Joel Balbuena Lezama

In 1969, our family moved from California to Odessa, Texas, where he established, owned, and operated Sunset West Cleaners for 35 years. Our mother, Maria, worked side by side with him while raising three daughters.

As a devoted Catholic, he was a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, remaining active and hardworking even after his retirement. He was involved in the prison ministry in Odessa and Big Spring before COVID-19. Since then, he taught weekly Bible classes at the Southside Senior Center and baptism classes at the church until weeks before his passing.

Born in Mexico City in 1927, he was the last surviving sibling among his eight brothers and sisters. His devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe burned in his heart, and he was truly a son of Mary, the Virgin Mother.

He is survived by his daughters Lorenia (Armando) Marquez, Dolores Galindo, and Sophia Samaniego; grandchildren Lisette Landingin, Theresa (Phillip) Davis, Alexis (Maggie) Marquez, David Galindo, Zachary (Tabitha) Samaniego, and Madison Samaniego; and great-grandchildren Malia, Abby, Zoey, and Miguel. Our father is preceded in death by our mother, Maria V. Lezama, his parents, and siblings.

We will miss his humor, good counsel, positive nature, and especially his love in so many different ways.

We give him to God with grateful and thankful hearts for having him for 97 years. We were blessed to have called him daddy, papee, and papa. On his last birthday, he was surrounded by family and close friends and reflected on his life, considering himself blessed.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes you to consider making a memorial donation to House of Mercy Food Pantry at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 2633 Conover Avenue, Odessa, Texas 79763. His relationship with God and his church family was very special to our father.

The family wishes to thank all the doctors, nurses, and medical staff on the 4th floor at Odessa Regional Medical Center and the Interim Hospice Care nursing staff at Medical Center Hospital who all cared for our father during his brief illness. Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kendall Wong and his staff, who has been our father's regular doctor and have cared for him through the years and Dr. Raja Naidu and his staff who has been his doctor for the past year.

A visitation for our father will be held Thursday, December 12, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. followed by a rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home, 601 North Alleghaney Avenue, Odessa, Texas 79761. A funeral mass to celebrate his life will occur on Friday, December 13, 2024, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 2633 Conover Avenue, Odessa, Texas 79763 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Ector County Cemetery, 300 South Dixie Blvd, Odessa, Texas 79763.