Funeral services for Gildardo Aranda, 72, of Portales, will be held at 1:00 PM, Fri., Sept. 18, 2020 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Pete Jaramillo officiating.  Honorary pallbearers will be Jesse Aranda, Julien Aranda, Robert Montoya, Robert Montoya, Jr., Sammy Montoya, Mario Montoya, Gabriel Montoya, as well as all of his other nephews.

Gildardo Pando Aranda was born Nov. 11, 1947 in Pueblito, Chihuahua, Mexico to the home of Andrea (Pando) and Domingo Aranda, and died Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020 in Lubbock, TX.  He and his family came to New Mexico when he was a small child.  He attended school for a few years at Floyd, but soon joined the family working in the fields.  Later he was employed at Worley Mills.  As an adult, Gildardo trained as a Brick Mason, and ran his own brick laying business for 40 years in Hobbs and later in Dallas, TX.  He retired due to health in 2001.

He was married to his wife, Esmenia for many years, and the couple had five children together, three sons and two daughters.  Gildardo loved animals of all kinds.  He raised goats, and chickens and also kept horses.  He loved to fish at Oasis, and spent many days there.  Gildardo had a fine singing voice, and often played his guitar and sang.

He is survived by Erminia "Minnie" Flores, his faithful companion, of their home in Portales; three sons, Gildardo Aranda, Jr. of Portales, Ector Aranda of Las Cruces, NM, and Shannon Aranda Lopez of Denver, CO., two daughters and a son-in-law, Vickie and Lolo Ortega of Portales and Naomi Aranda of Denver, CO; 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; his former wife, Esmenia Aranda of Portales; three brothers, Domingo Aranda and Jose Mercedes Aranda of Juarez, Mexico and Norberto Aranda of Big Spring, TX; a sister, Lupita Montoya of Portales and his two precious Chihuahuas, Baby and Nimo.  He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Raul, Lucas and Felipe Aranda and two sisters, Maria Jesus Viscaino and Marta Herrera as well as by two additional sisters and a brother that died as small children.