Sal was a hardworking man; he was thoughtful, caring and loved his family and friends very sincerely. He graduated from Riverside High School in 1979 and shortly after joined the Air Force, where he was an Air Traffic Controller.
After he completed his military service, he married Delia Gutierrez but later they went their separate ways. While in El Paso, he worked as a journalist for the El Paso Times and he also sold automobiles. He moved to Oklahoma to look for other opportunities and found management work at a restaurant where he made beautiful friends that he loved and cherished and who have since become part of his extended family. After his father, Salvador Sr. passed away, he moved back to the southwest to be close to his mother Nieves and his siblings—Juan, Gloria, Velia, Nancy, and Ray—and found work as a general manager for the KFC in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Through his dedication and hard work, he bolstered the restaurant into the top 20 of the corporation and won awards for doing so. He was so compassionate and gained the respect of his customers; he knew exactly what they were going to order, packed the meals and had them ready by the time the customer reached the counter. He was so respectful and kind to everyone and in return gained love and respect from his customers who later became part of his extended family as well. Sal made lasting friendships everywhere he went, so many people loved him, and we will all miss him dearly holding tight to our memory of him.
Salvador is survived by his mother Nieves Gonzalez; his siblings Juan Gonzalez, Ray Gonzalez, Gloria Tapia, Rosa Velia Martinez and Nancy Gonzalez; his nieces and nephews Rebecca Taylor, Andrew Tapia, Joshua Martinez, Marco Martinez, Vanessa Gonzalez, John Gonzalez, Danny Tapia, Jimi Martinez, Jason Martinez, Jeniffer Gonzalez, Christopher Gonzalez, Amanda Lopez, and his godson Ismael Cervantes and his godson Charles David Irwin.
Salvador was preceded in death by his father Salvador Gonzalez.
A visitation for Salvador will be held Wednesday, June 5, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Crestview Funeral Home, 1462 North Zaragoza Rd., El Paso, Texas 79936.A vigil will occur on Wednesday at 6:00 pm at Crestview Funeral Home. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 9:30 AM at Little Flower Catholic Church, 171 Polo Inn Rd, El Paso, TX 79915, El Paso, TX. A graveside service will occur Monday, June 24, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Evergreen East Cemetery, 12400 East Montana, El Paso, Texas 79938.
An inurnment will occur Monday, June 24, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Evergreen East Cemetery, 12400 East Montana, El Paso, Texas 79938.
Serving as pallbearers are Danny Tapia Jr, Ismael Cervantes, Charles Irwin , Josh Martinez, John Gonzalez, Marco Martinez, Jonathan Tapia and Arturo Montes.
