Abelardo C. Marquez, 77, of Marfa, Texas, passed away on Nov. 16, 2021, following a brief illness.

Abelardo was born on Dec. 10, 1943, to Maria Santos Cordero and Francisco Marquez in San Carlos, Manuel Benavides, Chihuahua, Mexico. He and his family emigrated to Marfa in 1953. He became a U.S. citizen on Feb. 21, 1975.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1962, and achieved the rank of sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1965. Before entering the Army, he was employed by Webb Motor Company. After his return to Marfa he worked for Casner Motor Company for 15 years, then West Texas Utilities, which would later become American Electric Power, for 21 years until he retired in 2004.

Abelardo married Laura Villanueva in 1967, and they had three children.

He was predeceased by his parents; step-father Luis B. Vasquez; and his son Neil.

He is survived by his wife Laura; two children, Christine and Abelardo, Jr., and wife Angelica; four grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; seven step-great grandchildren; five brothers, Francisco Marquez, Manuel Marquez, Robert Marquez, Joe Vasquez, and Johnny Vasquez; and three sisters, Maria Elena Esparza, Araceli Vasquez, and Rose Mary Vasquez.

Urn bearers will be Zaine N. Marquez, Jared Cole Shackelford, Tony Gonzalez, and Shawna Gonzalez. Honorary urn bearers will be Amaya J. Marquez and Abelardo A. Marquez.

Services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Marfa, with rosary beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by the mass, and interment. There will be a luncheon for friends and family at Saint Mary’s Parish Hall immediately following.