Obituary of Fernando Balandrano

MCALLEN- Fernando C. Balandrano, 70, went to be with our Lord, Sunday, November 8, 2015, in McAllen surrounded by his family. Born in Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico he had lived in McAllen for most of his life. Mr. Balandrano had worked with Marshall Truck and Trailer Parts for over 20 years. He excelled in school from an early age finishing top of his class in grade school as well as being the valedictorian of his high school and college classes. He graduated with a degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering from Universidad Autonomy de Mexico. Throughout his life, Fernando worked many professions: engineer, rancher, project planner, mechanic, and salesman. In every job he had, he touched the lives of those around him. He was a fierce competitor and enjoyed spending time playing cards with his family and watching Dallas Cowboys football. Fernando always believed that a person should seek to improve each day. He fulfilled his love for exercise through jogging and body building and continued to exercise even after being struck by cancer. Fernando had a passion for knowledge both of physical and spiritual subjects. His unquenchable thirst for knowledge made him a voracious reader. As a father, he passed his knowledge on to his children every chance he could and guided them toward using their intellect to succeed. He fought a valiant fight against cancer for the final two years of his life with devoted and unending support from his family.He is preceded in death by his parents, Hector Fernando Balandrano and Susana Campos De Balandrano.Mr. Balandrano is survived by his former spouse, Carmen Balandrano; three children, Axel (Aracely) Balandrano, Hector Balandrano and Eduardo Balandrano; a grandson, Guillermo Balandrano; two brothers, Hector (Greta) and Arturo (Sara) Balandrano; two sisters, Susana (Alejandro) Spindola and Maria Luisa (Hugo) Ortiz; two nephews, Hugo Ortiz and Emilio Balandrano; five nieces, Paula (Alfredo) Alonso, Veronica Spindola, Susana Spindola, Claudia Spindola and Ana Fernanda Ortiz; two grandnieces, Sofia Alonso and Natalia Castro; a grandnephew, Santiago Alonso.Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11am Friday, November 13, 2015, at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Pharr. Funeral services are under the direction of Legacy Chapels in Edinburg.