Santos M. Aguilar

Santos M. Aguilar of San Antonio, Texas, went to be with our Lord on Sunday, August 20, 2023, at the age of 89. He was the husband of Maria E. Aguilar, his endless love for over 59 wonderful years until her death in 2012.

Santos attended Lanier High School and was an active member of the alumni breakfast club. After school he proudly served in the United States Marine Corps around the Korean War era, achieving the rank of Sergeant and always proclaiming “Once a Marine, always a Marine!”. He then served in the Civil Service at Kelly Air Force Base for many years until his retirement in 1985, although always saying “I hate retirement”.

Santos was a true man of faith, and an active and proud parishioner of St John Berchmans Catholic Church. The parish brought many wonderful memories to his Aguilar family through weddings, baptisms, CCD education and confirmations, funerals, and festivals.

Santos was an avid runner who completed 19 marathons and numerous other distance races, all after the age of 50. And was an ardent Texas sports fan, always rooting for the Cowboys and Spurs to their many championships, and collegiately the UTSA Roadrunners, Baylor Bears, and Texas A&M Aggies.

Santos participated in and passed on many fond family traditions, to include New Years Eve fireworks on Menefee (the westside). And the annual tamaladas where he always served as the “masa man”, hot manteca and all.

Leisurely, Santos enjoyed many casino trips to Las Vegas, Kickapoo, Lake Charles and Coushatta, with his record winning being $2,500 on a Wizard of Oz slot machine at L’Auberge Casino in Lake Charles. He never turned down breakfast at Denny’s, tacos at the “bullet hole”, or a good hamburger with onion rings. And he loved his TV time, to include faithfully watching Impractical Jokers, The Carol Burnett Show, and Stephen Colbert.

But Santos was most proud of his family, and being a husband, father, grandfather, tio and godfather to many who were blessed to have known and cared for him. He is preceded in death by many cherished family members; his wife Maria Aguilar, grandson Justin Lambaria, great granddaughter Gracie Morin, son-in-law Ronnie Wells, sister Francis Garcia and husband Elizardo, sister Dolores Aguirre and husband Emilio, and brother Richard Aguilar and wife Olga.

Santos is survived by his three beautiful daughters; Gloria Beaty and husband Xavier Herrera, Linda Wells, Rachel Camarano and husband Joel, grandchildren; Jennifer Dillon and husband Randy, Christopher Morin and wife Stephanie, Elissa Lambaria, Joseph Camarano and wife Nicolette, Anthony Camarano and partner Sarah Holy, brother-in-law Daniel Esquivel, numerous nieces, nephews, and many other family members and close friends. He is also survived by many great and great-great grandchildren; Cambria Morin, Makenna Dillon, Miley Dillon, Myles Franklin, Dillon Morin, Jonah Morin, Josie Morin, Aundre Sanchez, Mia Sanchez, Makai Rowland, Aria Rowland, Jrue Rowland, Jameson Rowland, Jeremiah Lambaria, and Ava Lambaria.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Roy Akers Funeral Home, 515 North Main Ave, San Antonio, TX 78205. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm.

We will depart from the Roy Akers Funeral Home at 10:30am on Thursday, August 31, 2023, to Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 1204 Castroville Rd, San Antonio, TX 78237 for an 11:00 am Mass of Resurrection. Interment with military honors will follow at 1:00 pm at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (section 63), 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Blood & Tissue Center Foundation.