Samuel Richard Paredes

Sam R. Paredes, DDS

Sam R. Paredes of El Paso, Texas, died on October 27, 2026.

If there is one thing Sam was not, it was boring. He was strong of character, decisive and determined. His was a life fully lived and enjoyed. Born on June 21, 1944, in El Paso, Sam was raised in the Baptist Church by his Christian parents, Pete Paredes and Helen Mapula. He loved God and was a good man. He grew up around his grandfather’s bakery in South El Paso, often accompanying his uncle up the Valley delivering bread. He attended Crockett Elementary School and Austin High School, where he played, as he liked to say, “every sport under the sun.” He went on to UTEP and the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston. After dental school, he served as a dentist in the U.S. Navy in Guam. He opened his own dental practice in El Paso in the late 1970s. He continued practicing until June 2026. He loved being a dentist. But dentistry was only one part of Sam’s story.

Before he became Dr, Paredes, Sam had 15 different jobs. He handled cattle at the cattle auction, filmed races at Sunland Park Racetrack, iced trains at the ice docks, worked as a lifeguard, and dug post holes for industrial signs. Sam had the memory of an elephant. Tell him something once and, 20 years later, he might remind you of it. He was a snappy dresser. As a boy, he got a paper route so he could buy quality shirts and avoid wearing the “cheap shirts” his mother bought him. Sam was an adventurer. He trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp, summited Mount Kilimanjaro, went on safari in Africa, skied in the Alps, and went whitewater rafting in South America. He did things that mostly dream of. He loved family travel as well, chasing stepchildren and grandchildren around Europe, Thailand and New Zealand. The son of a high school football coach, Sam was always active. He played and competed in track, tennis, handball, cycling, skiing, and golf. From his home in Kern Place, he sometimes ran all the way to the top of Mt. Cristo Rey.

He loved golf at El Paso Country Club and poker nights with his buddies. Sam was funny, stubborn, generous, occasionally exasperating, and extraordinarily memorable. He had opinions. He had stories. And Sam was blessed with an unusual amount of good fortune. While serving in the Navy in Guam, he was mistakenly promoted. Unfortunately for anyone who might have wanted to correct the mistake, the paperwork had already been signed by the Admiral of the Navy. The promotion stayed. On another occasion, Sam got permission to go to Hawaii to play in the Navy Championship Volleyball Game. Somehow, a volleyball game became a two-week Hawaiian vacation. He often received special favors, partly because he made friends with all kinds of people, most likely including the men keeping track of his leave! Sam truly lived a full and accomplished life before he met the love of his life: Nan Napier.

At the age of 62, Sam proclaimed to his friends that he had “found perfection” and was settling down to married life with his Nan. Theirs was indeed a love affair that reflected a mutual high energy approach to life and the adventures that are found in friendships, community involvement, and travel. During the last weeks of Sammy’s life, they would sit together in a newly acquired recliner to embrace each other each night before sleep. The many photographs of them together reveal the love of “Nan and Sammy” as a couple, destined to meet by God’s providence. He was an especially memorable grandfather to Isabel, Alec, Hudson, and Brooklyn, complete with inside jokes and secrets. He taught them to blow enormous Hubba Bubba bubbles, throw a baseball, drive golf carts, and make perfect Fourth of July s’mores. Whenever they left his house, he would secretly slip Bit-O-Honey bars into their bags.

He is survived by his wife, Nan Napier; his siblings, Alice Wise and Peter Paredes; his stepchildren, Rebecca Napier-Moore and Creed Napier; his niece and nephews, Shannon, Mark, Scott and Glenn; and his grandchildren, Isabel, Alec, Hudson, and Brooklyn. He was predeceased by his younger brother, David.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30am on Friday, November 6, 2026 at Sunset Funeral Homes-West. The reception afterwards will be at El Paso Country Club.

Sam was an avid supporter of the storied UTEP track team. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor his memory are invited to donate to UTEP Track and Field at raise.utep.edu/paredes-track-and-field, or mail a check to UTEP Athletics, 500 W University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968