Leonardo Alvarado Herrera

Leonardo Alvarado Herrera, 84, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on September 23, 2022 in El Paso, Texas. Leo was born on June 1^st, 1938 to Ismael E. Herrera and Margarita Alvarado-Herrera in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Leo was the 2^nd of 5 children and attended Telesecundaria El Progreso. He later moved to El Paso, Texas in the 1940s and has been a lifelong resident to the “Sun City” where he attended Saint Ignatius High School, El Paso Business College and EPCC-Art/Music. Leo was known for his art and his love of guitar music! He loved to play guitar, so much that he would play daily. He loved to tell stories of his life and accomplishments.

Leo and the love of his life met at a very young age! He fell in love and married Ms. Catalina “Katy” Avila at an early age and their love flourished for 67 years! Katy, his wife was with him always. Together they raised their only daughter, Sylvia Herrera-Mimbela and grandson Leonardo Perez. Leo briefly worked for Jesuit High School and Hortex Billy the kid Manufacture. He later was the District Manager to the Harold Post and El Paso Times overseeing many newspaper carriers throughout the years. He would foresee that they would continue their education and would get scholarships for these young men through El Paso Times. He later retired for the El Paso Times after 30 years! After retiring he managed and ran Mimbela Fuel & Oil where everyone knew him as “grandpa”. His favorite hobbies among many were drawing and painting. On his spare time Leo was an avid coin collector with the Littleton Coin Company and enjoyed going to coin collection shows. He also had quite a collection of national geographic magazines. He sure was in tune with nature and was devoted to God. He will be missed by all who knew him.  

Leo was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ismael and Abraham Herrera; and sister-in-law, Marielena Herrera. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Catalina Herrera; daughter, Sylvia (Joe) Mimbela; grandchildren: Leonardo (Debbie) Perez, Johannah Lynn Mimbela, and Jose (Elizabeth) Mimbela, Jr.; 10 great-grandchildren: Joseph Herrera, Allison Terrazas, Matthew Terrazas, Zoe Perez, Alexis Ariana Contreras, and Maximilian Xavier & Gianina Mimbela, Brittany Marie Clark, Eli Galvan and Katelynn Angelique Rey; sister, Julieta (Carlos) Herrera- Sotelo; sisters-in-law: Guadalupe (Rogelio) Davila, Teresa Herrera, Rosa Pedroza, Margarita Marquez; and a host of family and friends. 

Visitation will from 4:00pm - 8:00pm with a Vigil/Rosary at 6:00pm, Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Funeral Mass will begin at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 2709 Alabama. Interment to follow at Evergreen East Cemetery. Pallbearers to serve will be Joe Mimbela, Sr., Joe Mimbela, Jr., Leonardo Perez, Robert Mimbela, John Mimbela, Rogelio Davila, Efren Arroyo, and Salvador Gallegos.

Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast.  Please visit his online memorial at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net