Nicolas Ernesto Jiron was born September 18, 1945, in El Paso, Texas. Ernie Jiron passed away on February 18, 2026, at 80 years of age, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved and only son of Necolas and Maria R.O. Jiron, he was the second oldest of five siblings.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members.
He is survived by:
his three children: Teresa Guillen, Nicholas Jiron and Eric Jiron (Margie Jiron);
his 7 grandchildren: 5 from Teresa=Chaz Jiron (Fabiola Jiron), Cassandra Ruiz (Lorenzo Ruiz II), C'Vaan Guillen, Cambrea Wright (Daylan Wright) and Cianna Guillen; 1 from Nicholas=Zayan Jimenez; 1 from Eric=Hannah Jiron;
his 5 great grandchildren all from Teresa: Chaz=Xalen Jiron; Cassandra=Zoey Ruiz, Lorenzo (CJ) Ruiz III, Zayah Ruiz and Ezekiel Ruiz;
his Aunt Herminia Ortiz;
his siblings: Martha Jiron; Angie Jiron Arroyo (John Arroyo)=Alyssa Arroyo and Valerie Arroyo Meeks (Brian Meeks)=Mariana Meeks and Gage Meeks; Vivian Jiron; and Cecilia Jiron Barnhart (Bob Barnhart);
his cousins and other family members.
Ernie was extremely proud of his entire family.
Ernie was baptized Catholic and daily demonstrated his life-long faith by supporting his family, friends, co-workers and those in need. His home parish was Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and he later also attended San Rafael Catholic Church. He worked at Blessed Sacrament church carnivals and various church activities.
Ernie attended St. Patrick's Catholic School, Houston, Wainwright, Robert E. Lee and Magoffin. He graduated from Irvin High School in 1963 and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 1968 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. During his school years he played trumpet, baseball, football, basketball, was a member of the Junior Science Club and Junior Classical League and excelled in academics including his induction into the National Honor Society.
Upon graduation from UTEP, he worked as an Electronics/Missile Engineer for the Department of the Army for 15 years at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) for ARMTE, ASL and SAFSEA and then transferred to Fort Bliss where he worked for 23 years for DCD, JFAAD and the US Army Air Defense Artillery Board/Test Directorate. He enjoyed traveling extensively for his work and partaking in the local eateries. He retired in January 2006.
Ernie loved attending his children's, grandchildren's, great grandchildren's school, sports, and extracurricular activities including but not limited to: excelling in academics, National Honor Society, Trooperettes, football, soccer, dance/cheerleading, basketball, track, arts and music. He enjoyed all their journeys and accomplishments through life: school, extracurricular coaching activities, work, college undergraduate and graduate degrees, marriages and births of their children and service to their country via National Guard and Army Reserve. He loved taking his family on vacations to various places in the USA including a trip that included visiting National Football League (NFL) stadiums.
Ernie made many good and lifelong friends during his lifetime, including but not limited to his high school basketball coaches: Coach John Leonard and Coach Joe Anderson (Coach Andy); high school friends, UTEP friends, Irvin Alumni friends and fellow work friends. After retirement, he enjoyed having monthly lunches with his good friends who were work colleagues.
Ernie thoroughly enjoyed the TWC (UTEP) 1966 NCAA National Basketball Championship, participating in the victory parade; campus celebration activities; and mixing with the players at the ceremonies and after parties!
Ernie's interests included: family, sports including playing some city Volleyball later in life, cars, car racing: starting at an early age with the Pan American Road Race and Formula I, supporting the Irvin Alumni Association, attending Irvin and UTEP athletics, traveling for work or family vacations including visiting 45 out of the 50 US states, the Dallas Cowboys, dancing, WWI & WWII history, many kinds of music, UTEP dinner theaters, live entertainment, concerts, southwestern art, electronics and family genealogy. He was extremely knowledgeable about a lot of things including football; was great at helping solve car problems and was an enthusiastic pool player. He would bring back gifts for his family after his travels. Ernie enjoyed good food, here in El Paso as well as while traveling whether for work or during vacation. Ernie always had time to help solve problems, listen, provide great advice, and provide weather updates about El Paso, Ruidoso, and Cloudcroft. He always lit up a room when he entered it!
Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel Central, 3839 Montana Ave. El Paso, Texas 79903. Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 9025 Diana Dr, El Paso, Texas 79904 with Burial to follow in Restlawn Memorial Park, 8700 Dyer St, El Paso, Texas 79904.
