Erlinda Romero Dimas

Erlinda Romero Dimas of Waco, Texas passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family on May 23, 2024. Born on July 27, 1933, to Flavio and Maria Romero, she was the second of ten children. She was proud to be a fourth- generation Texan and except for a brief stint in Corsicana, she grew up and lived her whole life in Waco, Texas.

Erlinda Romero Dimas spent her early years living at 625 River Street with her immediate family in the Sandtown neighborhood of Waco, Texas. She also lived with her extended family in nearby Elk, Texas and enjoyed sharing stories about her grandfather’s farm. Here she learned about crops and picking cotton. Despite the hard work, she cherished bonding with her aunt and uncles as they traveled throughout Central and South Texas during the picking season and then migrating further north to states like Michigan to pick seasonal fruit and vegetables.

One of Erlinda’s first city jobs was at Buchanan’s Laundry where she worked during the 1953 tornado and like many native Wacoans, had a story of experiencing that terrible event. She continued her hard work ethic, excelling as a seamstress, factory worker, caregiver, and head cook at El Pollinos Restaurant in Corsicana, Texas.

In Corsicana, she was instrumental in helping her husband, Jesse Palos Dimas to obtain a college degree. Because Jesse was blind, she served as reader and tutor. Her children always noted that they both received a degree in Sociology from Navarro College in 1975. The family moved back to Waco in 1977.

Everyone looked forward to Erlinda’s meals and desserts. She enjoyed making tamales during the holidays, and on special occasions all gravitated to her house to benefit from her labor of love. She took delight in seeing everyone appreciate her meals. In addition to providing nutrition, she also nurtured all her children and grandchildren. Upon retiring from the VA Hospital as a Patient Care Tech (a position that she had to return to school to get certified), she had more time to visit family.

She flew to the Philippines and the Chicago area to spend time with granddaughters and traveled to the San Antonio, Houston and Dallas areas to see other grandchildren. Of course, she visited with other loved ones in Waco. Throughout her travels to other countries, she grew in her appreciation for other cultures and her love for music intensified, especially for Mariachi bands.

Erlinda was dearly loved by everyone whose lives she touched. An example of compassion, love, faith, and generosity worthy of emulating. She has left a huge void in our hearts that will only be filled when we see her again in the resurrection. In fact, some of the last words Erlinda spoke was the hope of being reunited with lost loved ones at that time.

Erlinda was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Palos Dimas; son, Edward Campos; sister, Olivia Delgado; and her brother, Charles Romero. She is survived by her siblings, Mary Ann Serrano, Lupe Lopez and husband, Robert, Teresa Merkledove, Ernest Romero and wife, Ann, Richard Romero and wife, Gloria, and Roy Romero. Also surviving her are daughters, Ruby Campos and Yvonne Hustak and her husband, Tony; sons, David Campos and his wife, Jean, Johnny Dimas and his wife, Olga, Armando Campos and all his loving exes; former son-in-law, Jesse Vigil; sixteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great- grandchildren. Visitation will be Thursday, May 30th, from 6-8 pm at Oakcrest Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Friday, May 31, at 12 noon at Oakcrest Funeral Home followed by interment at Oakwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Frank Roland Olvera, Matthew Daniel Campos, Adrian Joseph Campos, Eric Olvera, Angel Dai'Shaun Campos, Fernando Luevano, Isaiah Serrano, Michael David Cummings, Edward Campos, Jr. and Ethan Aaron Vigil.

Honorary Pallbearers: Armando P. Campos, Jason Romero, Brandon Romero, D'Angelo Cruz Campos, Mario Jimenez, and Paul Serrano.