Portrait of Simon Doroteo Benavidez
VETERAN
In loving memory of

Simon Doroteo Benavidez

October 28, 1934 – November 8, 2014
Lived 80 years
Evergreen Cemetery · Colorado Springs, CO
Y ese día que yo ya me muera Yo no quiero oírlos llorar Lo que quiero es que lleven la banda Para oírlos a todos cantar
In service to country

Thank you for your service

Simon served in the armed forces. We honor that service here.

Life story

Simon D. Benavidez was born on October 28, 1934 in Rio En Medio, New Mexico. Simon moved with his family to Avondale, Colorado when he was sixteen. Simon joined the Army in 1954. He was a Korean War veteran. He married his sweetheart, Connie Solano, in January, 1958. They moved to Colorado Springs in 1959. At this time, he was employed at the USAF Academy.

Simon continued his civil service employment at Ent AFB, Peterson AFB and then retired from Cheyenne Mtn Air Station in 1989. Simon then went to work as a bus driver and retired from School District #11 after ten years. Simon continued to drive for Winslow Court and Colorado Springs Park & Recreation Department until he retired due to illness in 2009.

Simon and Connie have five children: Cecilia Graves (Keith), Simona Tebbe (Travis), Gloria Villa (Juan), Raymond Benavidez (deceased) and Angelica Gonzalez (Jose). Simon has nine grandchildren: Maria, Racine, Antonyl, Rachael, Jose JR, Simon, Caleb, Justin and Araceli. There are six great-grandchildren: Alessandro, Emeliya, Esais, Angelo, Octavio and Rayanna.

Simon enjoyed fishing and camping. He was a die-hard Denver Broncos fan. Simon was a former member of the Retired Enlisted Association, The American GI Forum, and an usher & bingo volunteer at his churches.

Simon was a kind hearted and good natured person. Simon loved his family gatherings, especially spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Simon will always be loved and truly be missed by all who knew him.

Read the obituary
Photos
Lifetime

The world Simon knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

1934
Born October 28
1939
Simon was 5 when "The Wizard of Oz" opened in theaters
1944
Simon was 10 when Allied troops landed at Normandy on D-Day
1958
Simon was 24 when the Hula Hoop craze swept the country
1962
Simon was 28 when the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war
1976
Simon was 42 when America celebrated its Bicentennial
1981
Simon was 47 when MTV began broadcasting
1995
Simon was 61 when "Toy Story" became the first fully computer-animated film
2004
Simon was 70 when Facebook was launched
2010
Simon was 76 when Instagram was launched
2014
Passed away November 8, age 80
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Evergreen Cemetery
Colorado Springs, CO
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