Manuel Hidalgo

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Manuel Infant Hidalgo, who departed this life on September 24, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. Born on September 21, 1967, in El Paso, Texas, Manuel lived a life full of love, adventure, and purpose.

Manuel was a devoted father, proud grandfather, and loyal friend. He grew up Catholic in El Paso and later embraced his Christian faith, often reminding others that “only God knows our destiny paths.” He graduated from El Paso High School, where he played football, and carried that same passion into adulthood as a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan. One of his greatest joys was fulfilling his dream of traveling to Pittsburgh to see his team play in person.

Professionally, Manuel dedicated his career to aerospace engineering. He spent 12 years with Boeing, contributing to NASA projects such as the International Space Station, and later served 16 years with Lockheed Martin. He considered these opportunities among his proudest accomplishments.

In his golden years, Manuel achieved another lifelong dream: traveling to Mexico and reconnecting with his heritage. He was also known for his adventurous spirit, his love of fast cars especially his red Corvette convertible and his enthusiasm for what he always called the “coolest jobs” throughout his career.

Family was at the heart of Manuel’s life. Holidays were especially meaningful to him, from celebrating the Fourth of July to enjoying Thanksgiving with his favorite bacon stuffing. He cherished being a grandfather, and one of his proudest moments was watching his first granddaughter turn 16 and dancing to his dream song with her.

Music brought Manuel great joy. His favorite songs “Hotel California” by The Eagles, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, “Europa” by Santana, and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith will forever echo his spirit. He also treasured simple keepsakes, like “Leslie,” a stuffed rabbit he gifted to his daughter Janet at age four. Years later, that toy became a family symbol of his love, once found tucked in his arms as he napped—a memory Janet will hold close forever.

Words that best describe Manuel are brave, considerate, and caring. His family and friends will always remember his humor, generosity, and his belief that life’s journey should be celebrated. Instead of tears, he hoped that laughter and stories of his adventures would carry on his legacy.

Manuel is survived by his loving daughters, Janet Mayorga-Hidalgo and Melodi Bejarano; his siblings Graciela, Leticia, Gloria, Josie, Guillermo, Gerardo, and Isabel; and many extended family members and lifelong friends, including childhood friends Raul and Juan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Isabel and Raquel Hidalgo.

Manuel will be remembered as a devoted father, a proud grandfather, and the best dad anyone could imagine. His life was a testament to hard work, faith, family, and joy.