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ROMERO, ANGEL, 86, Visitation: 4-9 p.m. Wed. Oct. 17,
2012 at Martin Funeral Home-Central with Vigil at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass:
9:15 a.m. Thur. at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church. Interment:
Ft. Bliss National Cemetery.
(Published in El Paso Times from October 15 to October
22, 2012)
 Angel
Romero, a lifelong resident of El Paso and member of the Catholic Church,
made his final jump on October 14, 2012. He was born on January 16,
1925, the fourth of nine siblings of the union of Francisco Provencio
Romero and Maria Morales Romero. He was preceded in death by his parents,
grandson Sammy Orona and brothers Francisco, Dimas, and Eugenio Romero.
He is survived by his sons Sam Orona and Angel Romero, Jr.; his daughters
Ysela Stefanski (Mike) and Julia Morris (David); his sisters Maria Luisa
Martinez (Benny), Ysela Sanchez and Dora Weese; brothers Juan (Ruth)
and Arturo Romero; grandchildren Danny, Theresa, and Robert Orona; Sean
and Brendan Gilhooly; Michael and Lauren Stefanski; and great-grandchildren
Maria, Gabriel, Sofia, Anthony and Victor Orona. He is also survived
by Dolores Romero, the mother of his children.
Gelo, as his family will always think of him, was
a loving and generous father, grandfather and great-grandfather and
also a caring and very helpful brother and uncle. His wisdom, love,
concern and response to the needs of all family members are the reasons
he was considered to be the "patriarch" of his El Paso family. He attended
Cooley Elementary and Ysleta High School in El Paso, TX.
He was called to serve in the defense of his country
on July 2, 1943. After basic training at Camp Wolters, TX, he volunteered
for and completed Parachute School, at Ft. Benning, GA. He was subsequently
assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment with the 82nd Airborne
Division. He made combat jumps into Normandy, France on D-Day and Operation Market Garden in Holland. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge and Central Europe campaigns.
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He was wounded in Normandy, Holland and Belgium. His
was honorably discharged in December 1945. Among his many awards and
decorations are four Bronze Stars; the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf
Clusters; the Navy Silver Life Saving Medal; the Good Conduct Medal;
Combat Infantryman's Badge; Parachute Badge; French Fourragére; Netherlands
Willem Orde and Belgium Fourragére. In August 2012, he was Knighted
by the Government of France and decorated with the French Legion of
Honor. He was awarded the distinguished Trooper of the Year award by
the Benavidez-Patterson All-Airborne Chapter and in 2011 was awarded
the Military Hero of the Year by the Greater El Paso Association of
Realtors.
For 37 years he was a Master Cabinet Maker and Master
Locksmith with the Civil Service Commission at Ft. Bliss, TX, serving
as foreman for 28 years. Following his retirement from Civil Service
in 1987 he continued to be active in civic action projects, especially
those involving school children and Veterans organizations.
He was a Charter member of the Benavidez-Patterson
All Airborne Chapter and a member of the Purple Heart Chapter 393, VFW,
DAV, and a baseball coach and mentor for the Ascarate Optimist Club.
He was an outstanding member of the Greatest Generation, a great American
Patriot who loved his family, his God, his country and the Troopers
with whom he served. He will be sorely missed by all.
Visitation will be held 5pm to 9pm, Wednesday, October
17, 2012 at Martin Funeral Home Central with a 7 pm vigil. Funeral Mass
will be held Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 9:15 am at San Antonio de
Padua Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers,
memorial donations may be made to Benavidez-Patterson All-Airborne Chapter
PPF Fund, 2608 Fort Boulevard, El Paso, TX 79930
(Published in El Paso Times from October 15 to October
23, 2012)
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