Pablo C. Pacania, 97

Pablo C. Pacania, 97, a long time resident of Mountain Home, died at his daughter's home in Austin, Texas, after a long illness.

Pablo lived the American dream. He was raised in poverty in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States in 1926.

He first worked as a laborer in the pineapple plantations in Hawaii. Pablo then went to Hollywood where he worked as a chauffeur to the actress, Agness Morehead. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, he joined the Army Air Corps. Pablo found a home in the Air Force. He was a baker in the Air Force and retired from the AF in 1962 at Mountain Home AFB. Pablo worked at the Mountain Home AFB commissary until he retired from Civil Service in 1981.

Pablo considered himself a businessman and owned several rental properties in Mountain Home. Pablo always said "I got stuck in Mountain Home!" He was known for his kindness, generosity, love of music and sense of humor.

Pablo was buried with full military honors in the National Cemetery at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on June 18. The burial service was conducted by his son, Chaplain Richard Pacania, Major US Army.

He is survived by 5 children, Pauline Wells of Austin, Texas; Victor Pacania of Boise; Mary Pacania Smith of Mountain Home, Chaplain Richard Pacania, Major US Army, Bamberg, Germany; and Paul Pacania of Vacaville, Calif. Pablo also had 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.