Jose Hector "Joe" Vela

JOE HECTOR VELA SAN JUAN – Joe Hector Vela, 75, died Tuesday, July 3, 2012, in San Antonio, Texas surrounded by his family. Joe Hector Vela was born December 20, 1936, in Elsa, Texas, to Fidel and Guadalupe (Saenz) Vela. In 1956 Joe graduated from PSJA High School in Pharr, Texas. He then continued his education at Breckenridge Hospital School of X-ray in Austin, Texas, where he was the first Hispanic to graduate from the hospital program. After graduating in 1958, he married his high school sweetheart Olga Vargas. He started an early career as an X-ray tech in Austin and Kingsville under the wings of Dr. Fagen and Dr. Douglas. Joe’s management journey began at the early age of 27 in 1961 with the civil service in Panama. After building a career on the fundamentals of professionalism and excellence, Joe returned to the states in 1966 and earned a position as Director of Radiology in El Paso, Texas. His professional journey continued in 1971 as Director of Radiology at St. Mary’s Hospital in Lubbock, Texas. Ten years later, in 1981, he accepted the opportunity to return to his roots in the Rio Grande Valley as Director of Radiology at McAllen Medical Center where he later retired. Joe had a great career and felt obligated to give back to his profession by teaching college radiology classes in McAllen and Brownsville. He led fundraising events as well as his popular golf tournaments to raise scholarships for The Society of X-Ray. His passions encompassed loving his family, barbequing, playing the guitar, volunteering at church, participating in L.U.L.A.C. and according to his wife, Olga, “golf, golf, golf, and more golf!” A man after God’s own heart, Joe had many accomplishments and achievements. No title could compare to the joy of seeing others succeed after the impact of his encouraging words and actions, which applied to those who crossed his path. His greatest gift to all of us is the gift of Love! He is preceded in death by his parents, Fidel and Guadalupe (Saenz) Vela; and a brother, Efrain Vela. Joe is survived by his wife, Olga Vela; five children, Roland (Dolores) Vela, Rockie Vela, Jackie (Richard) Adame, Jeanie (Randy) Velarde, and Reuben Vela; ten grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; siblings, Edgar Vela and Estella Villarreal; numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Visitation was held Thursday, July 5,2012 , at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Funeral service will take place at 12:30 p.m. today, July 6, 2012, at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Annie Carpenter officiating. Interment will follow at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 8788 of McAllen. Serving as pallbearers will be Jeremiah Vela, Michael Gonzalez, Justin Adame, Nikko Velarde, James Martinez, and Harry Vargas. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mario Gomez, Donato Gomez, Ronnie Martin, Raul Villarreal, Roy Garza, Oscar Palacios, Tito Vargas and Agapito Vargas, Jr. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.