Pedro Pete Saldivar

Pete was born on May 19, 1944 in Beeville, Texas. He was the ninth of ten children of Ismael & Maria (Samudia) Saldivar. From his parents, farmworkers and active members of St. James Catholic Church, Pete learned the values of hard work and devotion to family and faith. He is survived by his spouse, Jesusa “Susie” (Tapia) Saldivar, whom he married in July 1965 in Houston, Texas and with whom he had three children: Sandra, Mark, and Debbie.

Growing up, Pete was an avid and accomplished athlete, starting with Little League baseball and later making lifelong friends playing varsity baseball, basketball, and football at A.C. Jones High School in Beeville. Pete graduated high school in 1963, and, after short spans in Colorado, Kansas, and Austin, he settled in Houston in 1965. Pete found his career as an insurance salesman by innovating new ways to provide insurance to members of the Spanish-speaking community across coastal Texas. His original approach allowed him to create an independent insurance agency in 1969; he was a successful entrepreneur and small business owner.

A generous leader and devout Catholic, Pete was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish in Houston, where he served as a Eucharistic minister. Endearingly outgoing, Pete never met a stranger, and as a faithful servant of God, he eagerly shared his faith with all. He treasured the spiritual friendships he made at church, especially those with his prayer companions at the daily 6:45 morning mass.

Pete was a role model to his family. He exemplified characteristics of a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a loyal brother, uncle, and friend. He deeply loved and cared for Susie, his high school sweetheart and wife of nearly 58 years. He cherished and was proud of his seven grandchildren, who knew him lovingly as “Popo”; they describe him as caring, spiritual, steadfast, providing, strong-willed, thoughtful, and generous.

Pete is survived by his spouse, Susie (Tapia) Saldivar; his children, Sandra (David) Wager, Mark (Courtney) Saldivar, and Debbie (Richard) O’Driscoll, all of Houston; his grandchildren, Christopher, Joseph, and Gabriel Wager, Daniel Saldivar, and Patrick, Matthew, and Caroline O’Driscoll, all of Houston; his siblings, Julian Saldivar of Beeville, Dora (Refugio) Martinez of Seguin, Mary (Jim) Sanchez of Houston, and Rudolph (Martha) Saldivar of Katy, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews across Texas.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ismael and Maria Saldivar; and his siblings, Anita Cuellar, Nino Saldivar, Delia Manrique, Minnie Martinez, and Ruben Saldivar.

The following services for Pete will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, Texas 77025:

Thursday, March 16 (Chapel)

Visitation 6pm-8pm

Rosary 6:30pm

Friday, March 17 (Church)

Funeral Mass, 9am

Interment, 11:30am at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to La Unidad 11, a civil and human rights organization in Houston, to carry on Pete’s mission for generosity and community. https://donorbox.org/launidad11

Reception immediately following Interment Friday, March 17 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home