Julio Mireles

Julio Mireles was born December 20, 1927 in Dalhart, Texas to Juan Mireles and Felicita Vigil Mireles. He passed away May 10, 2014 in Hobbs, New Mexico.

Julio married Virginia Valdez Maes May 8, 1965. They have two children, Greg Maes and wife Cindy of Midland, Texas, and Albert Maes and wife Wyletta of Hobbs, New Mexico. They have six grandchildren, Jennifer Maes, Alisha and husband Tim Acosta, Albert Julio Maes, Amy Maes, Steven Maes and Eric Maes. They also have six greatgrandchildren.

Julio was one of five brothers, Ernest Mireles, Joe Mireles of Dalhart, Texas, Robert Mireles, Benny Mireles of Laramie, Wyoming and one sister, Louise Jangala of North Hollywood, California.

Deceased is his father Juan Mireles, mother Felicita Mireles, and brothers Ernest Mireles and Robert Mireles.

Julio served in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted April 9, 1943 at the age of 15. He celebrated his 16th birthday in Honolulu, Hawaii with his brother Ernest, who was with the U.S. Army stationed there.

Julio was stationed in Pearl Harbor for nine months before being assigned to the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill. Besides Pearl Harbor, he served in Eniwetok and Kwajalan, Marshall Islands, Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, Mariana Islands. He was mostly proud that he was a couple of miles from the airfield where the B29s took off with the ABomb for Hiroshima. For the second time during the war, Julio accidently met his brother Ernest in Saipan and spent two weeks with him and his outfit before going to Tinian Island for the duration of the war. He was honorably discharged on December 2, 1945 with a rank of Machinist Mate 3rd Class.

After his discharge he finished high school. He went on to Draughans Business College in Amarillo, Texas, then to Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas where he was elected Most Popular Boy in his class, and was on the student council. He later graduated from the University Of New Mexico School Of Banking in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He learned telegraphy Morse Code at the Railroad Depot in Dalhart, Texas while going to school. He worked there briefly. The Western Union Telegraph Company called and offered to send him to school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He worked for Western Union for 20 years. For thirteen years he traveled as an accountant, cashier, and office manager. His territory consisted of West Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. He worked as the local manager in Hobbs, New Mexico until he retired in 1972. Then he went to work for New Mexico Bank and Trust later to become First Interstate Bank. He started as a loan officer. He later made manager of the Bellaire branch of the bank, and then he was promoted to VicePresident and Manager of the Broadmoor branch. He retired after 20 years with the bank.

Julio was very active in his church. At St. Helenas Catholic Church he served as Commentator, Lector, Finance Committee member, and Family Fair Announcer for 2530 years. He also was very active with the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight and many years as Treasurer. He also served as Comptroller for the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and was Color Commander.

Julio was the first Hispanic elected to the City Commission and the first Hispanic Mayor of Hobbs. He was very popular with the media, prompting the editor of the Hobbs NewsSun to instruct reporters to limit his frequent appearances in the paper. He was appointed to the New Mexico State Board of Educational Finance, Lea County Indigent Board, State Crimestoppers Commission, and the Regional Housing Authority by the respective governors. He also served on other commissions and boards too numerous to mention.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Hope House, 2006 W. Tennessee in Midland, Texas, 79701.

The Rosary will be on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m., May 13, 2014 at Chapel of Hope Funeral Home. The Memorial Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at St. Helenas Catholic Church on Bender Blvd, Hobbs, New Mexico.

Service

Rosary

Chapel of Hope
3321 N. Dal Paso St.
Hobbs, NM  88240
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
6:00 p.m.

Memorial Mass

St. Helena Catholic Church
100 East Bender
Hobbs, NM  88240
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
10:00 a.m.

Memorial Contributions

2006 W. Tennessee
Midland, TX  79701