Jose Enrique "Kiki" Caraballo Bastides

1926 - 2023

José Enrique "Kikí" Caraballo Bastides was born in Añasco, Puerto Rico, on July 14, 1926, to his mother, a teacher, Enriqueta Bastides, and his father, an architect, José Enrique Caraballo Herrera, as the oldest of five children: Elba (deceased), María Magdalena "Tati," José Antonio "Ñín" (deceased), and Teresa Enriqueta "Minina."

When he was 15, their mother died of prevantable infection, an episode he would remember every day until his death. At 24, he was drafted to serve in the Korean war, as part of the well-known Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment, from which he came back injured but decorated with two bronze stars for heroic and meritorious service and a Purple Heart.

After returning, while watching a local girls' softball game, he saw the pitcher bend over and said, "One day, that will be the mother of my children." Indeed, he married María Dolores "Lole" Serrano Valentín on May 21, 1952. They had four children: José Antonio, Marie Theresa, Ivonne Elizabeth, and Lillian Arlene. From this, they had seven grandchildren: Jackeline Denisse, Lillian Marie, Kenny Brian, Joseph Radamés, Joseph Henry, Joseph Anthony, and Victoria Nicole; and two great-grandchildren: Italia Bella and Archer Phoenix.

After a deep and personal spiritual encounter, José devoted the rest of his adult life mainly to the Lord and his family. He served missions in Central America and became a licensed reverend, opening his own church, and he preached the word of God and salvation through Jesus Christ until he no longer could. As a working man, he spent the majority of his career as a technician at the Puerto Rico Telephone Company in Bayamón, helping raise his two eldest granddaughters. Upon retirement, he moved to Melbourne, Florida, with his wife in 2001. They bought a house in Palm Bay, where they resided for the last 21 years and where he took his last breath.

José passed away on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, just as he wanted, in his own home in Palm Bay, with his wife of 70 years by his side. He leaves all aforementioned living family members grieving yet gratefully and lovingly remembering their hero.