Augustine Leon Chavez

Augustine Leon Chavez (known as Augie to his friends) was one of seven children born to Augustine Sr. and Margarita Suarez Chavez in Fresno, CA on April 18, 1918. At the age of three, the family moved to and settled in Woodlake, CA. He attended Woodlake Elementary and Woodlake High School. Augie had to quit high school his sophomore year during the Great Depression and worked in the fields to help support his family. Later in life he worked construction making about 0.25 to 0.35 cents per hour. Augie joined the US Army at age 22 and served in the Infantry. His enlistment was just prior to the beginning of WWII. He was stationed at San Luis Obispo where he received training. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 he was sent to Fort Lewis, WA for advanced combat and jungle training before being deployed to the Pacific Islands. There he served with the 185th Infantry Regiment relieving the 1st Marines at Guadalcanal in 1943. He was part of the first troops in New Britain while serving three additional invasions in the Philippines - Luzan, Panay and Negros. His regiment fought in Negros for 68 days with no relief while facing snipers and navigating land mines placed throughout the island. Returning from the Philippines campaign he returned to Fort McArthur, San Pedro, CA. Upon his return he suffered Malaria and suffered severe nightmares. Augie was honorably discharged on July 30, 1945. Years later he received the Bronze Star for his military service to the country. After his discharge Augie worked for Bakersfield Company, Woodlake CA. He helped establish the local union - Lumber and Sawmill. He served as secretary/treasurer and later as president. When the company moved to Ukiah, he went to work for the Tulare County Road Department as a crew foreman. Six years later he was hired by Banker's Life of Nebraska as a Life Agent. After 12 years, he decided to go on his own as an insurance broker where he continued to work into his 90's. Also Augie worked for Liberty University helping support the institution via their estate planning and endowment program. He was presented the Golden Eagle Award for his contribution having raised the highest individual yearly support for the fledgling university. Augie was very active in his community as member of Downtown Kiwanians, Tulare/Kings County Estate Planning Council, and serving as a secretary/treasurer of Tulare/Kings County Life Under writers. Augie was also a proud member of AMVETS, Tulare County, CA. He always found time to help entertain people at retirement homes by singing songs of the 30's, 40's and 50's and playing his harmonica. His favorite songs to sing were spiritual hymns. Augie and his wife Nellie were wonderful ballroom dancers, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Augie's wife of 61 years, Nellie Contreras Chavez, preceded him in death on May 6, 2007. He was also preceded in death by 3 brothers, Luis, Arthur, and John Chavez, and 2 sisters, Mary Bimat Curtis and Margarita Chavez, all of Woodlake, CA. He is survived by 2 daughters, Beverly Aldaco of Tulare, CA, Renee and husband John Caltagirone of Lynchburg, VA, 2 granddaughters, Margaret and husband Jason Dearing and Leah Hafner of Lynchburg, VA and a grandson, Johnny and wife Jenny Caltagirone of Hasting, NE, and 2 great grandchildren, Evan Hafner and Leonardo Caltagirone. He is also survived by 1 sister Lucy Guerrero of San Diego, CA. A very special thank you to the nurses and staff at the Fresno Veterans, especially Nancy, and the Hospice nurses Maria Melendez and Nassarin Zargaross. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VA Residential Facility in Fresno, CA or AMVETS Post 56 in Tulare, CA. Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Tuesday, February 21st, 2023 at Faith Baptist Church, 3833 W Walnut Ave, Visalia. Graveside services will be held 12 pm Tuesday, February 21st, 2023 at Visalia District Cemetery, 1300 W Goshen Ave, Visalia. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Augustine Leon Chavez

April 18, 1918 - February 1, 2023