Andres Portillo

Andres Portillo age 86, entered into eternal rest on Friday, July 21, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. He was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and will be greatly missed. Andres is preceded in death by his parents; Raul Portillo and Guadalupe Portillo Padilla, his son; Ray Portillo (Marianne), as well as his brothers; Raul Portillo, Homero Portillo, Joe Portillo, and Carlos Portillo. He is survived by his beloved wife; Irma Portillo, his children; Victoria Portillo Wong (Ying), Diana Dillard (Kent), Thomas Andrew Portillo (Jacque), Jackie Portillo, and David Portillo (Monica), his siblings; Juan Portillo and Guadalupe Carcerano, 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many extended friends and family to cherish and honor his memory.

Andres had a fervent love for the Lord. He was a faithful Catholic and faithfully performed his Catholic duty as a father providing for the spiritual needs of his children and using himself as a ladder to get his children to heaven.

He was devoted to the love of his life, Irma as well as his family. Supporting for and the well-being of his family was his greatest joy. These were relatively easy tasks for Andres, as they were not born out of a sense of duty, responsibility, or obligation, but rather born out of the fire of love.

Andres loved his country because of the hope and opportunities that were afforded his parents, his siblings, and his children. In spite of roadblocks that were put in front of Andres, he forged a long and recognized career at White Sands Missile Range, and worked to help clear a path for others in similar situations. Andres was inducted into the White Sands Missile Range Hall of Fame at the end of his career.

Andres was a loyal son of Cathedral High School, Class of 1955, where he formed lifelong friendships with men whom he never forgot and always loved. Andres attended Texas Western College/The College of Mines.

The combination of his education and work experience at White Sands Missile Range qualified him as Chief of the Operational Integration Unit.  Throughout his 44-year career, he was recognized as an integrator, leader, cooperative team member, and friend to all of those who served with and under him.  Due to his widely recognized skills and knowledge, he was elected Chairman of the prestigious Range Commander’s Council Optical Systems Group.  He was so successful he was elected to a second term.

Pallbearers include Tyler Dillard, Travis Dillard, A.J. Portillo, William Portillo, Jarod Portillo, Troy Dillard, Joseph O'Neil, and Joseph Soto. Honorary Pallbearers include Nick Carson, J.D. Douglass, Benny Brooks, and Ray Ybarra. 

A Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, July 28, 2023, with a Holy Rosary to commence at 6:30 pm, at Sunset Funeral Homes-West. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church; 1551 Belvidere St, El Paso, TX 79912. Services are entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-West, 480 N. Resler Dr.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation on behalf of Andres “Ports” Portillo-Class of 1955, to the Cathedral Alumni Association “Los Que Van Quedando” scholarship fund. 

Cathedral-elpaso.org or 1309 N. Stanton, El Paso, TX  79902.