Oscar "Red" Vela

Oscar "Red" Vela, age 77, of Kingsville, Texas, passed away with his family by his side on September 12, 2023, in Round Rock, Texas. He was born on December 12, 1945, in Kingsville, Texas, to Moises Palacios Vela and Olivia Saenz Vela.

Red began his Pharmacy Technician career at Rangel's Pharmacy while attending Texas A&I University. After graduating with his bachelor's degree, Red continued serving his community as a Pharmacy Technician for over 5o years, completing his lifelong calling at Harrel's Pharmacy in May of 2023.

Red was a loving, devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Red was preceded in death by his parents, Moises P. and Olivia S. Vela, and his beloved wife, Patricia G. Vela. He is survived by his son Oscar David (O.D.) Vela, daughter, Anjanette Vela Garcia, son-in-law, Jorge E. Garcia, grandchildren Alessandra Elise Garcia and Lucas Mateo Garcia, and his sister Imelda (Joe) Martinez.

Red's life was a testament to kindness, generosity, and unwavering love for his family and community. He had an innate ability to make everyone around him feel valued and loved. As a Proclaimer of God's Word, a member of the St. Martin Men's Club, Knights of Columbus, and a St. Martin Mutualistas for many years, he often volunteered his time during festivals and parish activities, making him a pillar to his community. His love for Christ was evident through the many years of service, kindness, and love he shared with anyone who crossed his path. Another example of his strong ethical sense of servant leadership was spending his time after work hours driving around town with his wife and kids, delivering prescriptions to the elderly and the most needy.

Family was at the center of Red's world.  He was Patsy's loving and supportive husband, with whom he shared countless beautiful moments and cherished memories. As a father, he was a constant source of encouragement and support to his children, instilling his core values of kindness, integrity, and perseverance. Weekend family barbecues were the highlight of his week while supporting his favorite football teams, the UT Longhorns and the Dallas Cowboys.

Red leaves behind a legacy that will forever live in our hearts. His stories, laughter, and wisdom will be remembered fondly, reminding us that kindness and love don't require much effort. His memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those whose lives he touched without him ever realizing his impact on us.

As we mourn the loss of Oscar "Red" Vela, let us celebrate his beautiful life and how, even during his last days, his humor was never absent as he got a final chuckle from watching his beloved Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Giants on SNF. "Oh ahh, 40-0, hahaha… (deep sigh) anyway."

Rest in peace, Red. I love you. You will be tremendously missed, but your memory will forever shine brightly.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at Kingsville Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. that same evening.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 18, 2023, at St. Martin's Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery in Kingsville.