Bernardo Andres Benavides was born in Seguin, Texas on August 22, 1950, and passed away in Houston, Texas on January 5, 2021.

Bernardo graduated from Sharpstown Sr. high School in the 1970's, and graduated from Victoria College in 1977.  On February 5, 2016, he married Gladis Eunice Castillo.  He worked in customs for Homeland Security for 40 years, and had just retired in April of 2020.  Bernardo loved outdoor strolls, watching boxing matches (especially those with his favorite fighter Canelo), listening to music (Pepe Aguilar, Luis Miguel, and country music), traveling in his van, and eating BBQ with his family.  He loved to dress to impress for any occasion, and was always making others laugh with his sarcastic humor. Although he fought complications from childhood polio his entire life, he never let it hold him back and overcame every obstacle in his path.  Bernardo had a great passion for life and continuously defied anything that might have stood in his way of living it to the fullest.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bernardo Martinez Benavides and Sulema Gonzales Benavides.

Bernardo is survived by his devoted wife, Gladis Eunice Castillo Benavides; his children, Jonathan Gene Benavides, Juan Luis Benavides, and Andy Benavides, Jr.; step-children, Helga Estrada and Astrid Montejo; 4 grandchildren; siblings, Carmen Wrigley, John Benavides and wife Arlene, Bernadine Bing, Richard Benavides and wife Tommie, Marie B. Harrison and husband William, Oscar Benavides and wife Victoria, and Edward Benavides and wife Diana; and countless nieces and nephews who adored him and his humor.

REFLECTIONS ON OUR LIFE TOGETHER

I met you one afternoon on the first of November 2014. Fate put us there at Panera Bread.

I don't believe in coincidences, but I do believe in chances.

Since that afternoon you showed me in your conversation that physical limitations are not an obstacle to meeting objectives and goals. That is what awoke in me a great motivation to know you more and more.

When you told me that human incapacities are in the mind, not in the body.

From there you began to be my teacher and my guide.

Thanks to you I have discovered that borders do not exist, that obstacles are only small tests that can be overcome with intelligence and patience.

You taught me to observe, analyze and have different points of view on things before expressing an opinion.

Your wisdom, knowledge and especially your experience was like being in an ongoing university of life.

Your good humor, under all circumstances, you made me always laugh.

A romantic man who would serenade me at the most unexpected moments. All kinds of music and in all languages.

The long walks together, conversations, that constant sense of protection; but especially that beautiful friendship that made our days an adventure based on mutual understanding.

Thank you for always being happy to take me to see the wonderful Houston sunsets, from many vantage points.

Thank you for giving me constant joys, through a meal together, a shared ice cream or simply a movie or a song.

I know you enjoyed our multiple trips to Guatemala, and I know we still had many plans together.

Your conversations, your sense of freedom and adventure that helped us see so many places.

Your compassion for human beings, especially children.

After five years of sharing, I can only thank you for this wonderful time. I miss you so much, but I know that if you were alive, you would tell me to stay focused, to pay attention. And to know that little by little things will work out.

With Love,

Gladis Benavides

MIS PENSAMIENTOS DE TI

Te conocí una tarde del 1ero. De Noviembre 2,014.

El destino nos puso allí en Panera Bread.

No creo en coincidencias pero si creo en causalidades.

Desde esa tarde me demostraste en tu conversación, que las limitaciones físicas no son un obstáculo para cumplir con los objetivos y las metas.   Eso es lo que despertó en mi una gran motivación para conocerte más y más.

Cuando me dijiste que la incapacidad del ser humano está en la mente no en el cuerpo.

Desde allí empezaste a ser mi maestro y mi guía.

Gracias  a ti he descubierto que las fronteras no existen, que los obstáculos son sólo pequeñas pruebas que pueden ser superadas con inteligencia y paciencia.

Me enseñaste a observar, analizar y a tener diferentes puntos de vista de las cosas antes de emitir una opinión.

Tu sabiduría, conocimientos y especialmente tu experiencia era como estar en una universidad de la vida constante.

Tu buen humor, ante toda circunstancia, me hacías reír a toda hora.

Un hombre romántico que solías darme serenata en el momento más inesperado.

Todo tipo de música y en todos los idiomas.

Las largas caminatas juntos, conversaciones, ese sentido de protección constante; pero especialmente esa linda amistad que hacía de nuestros días toda una aventura y complicidad.

Gracias por siempre complacerme en llevarme a ver los maravillosos atardeceres de Houston en diferentes lugares.

Gracias por darme alegrías constantes reflejadas en una comida, un helado compartido o simplemente una película o una canción.

Nuestros múltiples viajes a Guatemala, se que los disfrutaste, se que todavía teníamos muchos planes juntos.

Tus conversaciones, tu sentido de libertad y aventura que nos ayudó a ver tantos lugares.

Tu compasión por los seres humanos, especialmente los niños.

Después de 5 años compartidos, solo me queda darte las gracias por este tiempo maravilloso.  Te extraño demasiado, pero sé que si estuvieras vivo, me dirías que me mantenga enfocada, que ponga atención.  Y que sabe que poco a poco se resolverán las cosas.

Con Amor.

Gladis Benavides.