TSGT Miguel Santos Aguilar, Jr. (RET)

TSGT Miguel Santos Aguilar Jr., (Ret) of Fayetteville passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2025 in Harmony at Hope Mills at the age of 89 with friends and members of his family at his side. 

Miguel was born in El Paso, TX on December 17, 1935, son to the late Miguel Santos Aguilar Sr. and Aida Salazar-Gardea. He joined the US Navy in 1954 and served over 10 years, in which a good portion of that service was aboard the USS Hornet and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He then joined the US Air Force and served many tours to Athens, Greece. He retired from the US Air Force in 1975. He later owned and operated a restaurant in California named Big J for approximately nine years before he retired and moved to Dayton, Nevada. He knew and loved Lord Jesus Christ as his savior with all his heart and desired for everyone who came in contact with ask Jesus into their lives and to develop a relationship with Him. Miguel will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.

Along with his parents, Miguel is preceded in death by his first wife, Dora Morales Aguilar, a son, Miguel Santos Aguilar III, and brothers, Danny Aguilar, Juan Aguilar and Raul Gardea.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Lorena Aguilar of Fayetteville; children, Dora Aguilar Stewart of Raeford, NC, Alicia Villanueva of Perris, CA, Armando Aguilar and Oscar Aguilar, both of Lawton, OK, Roland Aguilar of Greece; brothers, Mario Aguilar and Robert Aguilar, both of El Paso, TX; sisters, Mary Hamilton, Jean Shackleford, Yvonne Aguilar, all of El Paso; many grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family members and friends.

Graveside services with Full Military Honors will take place at 2:00 PM, Monday, February 10, 2025 in Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, 8220 Bragg Blvd, Fort Liberty, NC 28310.