Norberto Barcena

Norberto Barcena, Sr.,88, of El Paso, passed away on May 11, 2012. He was born April 4, 1924 in El Paso, Tx, son to the late Agustín and Juana Barcena, and grandson of José and Maria G. Barcena. In 1940, at the age of 16, Norberto was awarded the Carnegie Hero medal for saving a 14-year old girl from drowning in the Rio Grande River. During WWII, he was a member of the 91st Bomb Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces based at Bassingbourn Airfield in England and was a waist and ball turret gunner in the B-17 Flying Fortress "Little Miss Mischief" of the 324th Bomb Squad, flying 17 missions over France and Germany. He was a real estate broker and a talented painter. He is predeceased by his wife Elvira, and survived by three brothers, J. Alfonso, Juan Alonzo and Mario, all of El Paso; two daughters, Belinda Kelley of Houston, TX and Jeanette Castillo (Alex) of Tacoma, WA; two sons, Norberto Barcena, Jr. (Susan) of Placitas, NM and Oscar Barcena of El Paso; three grandchildren, Jenifer Kelley Smailes (Paul) of White Plains, NY; Jeff Kelley (Rainy) of Houston, TX; and Brystal Barcena of Nantes, France; and four great-grandchildren. Visitation/Memorial services will begin at 12:30 PM, Thursday, May 17, 2012 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast and Interment to follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to favorite charity.