Gilberto De Leon, Jr.

Gilberto De Leon, Jr. of Uvalde passed away on August 23, 2020 at Uvalde Memorial Hospital at the age of 85. He was born on May 19, 1935 in Uvalde to Gilberto De Leon and Rosaura Benitez.

Gilberto attended school in Uvalde and graduated from St. Mary’s University.  He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Alaska as a Corporal.  After being discharged he came back home to Uvalde where he served as a police officer for the City of Uvalde. After serving for 12 years he was appointed as Chief of Police.  Gilberto was the first Hispanic police officer and first Hispanic Chief of Police for the City of Uvalde. Gilberto was apointed by then Governor Dolph Briscoe as a Pardon and Parole Commissioner Parole Officer in Huntsville from 1973-1977.  After serving for four years he came back to his hometown of Uvalde with his family.  He bought Richardson Plumbing and was a plumber for many years. Gilberto, was a member of the Templo Cristiano Assembly of God Church which he attended in Uvalde. He was a resident at Amistad Nursing Home and attended church services every Wednesday.

He is survived by his son, Gilberto De Leon III, and daughters Rosalinda De Leon, Lavonne De Leon and husband Rafael Bazan and Angelica Maldonado and husband, Julio Cesar Maldonado all of Uvalde; son, of Uvalde; sisters, Viola E. De Leon of San Antonio, Delia Hernandez of Uvalde, Raquel Garza and husband, Josue of Uvalde; brothers, Daniel De Leon and wife, Ruth of Tuston, California and Eleazar De Leon and wife Mercy of Riverside, California; 10 grandchildren; Kimberly A. De Hoyos, Angeli R. Gomez, Sebastian R. Rodriguez, Destinee D. Delrio, Alec Jeremy De Leon, Mireya A. Maldonado, Zachary De Leon, Julio C. Maldonado Jr.,  of Uvalde Andrea T. De Leon Mora and husband Enrique Mora, Daniel A. De Leon and wife Carisela Natal of Austin, Texas; 7 great grandchildren; Tristan F. Garcia, Kyndra L. Dehoyos, Klyeen A. Sanchez, Vladimir J. Bazan, and Aurelius A. Martinez of Uvalde, Mya M. De Leon, and Laila S. De Leon of Austin, Texas, numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Orlando De Leon, sisters, Rebecca Reyes and Bernice Bazan; and son, Orlando De Leon.

Visitation will begin on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary.  A prayer service will be held on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary.  A funeral service will be held on Monday, August 31, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Gilberto De Leon III, Sebastian Rei Rodriguez, Alec Jeremy De Leon, Julio Cesar Maldonado Jr., Antonio Hernandez III, and Ronald Benjamin Garza.