Efren H. Pantoja, 66, entered into eternal life on Sunday, July 12, 2015.
Rosary was lead by Lolo Sanchez and Penny Stevens on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church. Funeral mass was celebrated on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Our Lady of Fatima with Father Saul Pacheco officiating.
Holy burial followed the mass in the Van Horn Cemetery with military honors. Serving as pallbearers were: Timothy Renn, David Bettray, Eddie Reyna, Gilbert Flores, Michael Molinar and Oscar Pantoja; Honorary Pallbearers, Seferino Alvarado, Jr., and Fabian Nunez Jr. Funeral services entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home of Fort Stockton.
Mr. Pantoja was born on November 2, 1948 in Valentine, Texas to Jesus Pantoja and Martina Hernandez. On November 26, 1971 in El Paso, Efren entered into marriage with Isela Sanchez. He had worked for 29 years as a miner at American Talc.
Mr. Pantoja was a Vietnam Veteran serving in the Army from 1969-1971. Mr. Pantoja was a member of the American Legion #508, Knights of Columbus and an avid Catholic. Efren was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, who will be greatly missed but will forever remain in our hearts.
Efren is preceded in death by his parents Jesus and Martina Pantoja.
Efren is survived by his wife Isela, his son Efren Pantoja Jr., his daughters Sandra and her husband Timothy Renn, of Walsenburg, Colorado, Kimberly and her husband David Bettray of Saratoga, Wyoming; his brother Sonny Pantoja and wife Lupita of Midand; his sisters Merced Nunez, of Midland, Eva and Julio Reyna of Van Horn, Emma Alvarado and husband Seferino of Midland and Avey and Bailey Molinar of Van Horn, and his loving grandchildren, Coleton and Gabriel Renn, and Brycen and McKenzie Bettray; numerous nieces and nephews; and his friends.