Ventura "Benny" Gonzales Diaz

Benny was born in Dallas, Texas on October 19, 1949, to Raymond and Julia Diaz. He passed peacefully on Sunday, January 7, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.

Benny grew up in West Dallas "La Bajada" with his parents and his twelve brothers and sisters. He attended Sidney Lanier Elementary and Crozier Tech High School where he met his high school sweetheart Maria Cruz Flores. Benny and Mary were married for 25 years and even though they were no longer married, they remained very close friends and enjoyed eating out, running errands, and spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren together. He actively served in the Armed Forces of the United States from May 1969 to May 1971 and Honorably Discharged in May 1975. He retired from the United States Postal Service after 30 plus years of employment. He loved spending time with family and friends and enjoyed hanging out at his favorite bar drinking Miller Lite and watching the Dallas Cowboys. He was a part of the Los Viejos de Los Barrios and enjoyed attending luncheons and events provided for Veterans in the La Bajada Community.

He is preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Julia Diaz, and brothers John, Antonio, Enrique, Ralph, Robert, and Gilbert Diaz. Benny is survived by his children Ventura Diaz, Jr., Regina Diaz Buentello, and Angela Marie Carmona, 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, his brother Raymond Diaz Jr, and his wife Lupita, and his sisters Conception Ramirez, and her husband Tony, Julia Vela, and her husband Juan, Maria Christine Rivas, and her husband Martin, Elizabeth Roberson, and her husband Dave, Lucinda Vanhoof, and her husband Matt and his sister in laws Janie and Juanita Diaz, and many nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be 3:00 - 6:00PM Tuesday, January 16, 2024, with a Rosary at 4:30 at

Jeter & Son Chapel, 4830 W. Illinois Ave, Dallas, Texas.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30AM Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at

St. Michael the Archangel, 2910 Corn Valley Rd, Grand Prairie, Texas.

Military honors and burial will follow at Dallas / Fort Worth National Cemetery.