Benito A. Age - 84 - Nambe Vigil

Benito A. Vigil, a lifelong resident of Nambé, passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2012 from cancer. Born Nov. 15, 1927, he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in July 1946, and was an agriculture teacher, car salesman, and fierce advocate for the poor. Benito loved and lived life on his own terms, caring deeply about family, friends, horses, pets and the flocks of birds that migrated through the trees near his home. He was never without words of wisdom, advice or caring phone calls to tell family and friends he was thinking about them. He lived simply but was generous. Most remember the sight of Benito’s long silvery hair blowing in the wind as he rode either his horse, purple Harley-Davidson or lime-green convertible VW throughout the north. He was preceded in death by son, Gerald Paul Vigil; parents, Lorenzo and Senaida Vigil; in-laws, Pablo and Natividad Fernandez; brother, J. Gilbert Vigil and sister, Lita Ortiz Y Davis; and his children’s mother, Margaret F. Vigil. He is survived by children: Diana, Ricardo, JoAnne and Arnold (Melanie); grandsons George Jr., Diego and Justin; brothers: Longino (Sophie) and Lorenzo Jr.; special cousin, Isidor Romero; and in-laws: Rose Vigil, Ernesto Tafoya and Angie Gurule Vergo. The family gives special thanks to staffs at the SFe VA Clinic, Ambercare, Christus St. Vincent and SF Care Center, and requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Española Valley Animal Shelter. A celebration of Benito’s life will be held at noon, Sunday, May 6, in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel at DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory in Española. The family of Benito A. Vigil has entrusted the care of their loved to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477

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