REVEREND SAMUEL B. SALDIVAR II

1959 - 2014

REVEREND SAMUEL B. SALDIVAR II Reverend Samuel B. Saldivar II crossed the celestial finish line June 6, 2014. He was born on August 21, 1959 to Dora Balli Saldivar and Samuel Saldivar in San Bentio, TX. He spent most of his childhood growing up on a ranch just outside San Benito, TX, where his love for the outdoors grew into a lifelong passion. While in school pastor Samuel played football and baseball, but his farm boy heart drew him to bull-riding (a sport that his grandson's admired in him). After graduating from Los Fresnos High School, Samuel began attending Texas State Technical Institute (T.S.T.I) where he met, fell in love with, and married Norma Vasquez from Weslaco, TX, in 1981. They married in 1982, had two children-Samuel, III (1983) and Jillian (1984), and settled in Weslaco, TX after short periods in Nada and San Antonio, TX. Often described as a Super Hero by his children, he had a knack for fixing all of the things his kids managed to break while they were growing up. Pastor Samuel loved spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. It never mattered if that time was spent shopping, watching princess movies with his granddaughters, or cheering on his grandsons at their soccer or baseball games; Samuel just loved to spend time with family. That's what mattered most to him. Pastor Samuel also loved to go hunting and fishing whenever he had a chance. He and his wife had a passion for antiquing in North Texas, Ohio, and Michigan. And although he was a consummate family man, his heart belonged completely to the Lord. Heeding God's call, Rev. Samuel and Norma became pastors of First Assembly of God, in Raymondville, TX, in 2003. Rev. Sam and Norma poured their hearts into the community, and worked to grow the kingdom of God. As pastors in Raymondville, pastor Sam and Norma strove to fulfill the calling that God had placed in their lives, and worked with hearts full of joy and laughter. And while his contagious laugh is no longer here, we take comfort in knowing that he is now rejoicing with his heavenly father. Pastor Sam precedes his siblings Sylvia Saldivar, Nora (Ron) Hooker, Javier (Maribel) Saldviar, Joel (Rose) Saldivar, Homer (Susana) Saldivar, Lisa (Ron) Arnold, Mary (Roger) Parker, Eloy (Josefina) Saldivar, Obed Saldivar, wife Norma, children Samuel (Lydia) and Jillian (Jonathan) Trejo, and grandchildren-Samuel IV, Joaquin, and Elias Saldivar, and Evan, Gianna, and Aubree Trejo. He is preceded in death by his mother Dora Balli Saldivar and his father Samuel Saldivar and grandson, Ian Nathan Treijo, in 2009. Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries