Abel Lozano Armendarez

Abel Lozano Armendarez, age 75, passed away on February 1, 2026, at UT Southwestern William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

He was born on July 8, 1950, in Rankin, Texas, to Mauro and Estefana Armendarez. Abel was the father of ten children: three with his first wife, Ruby; two with his second wife, Maria; and five with his third wife, Rosa Maria.

Abel met Rosa Maria in 1980, and they married in 1983. They spent the next 35 years together raising their family in Rankin, Texas, until their divorce in 2018. Despite the end of their marriage, they remained very close.

Abel was known by many names—Peco, Bill, Tex, Jefe, Dad, and Daddy—each one reflecting the many roles he played and the countless lives he touched.

In December 1969, Abel was drafted into the United States Army. He began basic training in California on January 20, 1970, and served honorably until his discharge on January 9, 1972. He remained in the Ready Reserve until January 19, 1976, fulfilling his military obligation with honor and pride.

Abel attended school in Rankin before leaving early to begin working at a young age. At just 14 years old, he started working for the City of Rankin in 1964. In 1978, he became a full-time employee, dedicating decades of service to his community until his retirement on December 31, 2015.

In the early 1990s, Abel and his wife shared a newspaper route, waking in the early morning hours to deliver The Odessa American to the front yards of Rankin residents. Those early mornings became cherished moments of togetherness and bonding, often involving their children, who would occasionally help—creating lasting memories rooted in family and hard work.

After working full days for the City of Rankin, Abel would go on to work alongside his wife at their family-owned business, Rosa’s Bar & Grill. The establishment became a welcoming gathering place for the community, where patrons enjoyed a cold drink, great food, good conversation, and Abel’s warm and memorable company.

After retiring from the City of Rankin, Abel also worked part-time for Upton County for a couple of years.

Abel found joy in life’s simple pleasures. He loved watching westerns, cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, playing pool, and enjoying a cold Coors Light in his favorite red cup. He stayed active by walking around the Rankin High School football field parking lot and could often be seen driving his little blue truck around town, always waving to everyone he passed.

In recent years, Abel enjoyed watching Ridiculousness on Dish TV while having his daily lunch delivered from the Senior Citizens Center. A familiar sight to many, he was often found parked at his old business across the railroad tracks at Rosa’s Bar & Grill, sitting in his truck and enjoying the day—sometimes joined by a friend who would stop by just to keep him company.

On Sundays, Abel could often be found attending Mass at the Catholic Church in Rankin. Everywhere he went, he made sure to say hello to everyone single person he would come across, always with a huge smile on his face. And as he would say goodbye, he ended it with his signature words: “Love y’all.”

Abel dearly loved his dog, Spook, who will miss him greatly.

Abel’s life was marked by hard work, dedication, and a deep love for his family. He will be remembered for his strength, resilience, humor, and the lasting impact he made on all who knew him.

Abel was preceded in death by his brother Juan Armendarez, his brother Eduardo “Lalo” Armendarez, his mother Estefana Armendarez, his father Mauro Armendarez, and his brother Richard Armendarez.

He is survived by his children Abel L. Armendariez Jr., Joseph Armendariez, Veronica Palmer, Adam (Pamela) Armendarez, Annabel ‘Annie’ (Jesus) Guevara, Ricardo Acosta, Jesse (Aerianna) Armendarez, Brenda Armendarez, Crystal (Jesus) Lopez and Alexandra Armendarez; 37 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; his siblings Tonia (Alex) Castaneda, Manuel ‘Gene’ Armendarez, Armando Armendarez, Elvira (Jose Luis) Aguirre, Gilda (Nieves) Lopez, Linda Rodriguez, Gloria (Andres) Sifuentez, Aida (Gilbert) Ramirez, Jimmy (Rogelia) Armendarez, Rosemary (Rick) Ferguson; many nieces, nephews and extended family. He is also survived by Rosa Maria Garcia who remained close and a part of his life

Visitation will take place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, beginning at 09:00 at the Rankin Park Building

Funeral services will follow at 14:00 with interment at the Rankin Cemetery. A dinner will be held afterward at the Park Building.