Celia Portillo

On December 17, 1933, in Fort Davis, Texas, Celia was the fourth of seven children born to Federico and Maria (Avila) Villalba. At the age of four, her family moved to El Paso where she would live for 76 years. She graduated from Austin High School in 1952 and was a lifelong learner and a passionate advocate for minorities, children and the elderly. As the Director of Senior Services at Washington Park in El Paso, she implemented an interactive program for senior citizens. At El Paso Community College she developed the medical education program. She helped minorities find vocations at the El Paso Job Corps. A fiercely independent and very intelligent woman, she raised her four children on her own and after they had grown she refocused on her own education and earned her degree in teaching from the University of Texas El Paso in 1991. She then earned her Masters in Education from Stephen F Austin University in 1993. She also worked on her Doctorate in Education Administration at the University of New Mexico in Las Cruces. She taught elementary school in Chaparral, NM, specializing in children learning English as a second language. Celia loved wearing bright colors, feeding her family, and having a cold beer while listening to Mexican music.

Celia moved to San Antonio in 2015 to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beautiful daughter Katherine Buchanan, and her cherished grandson Jacob Portillo. She is survived by her children, son Luis Portillo, daughter Teresa Portillo Daniel, son Victor Portillo and wife, Mary; grandchildren Loren Portillo Peterson, Joshua Buchanan, Lee Portillo, Lou Portillo, Michael Buchanan, Tommy Daniel, Monica Portillo Rubio, Jacque Daniel Brockington, Sophia Palafox, Che Palafox, Elijah Portillo and Joshua Portillo; fifteen great-grandchildren; brother Daniel Villalba and sister Delma Way; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

A visitation will be held at Hillcrest Funeral Home, 1060 N. Carolina Drive, El Paso, Texas, on February 26 from noon to 1:00pm for family, and from 1:00 to 4pm for others. A graveside service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery East, 12400 East Montana on February 27.