Antonio Fernando Saavedra

Antonio Fernando Saavedra of Smyrna, Tennessee was born to eternal life on Saturday, January 10, 2026, surrounded by his beloved family.

Born in the Andes Mountains of western Bolivia, Antonio grew up in a family who valued education, a tenacious work ethic, and a strong sense of duty. After graduating from engineering school in Bolivia, he was awarded a scholarship to further his studies in the United States. He earned his Masters Degree in Engineering at the University of Alabama, and in the process, was introduced to his future wife, Monica, by way of a misdirected ping-pong ball.

Antonio and Monica were married in 1971, and went on to have four children. They loved and doted on family: those in Bolivia, and a new generation in the United States. Though Antonio always cherished the land of his birth, his loyalty lay with the land of his choice, the United States of America. In 1980, his wife and children had the privilege of witnessing his swearing-in as a naturalized US citizen.

Antonio’s career centered in the field of metallurgical engineering, joining the ranks of well-recognized companies such as Boeing, Reynolds Metals, and the Alcoa Corporation. After retirement, he continued his work as a consultant, sharing his expertise in multiple countries on five continents.

Though Antonio enjoyed his work and his travels, he was most content when he spent time with family. Antonio and Monica could often be seen encouraging their children at recitals, sports tournaments, theatrical plays, and art exhibitions. Soccer coaching was one thing Antonio particularly enjoyed, exuberantly jumping up and down along the sidelines to motivate his players.

As his children grew, Antonio was supportive of them in their chosen fields, and never missed a recognition ceremony or graduation. When they married, he became a surrogate father to their spouses, and cultivated a special kinship with their families. Grandchildren were the greatest source of joy to Antonio, or “Ayo”, as they called him. He made it his goal to be present at their special events, both for the local grandkids, as well as the ones living out of town. On a couple of occasions, he made trips to Bolivia with several of his grandchildren, immersing them in the heritage he so deeply treasured.

Antonio thrived on technology, staying on top of the latest gadgets, devices, and apps. He enjoyed cooking, and would often embellish his favorite recipes, eager for his family to try his delectable creations. Church was a great source of inspiration to Antonio: serving in the food pantry, singing in the choir, and helping to bridge the gap between English and Spanish-language ministries. It was very important for him to stay in contact with lifelong friends, no matter where in the world they lived. His weekly Zoom calls with friends and former classmates brought him connection and camaraderie, and became a profoundly-valuable source of prayerful support in his final days.

As we consider our loss of such a radiant, determined, and nurturing soul, Antonio’s greatest legacy is his deep faith in Christ. This is the peace his family and friends have been gifted, the fountain of strength to draw from in this time of grief. May we take comfort in the reality of Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Antonio is survived by his cherished wife, Monica Saavedra; four children and their spouses: Ximena Lindsey (Ronnie), Tania Williams (Dewey), Luis Saavedra (Sharon), and Antonio Saavedra, Jr. (Patricia); nine grandchildren and one grand-daughter-in-law: Luke Lindsey (Arowyn), Micah Lindsey, Nathanael Lindsey, Daniel Williams, Anna Williams, John Saavedra, Kenneth Pilone, Gabriella Saavedra, and Audrey Saavedra; his beloved stepmother: Rúth Careaga de Saavedra; four siblings and their spouses: Graciela Saavedra de Campuzano (Oscar), Raúl Saavedra (Edith), José L. Saavedra (Dubeisa), Jorge Saavedra (Josefa); two additional sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law: Augustín Mendieta, Cynthia Harkness (Rick), and Sandra Johnson; dearly-loved cousins, nieces, and nephews; and many, many special friends. He is preceded in death by his mother, Amalia de Saavedra; his father, José A. Saavedra; his sister, Nancy Rocha de Mendieta; his parents-in-law, Gladys and Howard Johnson; and his brother-in-law, James Johnson.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, January 19, 2026 at LaVergne First United Methodist Church, 248 Old Waldron Road, LaVergne, Tennessee 37086. The family will receive visitors from 10:00 - 11:30 am, followed by the service at 11:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Shalom Es Mi Casa, a group-home orphanage in Sucre, Bolivia. Antonio made it a point to visit this ministry over the years, and held its founders, Ana and Howard Nutt, in high esteem.
Giving information is as follows: https://giving.ag.org/donate/fda56f54-6a49-42ed-aa17-dc9f3a658a2a
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