Elvin Cortes Maldonado's Obituary
Elvin Cortes Maldonado, 64, of Davenport, Florida, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2025, in Lakeland, Florida.
Born on June 30, 1961, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Elvin lived a life marked by love, service, and deep devotion to his family.
Elvin met the love of his life, Carmen Ortiz, while working at a family restaurant in Puerto Rico—he as a bartender, she as a hostess. Though life initially took them down separate paths, fate brought them back together, leading to a reunion that sparked a beautiful and lasting love story. Together, they built a home filled with laughter, resilience, and unwavering support.
In 1986, after the birth of their daughter, Elvin fulfilled a lifelong dream by serving in the U.S. Army as a Private in the 1st Army Brigade stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His sense of duty and pride in his service never left him. After completing his military service, Elvin channeled his hardworking spirit into entrepreneurship by starting his own cleaning business. Later, he served as a supervisor with the Department of Recycle and Sanitation for the City of Albany, dedicating over a decade to public service.
Elvin had a passion for classic cars and motorcycles. He took pride in keeping his car spotless, especially the tires, and could often be found outdoors, washcloth in hand. When not tinkering with vehicles, he enjoyed movies, music, and daily lottery tickets. He often dreamed aloud about hitting the jackpot—planning to buy “a 1962 Corvette in red, a house, and a yacht.”
Above all, Elvin was a family man. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carmen Ortiz; his daughters, Dashira (Jean Carlos) and Vanessa (Jonathan); and his treasured grandchildren, Jayden, Julian, and Joel. His family was the light of his life, and his legacy of love and laughter will live on in each of them.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home – Serenity Gardens Chapel 3350 Mall Hill Drive Lakeland, FL 33810, on Friday, September 12th. Visitation will be from 10-11:00AM, with service to follow at 11:00AM.
All who knew and loved Elvin are welcome to attend and honor his memory.
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