Fulgencio "Gencho" Buitureira, Sr.

PORT ISABEL, TX. – Fulgencio “Gencho” Buitureira, Sr. was born on the 28th of July 1931, in Brownsville, Texas. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, and brother.

Gencho entered into his eternal rest on Sunday, the 27th of April 2025, at his residence in Port Isabel, Texas surrounded by his family. He was 93 years of age.

Of his many accomplishments, one he was the proudest of was his service to our great nation while serving as an Airmen in the United States Air Force. He served from 1948 to 1950 during the Korean War era and shared stories about his tours of duty his entire life. In his final days and hours, he reminded us that he was a soldier and spoke of his various world travels.

Gencho moved his family to Port Isabel, Texas after Hurricane Beulah in 1967 where he worked at the Exxon service station and made many friends throughout his employment. Most of these friendships were those that he nurtured into his last days. Later, he went on to open his own service station, Gencho’s Conoco, located in the heart of Port Isabel from 1970 to 1978. He never met a stranger, and his services were available to local law enforcement and others all hours of the day and into the night. His entrepreneurship continued into his last business venture at Gencho’s Bar from 1992 to 2008.

Mostly, Gencho will be remembered for his kindness and generosity but also for his wittiness and ability to put a smile on the face of those who knew him. He was a gentle giant.

He had many hobbies and favorite pastimes he enjoyed greatly. Gencho loved Bingo, playing chalupa with family and church friends, he had a love for music and singing, but mostly he loved attending Friday night football games in his hometown of the Port Isabel Tarpons and watching his beloved Texas Rangers. He loved to watch many sports, but most recently his love for the sport of baseball and watching his Rangers was one of his greatest forms of entertainment.

Preceding Gencho in death is his wife of 58 years, Maria Elena “Nena” Buitureira in 2015; his daughter, Rosie Buitureira in 2017; his parents, Maria Luisa Rios Buitureira in 1991 and Arturo Buitureira, Sr. in 1969; his numerous brothers and sisters; his daughter-in-law, Monica Iris Buitureira in 2025; and his grandson, Nicholas "Nico" Antonio Benavides in 2013.

Survivors include his children, Ofelia Avalos (Juan), Hopie Garza (Freddy III), Fulgencio “Gencho” Buitureira, Jr. (Vicky), Luis Buitureira (Concepcion), Luisa Stelley (Zeke), Tony Buitureira (Leticia), Imelda Vigil (Joe Haliti), Rudy Buitureira (Monica+), Cristina Buitureira, and Carol Buitureira (Alex Betancourt); his sister and two brothers, Guadalupe B. Tijerina (Juan+), Enrique Buitureira, and Alfredo Buitureira (Consuelo); as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who will miss him terribly.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, the 8th of May 2025, between the hours of one o'clock in the afternoon and nine o'clock at night, with a prayer service to begin at seven o'clock Thursday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

Visiting hours will resume on Friday, the 9th of May 2025, from eleven o'clock in the morning. A Chapel Service will commence at two o'clock in the afternoon. The Interment will then follow, via an escorted procession, at Buena Vista Burial Park, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville.

Honored to serve as his pallbearers will be Freddy Garza III, Freddy Garza IV, Fulgencio “Gencho” Buitureira, Jr., Luis Buitureira, Tony Buitureira, Rudy Buitureira, Phillip McKinnis, Alex Betancourt, and Brandon Cantu.

Memories of Gencho may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by his grandson, Steven R. Hieu Bailey, CFSP, have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.