Manuel “Manny” S. Terrazas died peacefully at Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veteran’s Home in El Paso, TX on February 4, 2020. Manny was born April 19, 1931 to Refugio and Elvira Terrazas in El Paso. He attended El Paso schools and was a proud graduate of El Paso High School in 1949. He was an active member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps earning the rank of Lt. Colonel and he also played in the high school band. He enlisted in the Air Force after graduation where he served his country in Japan, Germany and several bases in the States as an Air Policeman. While serving in Japan he met and married Michiko Kato. From this union, five girls were born to them.
Post military, he returned to El Paso for ten years prior to moving to Morgan City, LA where he was employed on petroleum drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico for nine years before returning to his hometown of El Paso in the late 1980s. Manny was an avid reader and especially enjoyed reading military history. He had an active memory for both significant and trivial facts and military leaders, especially for World War II history. He loved the west side of El Paso where he would recall memories growing up. He followed college football, but his real interest was based on Notre Dame and UTEP teams. Manny also knew Ambrosio Guillen, the El Paso Medal of Honor winner, where he spent his final years in the Veteran’s home named after him.
Manny is survived by his five daughters: Linda Tway Zackel (Frederick) of Bowling Green, OH; Marianne Krummen (Patrick) of Martinez, CA; Jane Murphy (William) of Portland, OR; Julie Jensen (Ray) of Aquilla, TX; and Patricia Ann “Tricia” Tway-Hillyer (Chris) of Alameda, CA. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren, John Zackel, Katherine Zackel, Matthew Fielder, Brian Barkdoll, and Kara Barkdoll; one sister, Bertha T. Collins (Joseph), Houston, TX; and one brother, Refugio S. Terrazas (Martha), Kingsville, TX and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Ricardo Terrazas, Rosendo Terrazas, and Alfredo Barrera Sr.; sisters Alice T. Macias, Mary T. Rivera, Carmen T. Cox, Estella T. Park, and Beatrice T. Hernandez.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the El Paso High School Museum Fund, P.O. Box 5024, El Paso, TX 79953 in memory of Manuel S. Terrazas, Class of ‘49.
Visitation will be Tuesday, February 11, 2020 beginning at 10:30am with a Vigil service at 11:00am followed by a Funeral Mass at 12:00pm at Holy Family Church, 900 W. Missouri Ave. Interment will be Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery at 1:30pm.
