Apolinar Bustos, Sr.

Apolinar Bustos, Sr., 97, of Amarillo passed away on Monday, May 8, 2023.

Mass will be said at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, May 12, 2023 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Amarillo with Msg. Arturo Meza officiating. A vigil will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 11 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon with Deacon Gabe Rivas officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery.

Apolinar was born July 23, 1925 in Fentress, Texas to Antonio and Trinidad Rodriguez Bustos. Apolinar and his dad managed a crew of migrant workers, all over the Southwest. He oversaw paying each worker and having a 3rd grade education he could add up numbers in his head faster than a calculator. He wanted a better life for his family, so he moved them to Amarillo in 1959. He retired from Affiliated Foods after 25 years of employment.

He loved his family so much that he worked many jobs just to provide for them. An education and having a good work ethic were the most important things for him to have for his children.

It was important to him that his Catholic faith was instilled in his family. He was such a religious man that he never missed praying his Rosary every day. He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.
As a former member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church he was very active in being a Lector and serving as an usher. He was very involved in the Cursillo Movement.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Juliana Bustos, his second wife, Esperanza Bustos, his parents, Antonio and Trinidad Bustos, his mother-in-law, Herlinda Flores, his grandsons, Jacinto Blanco, Jr. and Bryan Cantu, six brothers, and two sisters.

Survivors include his children, Julian Bustos of Amarillo, Apolinar Bustos, Jr. of Mesquite, Alma York and husband Sonny, Martha Cantu and husband Enrique, both of Amarillo and Ambrose Bustos and wife Rosanne; 11 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and 3 great, great grandchildren.

The family will be at 3206 Fleetwood in Amarillo on Thursday, May 11.