Manuel Guadalupe Benavides, 64, of Bay City, passed away Friday, February 11, 2011. He was born September 14, 1946 at Santo Nino Ranch, Zapata County, TX to the late Manuel Deatocha Benavides and to Ella Dora Salinas Benavides. He was a lifelong resident of Matagorda County, a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, and was a retired Water Boss for Irrigation Control from the L.C.R.A., Bay City division.

He proudly served in the US Army during the Vietnam Conflict and was in the 1968 Tet Offensive at Cholon Province, Vietnam and received awards that included the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 device.

He is survived by his mother: Ella Dora Salinas of Robstown; his son: Manuel G. Benavides, Jr. and his wife Monica of Bay City; by is sisters: Margaret Cortinas of Bay City, Dora Esquivel of Corpus Christi, Clara Hurtado of Bay City, and Rosemary Montalbo of Bay City; and by his granddaughters: Anastacia Benavides and Victoria Benavides, both of Bay City. He was preceded in death by his father; by his wife: Isabel G. Benavides; by a sister: Petra B. Rebello; and by a nephew: Dean martin Morales.

The Rosary will be held at 7:30 PM Monday, February 14, 2011 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. The Mass will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Bay City, with Rev. Gerry Cernoch officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow, at Roselawn Memorial Park, in Van Vleck under the auspices of the Philip H. Parker, VFW Post # 2438 of Bay City.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.taylorbros.net. Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Bay City, TX (979) 245-4613.