Carlos Dominguez, age 89, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2026, in Leesburg, Florida
My father, Carlos, did not have an easy life as a young Hispanic boy growing up in Fort Davis, Texas. His parents were poor and didn’t have much education. He was, however, surrounded by loving parents and 4 siblings. His mother, sensing the curiosity and love of learning, encouraged him to do well in his studies to forge a path to a better life. Often faced with prejudice and made to feel that his heritage made him less, he strove to be more by deciding to go to college. He was the only one of his siblings to go to college.
Knowing that he couldn’t afford to pursue this dream, Carlos chose to join the Air Force in 1954. The Air Force recognized his ability to learn languages, since Carlos was already bilingual. He was sent to school in California, where he learned how to read, write, and speak Korean. Carlos was stationed in a remote mountainous area of Korea, where he intercepted messages from pilots and translated them into English. It was there that he met 2 of his best friends who would remain so until their deaths many decades later. Carlos was honorably discharged in 1957 and awarded the National Defense Service Medal. Thanks to the GI Bill, he was able to attend the University of Texas and earn his Bachelors of Electrical Engineering. He knew he had to complete a 4-year program in 3 years and 6 months because that was the amount that he served.
Carlos’ employment at Westinghouse led to his move to Baltimore, where he met my mother, Lois Miller, and married her on February 1, 1964. He also became friends with Roger Hagan who would later marry Lois’ sister, Anne. After the birth of their three children (Debra, Catherine, and William), they ended up in Detroit, where my father worked at the Ford Motor Company until the day that he retired. He earned several patents on his work with airbags. Carlos returned to college and earned an MBA at Wayne State University in 1973.
Wherever he lived, Carlos could be found talking to his neighbors and was quick to fi x a car, change a fl at tire, or lend a helping hand in any way. He was friendly, helpful and believed that any job done should be done right. He loved playing tennis and watching tennis tournaments. Unfortunately, he did not pass this trait on to any of his children. Carlos enjoyed running, sometimes up to 5 miles. It was a passion that started in his childhood and continued throughout his life. This love of running he did pass on to his daughter, Catherine, and his granddaughter, Lindsey.
Carlos was a devoted husband, a proud father, and a loving grandfather. He is survived by his devoted wife, Lois; his daughters, Debra Dominguez and Catherine Dominguez, along with his son-in-law, Stephen Gehring; and his four cherished grandchildren, Alexander, Lindsey, Victoria, and Louis.
A private family service celebrating Carlos’ life will take place following cremation.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carlos’s memory to Autism Speaks or the Ocala Mountain Bike Association. These organizations hold a special place in the family’s heart: Carlos’s son, William, was diagnosed with autism at age three and grew up to be an avid, passionate bike rider.