Tobias Maldonado

Tobias ""Mal"" Maldonado, Sr. of Pass Christian, MS was called home to God on Friday, December 14, 2012. He was 63 years old.
Mal was preceded in death by his parents, Francisco and Bonita Maldonado; his father in law and mother in law, Frederick and Helen Bentz; his sister in law, Patricia Kirk; his brother in law, Lawrence Bellipanni; and friend, John Sessions.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Beth Bentz Maldonado; his son, Tobias Maldonado, Jr.; daughter, Helen Angela Maldonado; daughter and her husband, Elizabeth Leigh and Alejandro Gonzalez; sister and her husband, Rosalie and Ben Garcia; three grandchildren, Alyssa, Anabelle and Sophia; 19 sisters and brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Mal was born September 5, 1949 in Albuquerque, NM. He joined the United States Air Force in August of 1969 in the midst of the Vietnam War. Shortly thereafter, while stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS, he met his soul mate, Beth. Mal and Beth married in 1972 and began raising a family in Pass Christian, MS where Beth had grown up with her parents and 11 brothers and sisters. His Air Force career took him and his family from the frontier of Alaska to the sandy beaches of Florida. Being a hunter and fisher he had fond memories of his Alaskan adventures. He was a New Orleans Saints fan for most of his life and took joy in seeing them win a Super Bowl in his lifetime. He loved history and had a special interest in American wars.
Mal was a Catholic and member of Holy Family Parish. He was very much a family man and was especially grateful to have been a member of the Bentz family in Pass Christian. He loved all of his in laws like brothers and sisters; and nieces and nephews like his own children. He often remarked at how God blessed him by allowing him to be part of such a close and wonderful family.
He was incredibly proud to have been an American soldier serving in the United States Air Force for 21 years, retiring in March of 1990. He was a true American patriot and was deeply honored to have been able to serve his country.
Mal will be missed by his family and community.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully request donations in Tobias Maldonado, Sr.'s name to the Holy Family Parish Alter Society.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 from 1 - 2 pm at Holy Family Parish, Pass Christian. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 pm in the church.
Interment with full military honors will be held in St. Paul Cemetery.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com