Armando T. Gaytan

Armando T. Gaytan, 80 years of age In the beginning God created the Heaven & Earth and on April 9, 1944, He created The Great One, Armando Gaytan. On December 23, 2024, God called Armando home. Armando was born to Jose Angel Gaytan & Socorro Tienda in Alamo, TX. The family moved to Lubbock when Armando was a child and Lubbock became his home. Armando attended schools in Alamo & Lubbock, receiving his diploma from Lubbock Evening High School on May 26, 1978. On July 14, 1966, Armando was drafted into the United States Army where he served with honor during the Vietnam War & the Tet Offensive as SPEC 4. He was proud to be a member of VFW Post 2466 in Lubbock. On May 20, 1969, he married the love of his life, Sally Rodriguez of Idalou, TX and began a wonderful journey the two shared for the next 55 years. Armando worked masonry work his entire adult life, building many commercial & residential properties across Texas. After his retirement he enjoyed hunting & traveling with his wife. He also enjoyed visiting his granddaughters, spoiling his great grandchildren & attending all their school & sporting activities. He was an avid Idalou Wildcat football fan, often traveling to support the team. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Sally Gaytan of the home. Daughter Page & Rick Pilant of Portales, NM. Granddaughters Kacee & Jacob Teofilo of Clovis, NM and Lacee Duran of Lubbock. Great-grandchildren KayLynn Lewis, Andrew Teofilo, & Isaiah Duran. Sisters Amaparo & Jose Gonzalez of Round Rock, Carmen Rosales of Wichita, KS, Anna & Jaime Torres of Houston, Alma Gutierrez of Lubbock and Gloria Cervantez of Lubbock. Brother-in-law Noe & Janette Rodriguez of Idalou. Several nieces & nephews, including Rose & Ruben Gonzalez of Idalou, & Mark & Elizabeth Gonzalez of Lubbock, along with additional family members in Mexico. He was preceded in death by an infant son Gilbert, a son Johnny, his father Jose Angel Gaytan, his mother Socorro Guerrero and several brothers & sisters. He was followed to his Heavenly home by his four-legged best friend Zorro on December 24, 2024. The family visitation will be 6:00-7:00 p.m., Sunday, December 29, 2024 in Sanders Memorial Chapel, The Holy Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 30, 2024 at Saint Elizabeth's Catholic Church. Followed by burial at Peaceful Gardens with full military honors. Pallbearers will be Mark Gonzalez, Michael Gonalez, Miguel Rodriguez, Armando Galaviz, Micheal Gutierrez, and Richard Cervantez. Honorary pallbearers will be KayLynn Lewis, Andrew Teofilo, Isaiah Duran, Jesse Galaviz and Joseph Rodriguez. The family would like to thank Sara Weede current VFW 2466 commander, Benny Guerrero former VFW 2466 commander, and VFW 2466 Auxiliary for all the love, support & respect not only for Armando, but for the entire family. Armando will always be remembered for his story telling, his wonderful smile, & his funny words of wisdom, and we quote, "At my funeral make sure to say, 'My Dad Armando was bery bery bery good! 6/18/24'" He will be forever loved & missed.

Armando T. Gaytan

April 9, 1944 - December 23, 2024