William Trevino Barrera

Willie was born to Ernesto and Evangelina Barrera on February 28, 1926 in Corpus Christi, Texas where he was raised and educated. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy where he proudly served during WWII as a Seaman on board Destroyer USS Stack DD-406. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific for 18 months and was awarded four battle stars. After being honorably discharged in 1946, Willie returned to Corpus Christi and began his 40-year career at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. He loved fishing, hunting and gambling in Las Vegas. He and his wife loved to travel and would love telling the story of how they got lost in Spain but still thought they could direct other travelers who were lost.

Willie is survived by his wife of almost 71 years, Gloria Lamas Barrera, his daughter and son-in-law, Sandra Barrera and Manuel Tello, his son, Tommy Barrera, two grandsons, Thomas Villarreal and Navy Lt. Commander R. William Villarreal, his great-grandson, William Thomas Preston, step-grandson, Osman Tello, step-granddaughter, Adriana Barker and step great-grandsons, Caleb and Joshua Marsh and Kevin and Felipe Alvarez. He is also survived by his brother, George T. Barrera (Berta) of Laredo, Texas, his sisters, Carolina de la Rosa of Victoria, Texas and Judy Garcia (Eloy) of Corpus Christi, Texas along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Ernesto Jr, Arnulfo, Raul and Rodolfo Barrera as well as his sister, Carmen Gutierrez.

Funeral services will be in Houston at Forest Park Lawndale on Saturday, May 26th at 9:00am. Burial will follow immediately after at the Veteran’s National Cemetery in Houston, Texas.