Joseph Francisco Velez

Joseph F. Velez died Monday, November 14, 2022, at his home for the past decade in Duncanville, Texas, after two years on home hospice care. Funeral services will be at First Baptist Church of Waco, Friday, December 2 at 1:00 p.m., with Dr. Mike Simmons officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation with the family will be 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the church prior to service.

Joseph was born Jan 29, 1928, in Puebla, Mexico, to Jose M. Velez and Aurelia Damian Maldonado. After elementary and secondary education in Puebla, he graduated from the George G. Lacy Baptist Seminary in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico in 1951. Upon graduation, he taught at the Seminary for two years. He served as pastor of various Baptist churches including First Baptist Church in Nuevo Laredo, the last church he served in Mexico.

He came to Texas in 1956 as a pastor of the Baptist Mission in Bay City. In January 1959, he enrolled in Howard Payne College (now Howard Payne University) where he graduated with a B.A. in 1962. He then attended the University of Oklahoma with a federal scholarship to specialize in modern foreign languages, particularly Spanish and French. While doing his graduate work, he served as interim pastor of the Hispanic Baptist Church in Oklahoma for two years. He also taught in the University of Oklahoma Summer Language Institute for High School Teachers. Upon completion of his program there, he taught at the University of Oklahoma for three years and received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1969. From 1968 to 1971 he taught Spanish, French, and methods of teaching at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Joseph married Madolyn Moore in 1969, and in 1971 he accepted a position at Baylor University as a professor of Spanish. Shortly thereafter he was invited to explore the possibility of establishing a Hispanic church in Killeen. The result was the formation of a Hispanic church, where he served as interim pastor for 4 years.

In 1974, Joseph established the first Baylor University Program Abroad in Puebla, Mexico, for students to be immersed in Spanish. This program was the model for other programs in Europe and later in other countries of Latin America. For 19 years he was Director of Latin American Studies at Baylor University. His professional research resulted in the publication of seven books related to Latin American authors and their literature, two collections of short stories, and a short religious play. He retired in 2001, but continued to do consulting work.

Joseph has been a faithful member of First Baptist Church Waco since 1971 and was most recently in the Patterson Sunday school class. He moved to Duncanville with his daughter, Melinda, in 2013. While living in Duncanville with Melinda, he attended Hillcrest Baptist Church of Cedar Hill, pastored by Dr. Mike Simmons. He had been a Baylor Bear football season ticket holder since 1971 and continued attending all home Baylor football games with Melinda after his move to Duncanville until he became ill in December 2019.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Madolyn Moore Pitts.

Joseph is survived by his daughters, Dr. Melinda Jo Velez and Kathleen Anne Olson, of Duncanville, Texas; brother, Cipriano Velez, of Mexico; Joe Francis Velez, Jr., of Little Rock, Arkansas; Samuel David Velez and wife, Julie, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Phillip Marcos Velez and wife, Valarie, of Milton, Florida; Lu Aurelia Velez Elkins and husband, Steve, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Timothy Stephen Velez, of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Dr. Michele Johnson and husband, Dr. Terry, of Abilene, Texas; eight grandsons, Karl Emory Johnson and wife, Sarah, of Midlothian, Texas, Nathan James Johnson and wife, Melissa, of Fort Worth, Texas, Samuel David Velez, Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas, Ehran Elkins of Little Rock, Arkansas, Ethan Elkins and wife, Katherine, of Bethesda, Maryland, Seth Elkins and wife, Jessica, of Plano, Texas, Benjamin Elkins and wife, Abby of Fayettville, Arkansas; Jeffrey Jared Willis (by Joseph’s choice) of Duncanville, Texas; eight granddaughters, Rebecca Lincoln and husband, Lance, of Little Rock, Arkansas, Nicole Usselman of Little Rock, Arkansas, Sara Gray and husband, Matt, of Springdale, Arkansas, Mariah Elkins of Little Rock, Arkansas, Brittany Velez of Little Rock, Arkansas, Sonja Walker and husband, Chris, of Sherwood, Arkansas, Sheena Frey of Waverly, Iowa, Cherie Velez of Milton, Florida; 21 great-grandchildren, Caroline and Cooper Johnson of Midlothian, Texas, Naomi and Oliver Johnson of Fort Worth, Texas, Cheyenne and Keaton (deceased) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Cody Velez and wife, Rachel, Cayden Jennings of Little Rock, Arkansas, Alexis Holley of Little Rock, Arkansas, Blakely and Tyler Walker of Sherwood, Arkansas, Corban, Evelyn, and Aliza Frey of Waverly, Iowa, Kaylee and Layla Cornelius of Milton, Florida, Austin and Parker Elkins of Plano, Texas, Eva and Lily Elkins of Fayettville, Arkansas, and Karis Gray of Springdale, Arkansas; two nieces, Dee Ann Duke Day and husband, Ricky of Willow Park, Texas, and Julie Duke Brock and husband, J.B., of Cedar Creek, Texas; nieces and nephews in Mexico, Sara Luz Velez and Samuel Velez of Mexico City; great-niece, Sarah, of Mexico City; great-nieces, Daphne Day and Gretchen Swink; and great-nephew Elliot Swink.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers at Silverstone Hospice, especially Donna Gurica, NP and Joe Childs, CNA; Deidre Jackson, CNA; the doctors and staff at Charlton Methodist Hospital of Dallas; and his many private physicians for their care and kindness. Joseph and his family cannot express enough gratitude to his friends and family who encouraged, supported, and prayed for him during his illness.

Pallbearers will be Karl Emory Johnson, Nathan James Johnson, Ehran Elkins, Ethan Elkins, Seth Elkins, Benjamin Elkins, Jeffrey Jared Willis, and Jon Spann.

Honorary Pallbearers are Mr. J. Damon Fehler, MBA, JD; Mr. Jerry Odle; and Mr. David Moseman.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com. A donation can be made in Joseph’s memory to Involved for Life (check out https://getinvolvedforlife.com) whose principles include the following: “As servants of the Lord, we seek to:

• Glorify God. We seek God’s wisdom and guidance and believe our work brings honor and glory to Him. We boldly follow his lead.

• Revere Sanctity of Life. We believe human life is sacred, with intrinsic value. We treat all people with the compassionate love and respect of Jesus Christ, from conception to natural death.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.