Salvador “Chava” Fernandez, 86, of Port Arthur, Texas passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur.

He was born on December 18, 1929 to Angela Fernandez Ybarra and Salvador Ybarra in Mexico City, Mexico. Salvador was three years old when he came to this area, he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1950. He served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War.

Salvador retired from PPG in Beaumont as an operator with over 30 years of service.

He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, where he was also a member of the Senior Club. Salvador was a member of the American Legion Post #7 in Port Arthur.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Salvador is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Carmen Barbosa Fernandez of Port Arthur, his two sons, Ricky Fernandez and his wife, Shirleen of Nederland, George Fernandez and his wife, Denise of Nederland, his two daughters, Belinda Gongora and her husband, Joe of Port Arthur, Debbie Theriot and her husband, Keith of Port Arthur, eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Visitation for family and friends will be on Monday, October 3, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a rosary to be prayed at 6:00 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 PM Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Port Arthur with Rev. Urbano Sáenz Ramírez, serving as celebrant. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park.