Guillermo "Willie" Gonzalez

Obituary Guillermo Willie Gonzalez, 96, of N. 3rd Street, Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away Thursday, January 3, 2018 at Goodlife Assisted Living. Visitation will be 4:00 PM 6:00 PM, Monday, January 7, 2019 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. A Rosary is scheduled for 1:30 PM, Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at San Jose Catholic Church with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 2:00 PM with Fr. Valentine Jankowski, OFM, Conv. officiating. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Willie was born January 18, 1922 in Arlington, Texas to Antonio and Lucia (Arzola) Gonzalez. He was raised on the family farm west of Hamlin, Texas, where he helped his family with crop farming and raising livestock. Willie volunteered his time to help construct the first Catholic Church in Hamlin in 1962. He served his country in the US Army Air Corp during World War II in the Asia-Pacific theatre from 1942-1946. Willie married Sara Macias June 29, 1946 in Rotan, Texas. They moved to Carlsbad in 1965 to go to work for Rose Gravel, where Willie was a heavy equipment operator for many years. He enjoyed remodeling homes and working on his rental properties. Willie was an avid reader and always kept up with politics, religion and discussing history. He was involved with many ministries at San Jose Catholic Church throughout the years teaching high school catechism classes, assisting with RCIA and helping count the weekly mass offerings. Willie was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sara Macias Gonzalez; son, Henry H. Gonzalez; brothers: Filiberto, Ben, Francisco and Eugenio Gonzalez; sisters: Cecilia Romero, Dolores Martinez and Clara Garcia. Survivors are his children: Celia Hernandez and husband, Richard of Carlsbad, NM; Gilbert Gonzalez and wife, Debbie of Albuquerque, NM and Elva Gonzalez of Carlsbad, NM; grandchildren: Larry Hernandez and wife, Christina, Michael Hernandez, Elena Ramirez-Doporto and husband, Chris and Jessica Gonzalez and husband, Patrick Aragon; great grandchildren: Gabrielle Hernandez, Kiera Ramirez-Tabor, Alandria Aragon, Camden Aragon and Crue Aragon; brother, Antonio Gonzalez and wife, Ruth of Odessa, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Andres Gonzalez, Carlos Gonzalez, Al D. Gonzalez, Randy Kelley, Billy Macias and Trine Carrasco. Honorary pallbearer is David Montoya. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Guillermo "Willie" Gonzalez, please visit our floral store.