Victor H. Ornelas, a life-long resident of Silver City, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, February 1, 2021. Victor was born in Silver City on March 23, 1925, to Bernardo and Julia H. Ornelas. Victor was a devout Catholic and attended St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church for his entire life. He attended public schools locally and graduated from high school in Silver City in 1944.
Victor married his wife of 68 years, Lupe Chacon of Santa Rita on January 16, 1953. He is survived by her along with three children, Tony Ornelas (Priscilla), Sam Ornelas (Debbie) and Catrina Smith (Rodney) and by his sister Reyes Corral of Silver City. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren Rozlyn Jones (Zach), Kaytlyn Ellingson (James), Jerod Smith (Bri), Marisa Ornelas, Matt Ornelas, Elijah Ornelas and Ava Ornelas, and two great grand-children, Logan Jones and Jackson Jones. Two more great grandchildren will join the family this spring. Also surviving Victor are his brothers-in-law, Thomas Ryan and Gaspar Chacon and his wife Teresa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Eva Ornelas, on April 25, 1976, and his brothers Frank Ornelas, Joe Ornelas and B.J. Ornelas and sisters Angela Brewer, Julia Morones and her husband Frank; his in-laws Abran and Josefa Chacon, his sister-in-law Connie Ryan and brothers-in-law Jesus Chacon and his wife Lupe, Augustin Chacon and his wife Elvira and Samuel Corral.
After his service in the US Army during World War II, Victor returned to Silver City, played the drums in various bands around the area including the All Veterans Orchestra and began working for the Wygant and Kennedy families at Home Furniture and Bargain Annex, where he worked for 52 years until his retirement. He made many life-long friends during his time there and was well liked by his fellow employees and customers. Victor was a founding member of the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus and served for many years as a Knight.
Victor never met a stranger and brought joy and a smile to all who knew him through his last day among us. He was a life-long Dodgers fan and a supporter of Notre Dame football and Silver High athletics. Until his health prevented him from doing so, he never missed a WNMU softball game.
Our family expresses great gratitude to Dr. Stanley and his staff who cared for Victor for many years and to the staff of Horizon Hospice who watched over him these last few months. In particular, we thank our mother, Lupe, who cared for our father without complaint day and night for the last few years and his nephew, Frank Ryan, his nieces, Raquel Corral-De los Santos, Margaret Ryan, Brandi Costales-Lemme and his neighbor, Deanne Miller, who were of great help and comfort to him and to our mother.
A private family service was held Monday, February 8, 2021. A Memorial service will be held
at a later date due to the COVID+ pandemic.
Pallbearers were Mike Hernandez, Greg Gomez, Frank Ryan, Sam Ornelas, Tony Ornelas and Tony Flores. Honorary pallbearers were his grandsons, Matt Ornelas, Jerod Smith and Elijah Ornelas, his son-in-law Rodney Smith and his nephew David Chacon.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels.
Victor married his wife of 68 years, Lupe Chacon of Santa Rita on January 16, 1953. He is survived by her along with three children, Tony Ornelas (Priscilla), Sam Ornelas (Debbie) and Catrina Smith (Rodney) and by his sister Reyes Corral of Silver City. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren Rozlyn Jones (Zach), Kaytlyn Ellingson (James), Jerod Smith (Bri), Marisa Ornelas, Matt Ornelas, Elijah Ornelas and Ava Ornelas, and two great grand-children, Logan Jones and Jackson Jones. Two more great grandchildren will join the family this spring. Also surviving Victor are his brothers-in-law, Thomas Ryan and Gaspar Chacon and his wife Teresa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Eva Ornelas, on April 25, 1976, and his brothers Frank Ornelas, Joe Ornelas and B.J. Ornelas and sisters Angela Brewer, Julia Morones and her husband Frank; his in-laws Abran and Josefa Chacon, his sister-in-law Connie Ryan and brothers-in-law Jesus Chacon and his wife Lupe, Augustin Chacon and his wife Elvira and Samuel Corral.
After his service in the US Army during World War II, Victor returned to Silver City, played the drums in various bands around the area including the All Veterans Orchestra and began working for the Wygant and Kennedy families at Home Furniture and Bargain Annex, where he worked for 52 years until his retirement. He made many life-long friends during his time there and was well liked by his fellow employees and customers. Victor was a founding member of the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus and served for many years as a Knight.
Victor never met a stranger and brought joy and a smile to all who knew him through his last day among us. He was a life-long Dodgers fan and a supporter of Notre Dame football and Silver High athletics. Until his health prevented him from doing so, he never missed a WNMU softball game.
Our family expresses great gratitude to Dr. Stanley and his staff who cared for Victor for many years and to the staff of Horizon Hospice who watched over him these last few months. In particular, we thank our mother, Lupe, who cared for our father without complaint day and night for the last few years and his nephew, Frank Ryan, his nieces, Raquel Corral-De los Santos, Margaret Ryan, Brandi Costales-Lemme and his neighbor, Deanne Miller, who were of great help and comfort to him and to our mother.
A private family service was held Monday, February 8, 2021. A Memorial service will be held
at a later date due to the COVID+ pandemic.
Pallbearers were Mike Hernandez, Greg Gomez, Frank Ryan, Sam Ornelas, Tony Ornelas and Tony Flores. Honorary pallbearers were his grandsons, Matt Ornelas, Jerod Smith and Elijah Ornelas, his son-in-law Rodney Smith and his nephew David Chacon.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels.
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