Leonel Flores Fuentes, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and loyal friend, died Tuesday, July 17, 2018, in San Antonio after a short illness. He was 87. He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Armandina Martinez Fuentes, his childhood sweetheart; his sister, Elvia F. Fuentes; and his parents, Micaela Flores Fuentes and Encarnacion Fuentes. Born in Del Rio, Texas, on May 8, 1931, his education was strongly encouraged by his parents from an early age. They sacrificed to put him through Sacred Heart Academy, where he met his wife to be. He was fond of recounting how she told her friends, at the age of 8, that she was going to marry him. He was upset about it at the time, he would say. Then he would smile and add, "She turned out to be right." She was valedictorian of her class, and he became the first in his family to graduate from high school, Del Rio High, and then from college, Texas A&M University, Class of 1953. He and Martinez were married in 1957 and moved to Corpus Christi, where he was working as a pharmaceutical representative for Wyeth Laboratories. Two years and their first child later, they moved to Laredo, where they lived until their deaths. A staunch Republican and proud Aggie, Fuentes served in the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in zoology. After graduation, he served active duty in the U.S. Air Force and later in the Reserves. He worked for Wyeth for more than 30 years, until he retired in 1987. He continued to detail pharmacists and doctors for several more years for various companies. When his wife fell ill with cancer, he took full-time responsibility for her care until her death in March 2009. Survivors include children: Diana R. (Ray Gomez +) Fuentes; Jaime L. (Marie) Fuentes; Marco J. (Ana) Fuentes; Lydia F. (Sergio) Aranda; Sylvia E. Fuentes; grandchildren: Christina (Jason) Hearne, Estevan (Jina) Fuentes, Andrea Fuentes and Graciela Fuentes; Geri (Rafael) Moronta and Elijah Fuentes; Ysa Aranda and Evan Aranda; great-grandchildren: Arianna Hearne; Zoe and Ava Moronta; feline friend Morris; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 19, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Sunset Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. Chapel service will be held Friday, July 20, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Sunset Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Westlawn Cemetery.