Eddie Torres, age 85, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 23, 2016, surrounded by family. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and was the last surviving child of five born to Mariano and Dolores Torres. He is survived by his wife, Sonia Torres, and children, Cecilia (Leo), Xavier (Mary), Maria-Cristina, and Diego (Rosa), fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews and friends.

He enlisted and proudly served in the US Air Force from April 26, 1955 – June 4, 1959. He was later employed by General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division. He served on many submarine sea trials from Groton, CT, aboard the SSB(N)645 "Will Rogers" as an electronics field service engineer in civil service. He later returned to school and received a Master's degree in Bilingual-Education from the University of Connecticut in 1973. He taught at Pecan Valley Elementary in East Central ISD and H.K. Williams Elementary in Edgewood ISD. He retired from teaching due to health in 1995.

He was deeply passionate about encouraging bilingual education in the schools and encouraging his students to reach their potential. He started a chapter of "The Young Astronauts" to help children see the opportunities the world had to offer for those that were willing to strive to be more. He was very involved with his local library, Pan American Branch Library, to encourage reading for adults and students alike through the local chapter of Friends of the Library.

He also founded a local chapter called "Good Earth Vegetarian Society" where he was President and Editor-in-Chief of his newsletter. He wanted to encourage more humane practices in the food industry and healthier eating habits. His later years found him very active in the pro-life ministry at San Jose Mission and encouraging Catholics to study and learn about their church history.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Visitation will begin Thursday at 5:00 P.M. in The Angelus Chapel with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 P.M. Funeral Mass will be offered Friday at 10:00 A.M. at Mission San Jose. Interment will follow at San Fernando Cemetery No.3.