Precious daughter of God, Belia Cantu was called home by her Lord and Savior on January 17, 2024, in San Antonio, TX surrounded by her family. She was 91 years old.
Belia was born in Realitos, TX on October 5, 1932, to Ernesto and Christina Benavides. She married the love of her life and soulmate, Toribio Cantu Jr. on August 5, 1949, and they lived several years together in Corpus Christi, TX where they started their family. They later moved back to Realitos to pursue their love of ranching where, together, they built the oasis that is now Cantu’s Ranch for future family generations to love and enjoy. She loved planting and propagating in her gardens and turning the ranch into a Winter Wonderland during the holiday season. Belia loved reading her Bible and worshipping God, and she instilled a love and following of Jesus in her family that she diligently encouraged them to hold on to throughout their lives. In 1989, Belia and Toribio started Voice in The Wilderness Ministries, where she served as lead pastor until 2016. She ministered to and saved many souls, touched countless lives, and healed many through prayer. Her enormous love of God and her spiritual wisdom paired with her caring nature made her a shining light to so many in their darkest hours. She was instantly loved by anyone who had the honor of meeting her and will be missed dearly by everyone.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 68 years, Toribio Cantu, parents, Ernesto and Christina Benavides, brothers, Arnoldo and Ernesto Benavides Jr., and two great-grandchildren, Mia Sara Munoz, and Javier Manuel “JP” Plata.
She is survived by her five daughters, Annie (Rene) Chapa, Rosie (Marcelino) Munoz, Isabel “Tina” Avila († Manuel) Avila, Bertha (Selso) Martinez, and Mary Lee (Jaime) Pena; 15 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren, 16 great-great grandchildren, and her dearest friend and longtime caregiver, Domingo “DA” Almaraz.
Visitation will be held 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Saturday January 20, 2024, at Garza Funeral Home, 4571 FM 1329 in San Diego, TX 78384, with prayer services scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Sunday January 21, 2024, at Una Voz en El Desierto Church at Cantu’s Ranch, 10067 County Rd 263 in Realitos, TX 78376. Interment will follow at the Realitos Cemetery in Realitos, Texas.
Anyone wishing to leave condolences for the family, may do so at www.garzafuneralhome.com.
