Justino "Bud" Vasquez

Justino "Bud" Vasquez, born December 3, 1985, was surrounded by his family when he took his heavenly flight early Wednesday morning, April 30, 2025. Bud’s life can be summed up by one word: faith, or the Hebrew word emunah. He understood that true emunah, or faith, doesn’t mean that you simply believe, but rather that you believe something so much that it creates an action or response to your belief. Bud was not a man who lived his life through lip service. Everything was marked with action. From how he loved his wife, children, and family, to how he served The Lord. He always worked hard and gave one hundred and ten percent to everything he put his hands to—not only in making his living but also in lending a helping hand to others.

Bud was at his best when he was putting his talents to use for Jesus. He had a servant’s heart and wanted to serve Jesus in any capacity that he could. He was a welder by trade and was very skilled at his craft; however, Bud’s true heart’s desire was to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ. Bud was a core member of Mt. Zion Lighthouse Assembly. He was a dedicated minister of the church as a Sunday school teacher and youth pastor. He loved ministering to anyone who would listen to him talk about what Jesus Christ had done in his life. Bud became sick a few months back, and from start to finish, as this illness ravaged his body, he stood firm in his faith. He lived it out loud and unapologetically while proclaiming that, no matter what, he trusted Jesus and the will that He had for his life. Bud held onto that faith in such a way that everyone who encountered him could feel it in a tangible way. His faith inspired doctors, nurses, and many others he met during this part of his journey. He led us all to soar above what we saw happening to him and look to The Author and Finisher of his faith. This is the legacy that he passed on to both of his children and all who knew him.

Bud is survived by his wife, Heather; two sons, Justino "Stino" and Jonah Vasquez; parents, Bob and Tena Vasquez; siblings, Amber Moyer, Kassandra Brown, and Elizabeth (Matthew) Cline; and Brother and Sister in The Lord, Jeremy and Tricia Childress. In addition to a host of nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins, Bud had precious friends that he held dear.

Bud was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Justino N. Vasquez and Trula Bell Buchanan; maternal grandparents, Quitman Leroy and Elma Mae Wilbanks; and his brother-in-law, Brett Moyer.

Services will be held Monday, May 5, 2025 at 2:00 P M at Magnolia Funeral Home – East Chapel. Visitation will be Sunday, May 4, 2025 from 5:00 P M to 8:00 P M and Monday, May 5, 2025 from 12:00 P M until service time at Magnolia Funeral Home – East. Pastor Jermey Childress, Rev. Robbie Copeland and Rev. William Copeland will officiate the service. Pallbearers will be Noah Clark, Joseph Goudy, Caleb Brown, Matthew Cline, Scotty Flake and Robbie Copeland. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jude Collyns and Elias Blake. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mt. Zion Lighthouse Assembly. Magnolia Funeral Home has been honored to serve the family of Mr. Justino “Bud” Vasquez.