Roberto Benavides passed on to his heavenly home on Friday, March 3, 2023 at the age of 86.

He is survived by his wife Rebecca Benavides, children Sylvia Vanhorn, Roberto Benavides Jr, Terri Luna, Jim Benavides, Deborah Quintanar and Noe Benavides. He had 7 grandchildren, Matthew Benavides, Jennifer Luna, Bekah Benavides, Ezekiel Benavides, Taylor Quintanar, Evan Quintanar and Isaiah Benavides. He also had a great grandson, Killian Benavides.

Roberto was born in Hargill, TX on May 10, 1936. He was the eldest of six children to parents Armando and Antonia Benavides. He went to school and lived in Santa Rosa, TX until moving with his family to Sterling, Colorado in 1953. In 1955, he and his family moved to Sanger, California where he lived out most of his life.

He enlisted with the Army National Guard on the 8th of August, 1956 in Reedley, California and served a total of 3 years. He was honorably discharged on August 7, 1959, PFC.

In 1958, after living in Sanger for 3 years he met and courted his future wife Rebecca Benavides. Roberto and Rebecca's family members had known each other back when they both lived in Santa Rosa, TX. Their courtship finally led to them being married on November 13, 1959 in Fresno, California.

He was born into a family who were primarily field workers. And this was his primary work until getting a job in Sanger with Lovegren Motor Company cleaning cars. He worked his way through several positions until finally becoming parts manager. Working in the auto industry became his main field of work for most of his life, working at many auto dealerships in and around Sanger, including Sequoia Chevrolet and his last job in the auto industry, Sanger Ford-Mercury where he was the general manager. He then pursued a different career path, getting his GED and training as a bus driver. He was hired as a bus driver by EOC Head-start and it became his most rewarding and enjoyable job. He was a bus driver for 20 years until retiring.

Roberto was a devoted Christian and very dedicated to Christian service and the churches he attended with his family. One of these was Gethsemane, a Spanish church located in the Sanger country side. He served as a Sunday school teacher, Bible teacher, deacon, board member, led worship and for a time served as pastor of the church.

He also attended Tempol Bethel in Del Rey, California with his family for many years and was very involved there as well.

His most recent church was Annandale Baptist Church. He and his wife, led worship for the Spanish service, taught Sunday school and he also served as a deacon for the church. He also, along with his wife, started a monthly ministry for seniors there.

He was also a very gifted and talented singer. Along with his wife and additional members of his church, he formed a Spanish gospel group and ministered, traveled and toured, blessing many people and churches throughout California, Oregon and Washington. He was involved in many musical endeavors, even assembling vocal ensembles and choirs, one of which was asked to perform on our local PBS station during the seventies.

Roberto also loved woodworking and working on cars. He often blessed family and friends by building things for them, helping them with projects and giving away the woodworking projects he made. His skills as a mechanic where also a blessing to his family and others, going out of his way to help those in need with their vehicles. He was never hesitant to help others with what he had and what he could do for them. He was a charismatic, humorous, caring Christian man, loved and known by many in the Sanger community for this.