Leonardo A. Montelongo Sr.

Mass of Christian Burial will at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, October 10, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Benjie officiating. Interment to follow in Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. with rosary being recited at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at the funeral home.

Mr. Montelongo was born on December 6, 1932 to Hermenejildo and Julia (Alvarez) Montelongo in San Marcos, Texas. He was a longtime resident of Waco. Mr. Montelongo was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955. He served with the 505th AAA BN, Charlie Battery at Fort Tilde, New York. In his professional career he worked at Fashion Floors and then for the United States Postal Service for 27 years. He founded the “Mi Favorito” spanish radio program and continued for 32 years bringing beautiful Tejano music into central Texas homes. He was instrumental in raising funds for Sacred Heart Catholic Church for many years where he was an usher and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #11015. He was a founding and long time member of the Waco Missions. He enjoyed playing baseball between the years of 1942 to 1963 where he played semi-pro baseball for the Waco Missions Recreation club. Later, he umpired baseball. He also enjoyed golfing weekly, exercising, going to the casino with family members. Most especially he enjoyed spending time with the pride of his life, his family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine Montelongo , his daughter, Julia Montelongo, his father Hermenejildo Montelongo Sr., his mother, Julia A Montelongo, and his siblings Silverstre Montelongo, Vincente Montelongo, Jose Montelongo, Eulalio I Montelongo, Hermenejildo Montelongo Jr., Nicolas Montelongo, Eulalio II Montelongo, and Miguel Montelongo Sr., Evarista Barrientos , Juana Ibarra, Margarita M. Lopez and Samuel Montelongo Sr.

Survivors include his daughters, Hilda Galindo and husband, Apolinar. Jr., Diana Martinez and husband, Isaac; sons, Ernest Montelongo, Sr. and wife, Stella, and 1st Sergeant Retired Leonardo Montelongo, Jr., grandchildren: Natalie Renee and Erik Galindo, Ernest (Ernie) Montelongo, Jennica Ramos and husband, Angelo, Johnny Villafana Jr. and wife, Jessica, Daniel Villafana, Gina Ramirez, Angela Avila and Jason Ramon, JoAnna DeLeon and husband, Chris, Orlando Montelongo, Sr., Alyssa Montelongo, great-grandchildren: Gianna, Isaiah, and Arielle Montelongo, Haven Ramos, Noah, Jonah, and Jiseala Villafana, Natalie Casiano and Adem Imeri, Jacob Casiano, J’Lynn and Jenna Ramon, Mia and

Ava DeLeon, and Orlando Montelongo, Jr., great-great grandchildren: Ayden and Aaron Imeri; brothers, Guadalupe Montelongo and wife Margie of Fresno, CA, Cesar and wife, Delia Montelongo of Donna,Tx, and Ismael and wife, Antonia Montelongo of Donna, Tx; sisters, Marcy Alamia of Edinburg, Tx, Mary (Nena) Zepeda of Orange, CA and Gloria Castillo of Pasadeana, Tx; numerous families from California, New York, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas.

Pallbearers, Erik Galindo, Ernest Montelongo Jr, Johnny Villafana Jr., Jacob Casiano, Daniel Villafana, and Orlando Montelongo Sr.