Manuel Prudencio Manzanares

Manuel Prudencio Manzanares, beloved husband, father and grandfather, and cherished member of the community, died peacefully and went to be with our Lord on March 26, 2025 at the age of 95. Born in El Llano, New Mexico on August 6, 1929, he married his high school sweetheart Teresa Baros in 1953. As a corporal in the U.S. Army, he served on active duty near the front lines in the Korean War. Manuel was a long-time resident of Pico Rivera and parishioner at St. Hilary Catholic church, and lived a life of love spent with his family and friends. He was initially employed at Los Alamos Labs in New Mexico, then moved to California, where he worked for 30 years as a Metallurgist for Bethlehem Steel Company, then for the city of Downey.

Manuel is survived by his daughter, Brenda (Ravi) Kapila, his grandchildren, Paul (Melissa) Avalos, Veronica (Gabe) Olague; great grandchildren Leslie and Christina; and great-great grandchildren Alayna and Camila; his sisters Mela Vigil (Desiderio), Viola Martinez, and Ruth Ann (James) Esquibel, as well as his sisters in law, Lourdes and Melva. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 65 years Teresa Baros, his son Ronald, brothers Andres, Joe (Nellie) and Ruben, his father Jose Enos, his mother Graciolita Naranjo, step-mother Maria Romero, and grandparents Delfinia and Jose Pedro Naranjo, and Julianita and Urban Manzanares.

Manuel could often be found chatting with neighbors, the postman, the bank security guard, local teenagers, etc., and enjoyed music, cars and sports. In his younger years, gatherings were spent at their place in Los Angeles listening and dancing to his countless records. He took pride in his vehicles, and was an honorary member of the El Rancho High School Booster Club for many years. Some of his favorite sports teams were the New Mexico Lobos, Los Angeles Raiders, Los Angeles Angels and, of course, the local El Rancho High School football team. May the Lord grant him eternal rest.