Obituary of Apolinar Compean

Apolinar “Gil” Compean passed on to his eternal rest on September 26, 2019.  He was 80 years old.

Apolinar was born on September 17, 1939 in San Benito, Texas.  He attended school in Port Isabel, Texas and there he learned to love the life of a shrimper.  He later become the owner of shrimp boats, including “Miss Esmeralda.”

Apolinar Compean is preceded in death by his parents, Juan C. Compean and Mariana Medina Compean; sister, Angelica C. Compean; brothers-in-law, Alberto Rosales and Cecilio “Nito” Villarreal; and sister-in-law, Alicia Saldana Compean.

He is survived by his daughter, Esmeralda C. Cavazos and her husband, Carlos; grandchildren, Erica Cavazos-Flood and Daniel Cavazos.  Also surviving him are his siblings, Hiliario (Graciela) Compean, Elida (Ovidio) De La Fuente, Rita (Javier) Torres, Genoveva Villarreal, Mario Compean, Luz Compean, Geronimo “Jerry” Ramirez; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Apolinar owned several businesses in San Benito and he was a lifelong friend to many in the community. He was an avid supporter of our San Benito Greyhounds, Lady Hounds Softball team, and a Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys Fan.

Visitation will begin Monday, September 30, 2019, from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito, Texas.

A chapel service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, at Thomae Garza Funeral Home with burial to follow at San Benito City Cemetery in San Benito, Texas.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Carlos Cavazos, Ovidio De La Fuente III, Heriberto “Sonny” F. Gutierrez Jr., Juan Amaya, Juan Ramirez, and Jerry Ramirez. Honorary pallbearers are Derek De La Fuente, Juan Sebastian Ramirez, and Leonardo Arturo Ramirez.

You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort, flowers, or sympathy cards to the family of Apolinar “Gil” Compean at: www.thomaegarza.com.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home and Crematory, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.