alfred Dalrymple, Craig Grover, Art Alarcon, Jr., Ricardo Rodriguez, Richard Lizardi, Larry Resendez, John Perry, John Hilgart, and members of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of ExPOWs.

Many thanks to Dr. B. Sharma and Dr. J. Martinez OHara, the staff at Brownsville Oncology and the staff at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Monday, October 24, 2011
1 to 9 p.m.

Service

Rosary

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Monday, October 24, 2011
7 p.m.

Mass

St. Luke
2800 Rockwell
Brownsville, TX  78521
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
10 a.m.

Cemetery

Buena Vista Burial Park
5 McDavitt Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78521