Salvador Baldiviez

Salvador "Sal" Baldiviez was born December 28, 1945 to Rosario and Reyes Baldiviez in Santa Maria, California.

Sal is survived by his wife, Cindy, two stepdaughters, Lacey Palmore and Charity Muse, and eight children: Caleb Baldiviez, Penny Baldiviez, Adam Baldiviez, Bonnie Baldiviez, Mindy Wells, Benjamin Baldiviez, and Matthew Baldiviez, two sisters: Hermie Bendele, Alice Scherrer and a brother, Ralph Baldiviez.

Sal enlisted in the army at 17 years old and served three years as a medic in Wertheim, Germany. Those three years allowed him to retire after 10 years with the Post Office in California and 17 years in Seagoville, Texas.

Sal was saved at 32 years old and this drastically changed his life. He quit drinking and smoking and became a faithful church member, He eventually went to Bible college at Hyles Anderson College in Hammond, Indiana. While Sal was in college, he became acquainted with Cindy through a mutual friend and over the phone. After several months of communication, he decided to move down to Dallas, help out in Cindy's church and they were married on March 29, 1985. Last Sunday, March 29, would have been their 41st anniversary. Sal was a faithful mailman and hardly ever missed work. When he had surgery for cancer in 1990, he had six weeks of sick leave saved up. He was a good provider, putting eight of our children through school at Prairie Creek Bible Baptist Academy. He left a more than ample living for his surviving wife and autistic daughter, Bonnie.
Sal was a fantastic soul winner and served at church in many ways. He not only led many people to the Lord, but also mentored many to grow and serve the Lord. In 1988 Sal and Cindy bought a three bedroom, one bath house with a VA loan. They raised nine children there and moved to Forney, Texas in 2022.

Sal suffered from dementia for 7 1/2 years. We consider it God's gift that we had such a graceful and long period to come to this point. It was our prayer that we could keep him at home and care for him there and that's exactly what took place, We know Sal is reunited with his parents and rejoicing in heaven today.

We have many precious memories. Sal was so much fun and the kids loved playing with him when he came home in the evennigs, During the August months, he would usually end up on the floor after coming in from the heat, and everybody would pile on top of him. He usually came home with a huge cup of soda, which he refilled at Circle K every day, and everybody wanted a drink.

There were many trips to Huntsville, Texas to see Cindy's parents and vacations to Possum Kingdom Lake and San Antonio. Sal and Cindy went to Marble Falls several years in a row on their anniversary, where they always went to the library thrift store there, ate at the Bluebonnet Cafe, and stayed in the beautiful La Quinta Inn up on the hill overlooking the lake. They had many special memories there.

Sal could not carry a tune in a bucket, but he loved music. He was always patient as Cindy had many rehearsals after church, being a church pianist. He could easily tell who wasn't singing out or who missed a note even though he wasn't musically inclined. We are certain that he is singing to the top of his lungs and very much on key in heaven.