Jose Guadalupe Sotelo

Jose Guadalupe Sotelo, of Odessa, Texas, passed away on Thursday, September 21^st, 2023.

Visitation will be 1 PM – 9 PM and rosary at 7 PM on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at Martinez Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 1PM on Friday, September 29, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Father Frank Chavez officiating.  Burial will follow at Ector County Cemetery at Rose Hill Garden.  Arrangements are by Martinez Funeral Home.

Lupe was born in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico to Francisco Sotelo and Maria Cruz Valenzuela Cataño on October 12, 1944. He graduated salutatorian from Ector High School.  Feeling the call to serve his country, he soon joined the US Army.  He proudly served his country in the 82^nd Airborne Division.  He received the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, and Army Commendation Medal, among other stars and ribbons.  After serving a total of 18 years he decided to come back home.

With the decision to continue serving, he went back to school.  He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin with his focus on teaching.  He joined the Ector County School District.  Throughout his 24 years, he touched the hearts of many students having taught at Blanton, Burleson, Burnet, LBJ, and Sam Houston Elementary schools. Lupe was a devoted Catholic earning the nickname “the Bishop” from Father Chavez.  He served as a lector, usher, and eucharistic minister, as well as, teaching CCD and RCIA for many years.

Lupe is preceded in death by his parents, stepfather Juan Cataño, brothers Samuel Sotelo and Ruben Cataño, sisters, Leonila Sosa and Maria Irene Levario.  He is survived by brothers, Francisco (Paco) Sotelo and wife, Maria Elena; Herman Sotelo and wife, Teresa; Johnny Cataño and wife, Sandra; Francisco (Pancho) and wife, Minerva; sisters, Cecilia Rodriguez and husband, George; Elvia Herrera, Silvia Garza, Mercedes Barrios and husband, Alfredo; brother-in-law, Alfredo Levario, many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be John Cataño, Randy Cataño, Fred Levario, Jeremiah Levario, Michael Rodriguez, Juan Sotelo, Mathew Sotelo, and Ricardo Sotelo.

The family of Guadalupe Sotelo wishes to extend our sincere thanks to VA Home Health, Star Care Hospice, Dr. Borra Cancer Center and family that helped care for him.

God looked around his garden

And saw and empty space

He then looked down upon the earth

And saw a tired face

He put his arms around you

And lifted you to rest

God's Garden must be beautiful

He only takes the best

He knew that you were suffering

He knew you were in pain

He knew you would never

Get well on earth again

He saw the road was getting rough

And the hills were hard to climb

So He closed your weary eyelids

And whispered "Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you

But you didn't go alone

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home