Celso Sanchez

July 9, 1944 - January 1, 2022

Celso Sanchez, 77, of Caldwell, Texas went to be with our Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 1, 2022. Visitation services will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, on Wednesday, January 5th in the Chapel at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Caldwell, Texas. A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 PM. A funeral mass celebrating his life will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caldwell, Texas. Following the service, Celso will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Celso Sanchez was born on July 9, 1944, to Esiquio H. Sanchez and Augustina P. Sanchez in Caldwell, Texas. He was one of eleven siblings. His friends affectionately called him “Chez”, or “Cecil”. Celso graduated from Caldwell High School in 1965, and in the same year joined the United States Air Force. He met and fell in love with his wife, Maria Carmen Sanchez while stationed at Torrejon Air Force Base (AFB) in Madrid Spain. They later married in Madrid on September 9, 1972. During his military career, Celso attended USAF Community College, and trained to become an aircraft machinist. He loved to work on any kind of machine, equipment, or engine and could fix just about anything. During his military career he served at Bunker Hill AFB in Indiana; Rhein-Main AFB in Frankfurt, Germany; Mather AFB in Sacramento, California; Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas; Torrejon AFB in Madrid, Spain; and Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas. Celso was proud that he served our country in the Air Force. Celso retired as a Technical Sergeant after 21 years and 4 months of service to his country. Celso received many medals throughout his military career. Upon retirement, Celso moved his family back to Caldwell where he resided for the rest of his life. Celso enjoyed listening to music, dancing, going fishing, working in his garden, playing dominoes, and making tamales every year after Thanksgiving with his family. He loved having visitors drop by and hosting friends. You could always find a crowd at the Sanchez house, laughing and having fun, and there was always a seat for someone else at his table. Celso loved hosting his friends and family. Celso believed in actions speaking louder than words and lived his life with this mentality. His devotion to his family, his sharp wit, kindness and generosity will forever be missed and remembered. Celso was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Jose Sanchez, Ralph Sanchez, and Refugio Sanchez; sisters Seprana Hernandez-Sanchez, and Alicia Gonzalez. Celso is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Maria Carmen Sanchez, daughters Christina Black and husband Wayde Black, Yolanda Maria Sanchez-Castaneda, and son Alejandro Esiquio Sanchez and wife Jeana Sanchez. He is also survived by brothers Panfilo Sanchez and his wife Sharon Sanchez, Rito Sanchez and his wife Christina Sanchez, Celestino “Tino” Sanchez and his wife Maria Sanchez; sisters Louisa Mendez, and Lucille Morrison. Grandchildren include Katie Castaneda, Andrew Sanchez, Heather Burns, and Jessica Thomas. Great-grand children include Payton Thomas, and Owen Burns. Celso was a member of the American Legion; Disabled American Veterans (DAV); Caldwell VFW Post; and the Air Force Sergeants Association. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for your consideration in donating to one of these organizations. Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com.