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The youngest born to Refugio Guzman and Maria de la Luz de Hernandez, Salvador H. Guzman recalled the Dec. 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor as a 15-year-old. As each of his older brothers were drafted to the military, he was forced to leave school and run the Guzman Bros. Grocery Store in Poteet. “After that day, everything changed. You needed stamps to buy almost everything and there was a shortage of almost everything,” he wrote in a personal history document he shared with family. When the war broke out, his brother Andres was drafted in July 1942 followed by Delfino in November of that year. In March 1943, Manuel was drafted “and that just left Rogelio and myself at the store. By then, most of the shelves were bare and he (Rogelio) got drafted; so, he sold everything in the store, and that was the end of the Guzman Bros. Grocery Store.” The store closed “when the shelves were bare” and a year later he, too, was drafted and joined the Army when he turned 18. He served in Europe from November 1944 to the end of World War II with the 381st Engineers Combat Battalion Company B. Sal died on Dec. 14, 2023 in San Antonio. He was 97. Born in Stanton, Texas, his family lived in Poteet before he moved to San Antonio to raise his family. He was proud to have served his country and often wore embroidered ball caps that indicated his World War II veteran status. He will be buried with one of these caps. In 2016, he was interviewed for the Veterans History Project. In that video, now part of the Library of Congress archives, he shared he once traded a couple of packs of cigarettes and some candy to a German prisoner for a gold ring. Upon return to the states, Guzman chuckled as he recalled how his mother saw the ring, took it from him, and wore it until she died in 1977. “She didn’t ask, she just took it.” He noted he didn’t bring back many souvenirs from the war, but held on to that ring. Following his military time, Salvador married Angie L. Guzman in 1948 and they had four children. It almost always was ‘Angie and Chave’ as a unit when people referred to them, when the duo worked on projects, or at family functions. Many know Sal worked in lumber and building material sales for various companies, including George C. Vaughn, and Alamo Enterprises. His children recall he was recruited by the Wolff family to work at Alamo Enterprises – where they also worked for a bit – and years later, was persuaded to go to work at MG Building Materials. He retired from MG in 1991. Always seeking ways to learn, Chave designed plans for new home builds and remodeling projects for family and friends, often hanging drywall, building and installing custom shelving, working on electrical or plumbing issues, or whatever was needed. He also took on sewing projects from work uniforms and dresses to family quilts and decorative curtains. In later years, he even tinkered with magic tricks, loved card games and brain teaser puzzles, and supported the Dallas Cowboys every season. For those not in room with him during a game, they knew to wait until a commercial break or halftime to call the house or interrupt. He was fortunate to attend two Cowboys games at Texas Stadium in Irving – shortly before the team’s move to AT&T Stadium in Arlington. His passion for details went beyond the measure twice, cut once adage. While his process varied, he always sat at his desk, thoughtful, and many times rubbing his thinning head of hair. He went through drafts and drafts of notes and designs — often with a carpentry pencil he sharpened with a knife. Whether it was a woodworking project, written work, or sewing project, he wanted to make each finished product one to last. He took the time to plan the design, select materials, and execute step-by-step with care and love. His attention to details and work ethic were always worth noting and admiring. Wanting to stay current in every decade, he also was intrigued with ever-changing technology and recorded many family events on camcorders; he later bought his first computer in the early 1990s, and in recent years learned how to video chat using Amazon products when people could not visit due to COVID. His other passion: family ancestry. This research made him the family historian and resulted in drawers of sorted photos, and copies of legal documents for each branch of the family trees. He and his wife were longtime members of St. Leo Catholic Church in San Antonio. Not only did they share 70 years of marriage together, they also were blessed with years with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who they cherished. They attended every special event they could even if it required driving hours. In addition, Chave served as president of the Amphion Cemetery (Association) in Atascosa County, where he will be buried. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings; wife, Angie; and daughter, Debbie. He is survived by his children: Esther of San Antonio; Edna Jean (Larry) of San Antonio; and Leonard (Pat) of Floresville. He also is survived by his granddaughters, Rebecca (Vincent) of Arlington; Debra (Brian) of Iredell; and Stephanie (Robert) of New Braunfels; 7 great-grandchildren, Allie, Tessa, Salvador, Alexis, Wyatt, Aria and Abby; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tributes

Salvador H. Guzman

January 6, 1926 - December 14, 2023