Juan Olivares Cruz, a lifelong resident of Kenedy, Texas, passed away, Saturday, August 11, 2012, at 7:40 P.M., at Methodist Main Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of, 83 years 6 months and 15 days.

Juan was born, January 27, 1929, in Karnes County, Texas, the son of, Pablo Cruz and Antonia Olivares Cruz. He attended school in Kenedy and went on to become a truck driver with Buckalew Trucking Company. He married Matilda Castillo and together they had two children. Mr. Cruz was a faithful member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Kenedy, Texas.

Juan is survived by his daughter, Linda Cruz-Torres and husband, Jesse of San Antonio, Texas and his son, Juan Cruz, Jr., of Kenedy, Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife; his sister, Elisa Reyna and his brothers, Luis, Pablo, Hilario, Genaro and Santos Cruz.

Visitation was held, Wednesday, August 15, 2012 and a rosary was recited at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Funeral mass was celebrated at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, August 16, 2012, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Kenedy, Texas. Interment followed in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Kenedy, Texas. Serving as pallbearers were, Danny Reyna, Rocky Reyna, Oscar Reyna, Jr., Michael Reyna, Lonnie Saenz and Hank Holton. Serving as an honorary pallbearer was, Joe Pigfordo.