Lorenzo Gerardo Aguilar

Lorenzo Gerardo Aguilar was born on August 10, 1952, in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, a place that shaped his roots, his work ethic, and his sense of pride. He was 73 when he was called home on May 22, 2026, leaving behind a family that loved him deeply and a world made richer by his presence. A man of few unnecessary words and many meaningful actions, he showed love through showing up. He had a presence that filled a room without demanding it. Hardworking and proud of where he came from, he could make you laugh without warning, make you listen without raising his voice, and make you feel cared for in ways words rarely captured. He found joy in his garden, in cooking, his love of books, in Club América, and above all in cars. That love started young, working alongside his father, learning the language of engines and grease. It never left him. He carried it through decades at the Corvette plant, building some of America’s most iconic automobiles until the day he retired. To Lorenzo, a car was a connection to his father, to his roots, and to the satisfaction of a job done right. Most of all, he loved being surrounded by his family, the patriarch of something that mattered.

A Soldier’s Honor. Lorenzo proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam Era, and that service never left him. The discipline, the courage, the belief that something greater than yourself was worth protecting were woven into the fabric of who he was as a husband, a father, and a man. He served his country, then came home and served his family with that same devotion.

A Life Built on Love. For Lorenzo, family was everything, not in a sentimental way, but in the most practical and profound sense. The life he built alongside his beloved wife, Bertha, was his greatest achievement. Together, they made a home where children were raised with love and structure, where tradition was honored, and where the door was always open. He was a proud father to Lorenzo Aguilar Jr., Martha Tello, and Idalia Aguilar, a grandfather who delighted in his grandchildren, and a great-grandfather whose legacy was growing in the faces of 18 great-grandchildren. To many beyond his own blood, Lorenzo was simply “Dad” or “Welo,” a presence that offered warmth, guidance, and the rare gift of making someone feel truly seen.

Those Who Carry Him Forward. Lorenzo is survived by his wife, Bertha Aguilar; his daughters, Martha Tello (and her husband, Noe) and Idalia Aguilar; his siblings Rosa Maria, Maria Fortunata, Maria Cruz and German; his grandchildren Christopher Aguilar, Vanesa Barahona, Adam Tello, Matthew Tello, Samantha Aguilar, Alyssa Tello, Lorenzo Aguilar III, Roberto Castillo, Ricardo Reyes, Audelia Rivas, Joseph Rubio, Jesse Marenco, and Jacqueline Sanchez; and his 18 great-grandchildren: Arturo, Jordan, Emilia, Alyssa, Adrian, Gabriel, Sebastian, Jesus, Giovanni, Isabel, Ameryss, Eric, Sophia, Raelynn, Zachary, Enzo, Noah, and Luca.

Lorenzo did not leave behind only memories. He left behind lessons in how to work, how to love, how to protect what matters, and how to carry yourself with dignity. Those lessons live now in every person he shaped, every story told at a dinner table, every grandchild who acts a little bit like him without even knowing it.

“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved, we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”

✧ ✧

SERVICES

Visitation is Friday, May 29, 2026 • 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Williams Funeral Home, Columbia, TN.

Funeral Mass, Saturday, May 30, 2026 • 11:00 AM at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Columbia, TN.

Burial to follow at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens.

Deeply missed. Forever loved. Always remembered.

American Legion Post 19 will be rendering military honors.

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences can be given to the family at Williamsfh.com.