Pedro Pete Chavez

Mr. Vic Chavez and family, Many supporters and friends from Wichita State University, TRIO, and GEAR UP are thinking of you and your family. I will keep you in my prayers. Your father’s memories are strong for you, your children and family members, thus he will be ever present.—-

I offer my deepest sympathy to the family. Earth has no sorry that heaven cannot fill. Be encouraged in the Lord. God Bless,

First, my deepest sympathy to Eleanor and all the children and grandchildren of this great man, Pete Chavez. Its been a couple of years now since I last had the pleasure of Petes company. It was at the final retirement get-together held for Vulcan Chemicals employees. As he had ever been, Pete was the true handsome gentleman that I had over the years come to know. I regret that our paths didnt cross more often since his retirement. In tribute, I would like to comment the following about Pete. The world and our society should mourn his passing just as much as I am sure his family is. Here was a man who was the essence of what we should all strive to be, giving of himself to a fault, responsible for his family, his own actions, and duty bound to his beliefs of country and faith. Pete knew the meaning of hardships in life, he oft mentioned to me the difficult early years in Colorado, (what with 16 brothers and sisters during the recession!) and how the Air Force was his way out! (Duty in Alaska, if I remember correctly?). I remember the many times I worked along side him, and how he was always willing to share with me the skills necessary to become a better electrician. This maybe seem like a big deal, but many others liked to keep, ‘tricks of the trade’ secret, knowledge is power they say. Not Pete. He helped anyone he could. Those early days at Vulcan were not the pleasant sanitary environment that they are in comparison with today. Pete started with shoveling something called Alpha Cake, ( a BHC byproduct derivative, real nasty white powder) into barrels). One wouldnt want your worst enemy to endure this task. But he was ‘happy to have the work’. I have many other fond memories of our years working together, and Pete was always a man of his word, and man who often brought wisdom, thoughtfulness and maturity to sometimes sticky situations. He was universally recognized as a man you could depend on, and one who never complained about whatever he was tasked with. He was always remarking about his family. His infatuation and deep love of his wife Eleanor, about all his children, (he was always ‘most proud’ of whichever one of his children he was currently speaking of !). And with 10 of you, I was hard pressed to keep it straight!. Lest anyone would think otherwise, he also had the quality of a great sense of humor! An easy laugh, often the prankster, ever the wit. He was fun to be around. Having lost my own father last year, I can only hope that his suffering was not too lengthy, and that he is now in a new pain free realm, where he is sure to raise the bar for future admittance. Sincerely and with compassion, Wayne K Hooper

Our sincerest sympathy to you all at Pete’s death.