Sylvester Gaston Jr.

Sylvester Gaston Jr., 84, of Lubbock, Texas passed away during the early morning of December 5, 2017 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Funeral service and burial will be attended at the Veterans Santa Fe National Cemetery on Wednesday December 13, 2017 at 10:30 with John Sandager of Hoffmantown Church officiating.

Sylvester was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Sylvester and Lessie B. Gaston on January 29, 1933.  He enlisted into the Army and served in the Korean Conflict where he earned a Purple Heart and Combat Action awards. Upon returning to the United States, Sylvester enlisted in the Air Force, and then retired 23 years later in 1973 after serving in Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam. Sylvester worked and retired from the U. S. Postal Service while achieving an undergraduate and Master’s Degree in Education at Texas Tech University and a Doctorate of Philosophy at Kennedy-Western University.

Sylvester loved God, children, and his extensive family.  He served as a Catholic Lay Leader, Scout Leader, baseball coach, teacher, and enthusiastically supported fundraisers for bands, choirs, track, and football teams. He was a true Frenship Tiger and Red Raider fan.

Sylvester is preceded in death by his parents Sylvester and Lessie B.; his son Michael; and his former wife Gladys.

Sylvester is survived by his two sisters Ruby Lee and Johnnie Marie (Curtis); four sons Sylvester (Diane), Ronald (Karen), Anthony, and Patrick (Michelle); four daughters Sylvia, Janis, Angela (Brian), and Patricia; eleven grandchildren Dina, Christopher, Mandy, Zachary, Sean, Ian, Alec, Jamahl, Carlos, Erin, and Gabrielle; four great-grandchildren Oliver, Elliott, Kaiya, and Norah.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York NY 10001.