Obituary for Hector L. Torres
"Semper Fi"
Hector Luis Torres (Mr. T as many called him) went home to Paradise on August 3, 2021 at the age of 71 in his residence surrounded by family. Hector was born January 15, 1950 to parents Daniel Torres and Isabel Romero in the small barrio of Coamo, Puerto Rico. He was raised in Reading PA and graduated from Reading High School in 1968, he later attended McCann School of Business.
Hector met the love of his life Lourdes, who he would later marry on August 14, 1971. Hector had five beautiful children with his wife Lourdes; Isamac Torres-Figueroa and husband Angel; Rebecca Konemann and husband Ron; Ramon Torres and wife Kelly; Isabel Torres; and, Marisol Torres. Hector also had a daughter who came into our life Michelle Kemp and husband Robert Jr; and a godson, Elliot Torres. Hector and Lourdes together had 11 grandchildren; Sierra, Victoria, Olivia, Joey, Nyah, Daniel, Xavier, Natalia, Benicio, Nathan, and Valentina Camille.
Hector is also survived by his siblings, Mabel Burford and husband Kerry; Josephine Torres-Boykins (widow of McCrae); Mariano Torres and wife Aida; Maria L. Negron and husband Gorge; Felicita Santiago (widow of Wilfredo); Miguel Torres and wife Maria Isabel, and Gloria Torres.
Hector worked for many years for the PA Department of Labor & Industry Unemployment Office; United States Postal Service and Georgia Pacific.
Hector was a fighter, soldier until the end - relentless, tough and stubborn. Hector was a Marine, a Vietnam war veteran who sacrificed his mental well-being for our country. His bravery and injury in the war was recognized with two Purple Hearts. Just as in life, Hector fought until the very end. He was never a person who minced words or shied away from how he felt - Mr. T, as many of his friends called him, told you how he saw it, point blank! The king of sarcasm, whose wicked tongue could make words sting, is how he is known to many but his immediate family and those closest to him knew of his softer, caring side. Although he didn’t show it often, Hector was a softy for people and animals in need of care. He was a die-hard fan of the Dallas Cowboys, loved watching the sport of boxing - fav fighter of all time, Mike Tyson - really enjoyed watching Clint Eastwood movies, only watched old shows and he really enjoyed drinking his beer while smoking cigarettes.
Hector suffered from PTSD when he returned home from the war. The affects were not visible at first but over the years he self-medicated in order to survive his mental turmoil. In the mid-to-late 1960’s there was a mandatory national draft for the Vietnam War and my dad voluntarily enlisted because he felt it was the right thing to do. At the tender age of 18, Hector went to basic training then was deployed to Hawaii, island of Hilo, for additional training before arriving to Vietnam. Hector lived and witnessed the atrocities of war at such a young age, He was a true Marine to the end.
“Oorah”
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday August 11th at 11 AM in St. Peter’s RCC, Reading. Viewings will be held in Henninger Funeral Home, Tuesday from 6 to 8 PM and Wednesday 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Burial with military honors will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery following Mass.
www.henningerfunerahome.com
Hector Luis Torres (Mr. T as many called him) went home to Paradise on August 3, 2021 at the age of 71 in his residence surrounded by family. Hector was born January 15, 1950 to parents Daniel Torres and Isabel Romero in the small barrio of Coamo, Puerto Rico. He was raised in Reading PA and graduated from Reading High School in 1968, he later attended McCann School of Business.
Hector met the love of his life Lourdes, who he would later marry on August 14, 1971. Hector had five beautiful children with his wife Lourdes; Isamac Torres-Figueroa and husband Angel; Rebecca Konemann and husband Ron; Ramon Torres and wife Kelly; Isabel Torres; and, Marisol Torres. Hector also had a daughter who came into our life Michelle Kemp and husband Robert Jr; and a godson, Elliot Torres. Hector and Lourdes together had 11 grandchildren; Sierra, Victoria, Olivia, Joey, Nyah, Daniel, Xavier, Natalia, Benicio, Nathan, and Valentina Camille.
Hector is also survived by his siblings, Mabel Burford and husband Kerry; Josephine Torres-Boykins (widow of McCrae); Mariano Torres and wife Aida; Maria L. Negron and husband Gorge; Felicita Santiago (widow of Wilfredo); Miguel Torres and wife Maria Isabel, and Gloria Torres.
Hector worked for many years for the PA Department of Labor & Industry Unemployment Office; United States Postal Service and Georgia Pacific.
Hector was a fighter, soldier until the end - relentless, tough and stubborn. Hector was a Marine, a Vietnam war veteran who sacrificed his mental well-being for our country. His bravery and injury in the war was recognized with two Purple Hearts. Just as in life, Hector fought until the very end. He was never a person who minced words or shied away from how he felt - Mr. T, as many of his friends called him, told you how he saw it, point blank! The king of sarcasm, whose wicked tongue could make words sting, is how he is known to many but his immediate family and those closest to him knew of his softer, caring side. Although he didn’t show it often, Hector was a softy for people and animals in need of care. He was a die-hard fan of the Dallas Cowboys, loved watching the sport of boxing - fav fighter of all time, Mike Tyson - really enjoyed watching Clint Eastwood movies, only watched old shows and he really enjoyed drinking his beer while smoking cigarettes.
Hector suffered from PTSD when he returned home from the war. The affects were not visible at first but over the years he self-medicated in order to survive his mental turmoil. In the mid-to-late 1960’s there was a mandatory national draft for the Vietnam War and my dad voluntarily enlisted because he felt it was the right thing to do. At the tender age of 18, Hector went to basic training then was deployed to Hawaii, island of Hilo, for additional training before arriving to Vietnam. Hector lived and witnessed the atrocities of war at such a young age, He was a true Marine to the end.
“Oorah”
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday August 11th at 11 AM in St. Peter’s RCC, Reading. Viewings will be held in Henninger Funeral Home, Tuesday from 6 to 8 PM and Wednesday 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Burial with military honors will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery following Mass.
www.henningerfunerahome.com