Francisco G. "Pancho" DeLeon's Obituary
Francisco G. "Pancho" DeLeon, 65, of Alliance, died of a long-term illness at 9:02 a.m. Sunday, August 17, 2008, at Aultman Hospital. He was born on March 15, 1943, in Hobbs, N.M., to Arturo and Herminia (Garza) DeLeon. Pancho was raised in the area of Lubbock, Texas, and moved to Ohio with his family in 1969. Mr. DeLeon is the founder and owner of Don Pancho s Tex Mex Caf Inc. A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, he is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #558. He was named the 2001 Grand Parade Marshall of the Carnation Festival in Alliance and was a member of the Alliance Rotary Club and of the Ohio Farm Workers. Survivors include his wife, Sofia (Sepeda) DeLeon, whom he married in April of 1960; four daughters, Janie King of New Philadelphia, Rosa DeLeon-Henson of Alliance, Eva Murphy of Alliance and Dorothy (Dan) Leone of Alliance; three sons, Francisco DeLeon Jr. of Alliance, Joseph DeLeon of Alliance and Ramon DeLeon of New Philadelphia; stepfather, Juana Costilla of Ravenna; three brothers, Arturo (Minnie) DeLeon of Ben Wheeler, Texas, Gabe (Susan) Costilla of Clearwater, Fla., and Gilbert Costilla of Ravenna; three sisters, Lola Perez of Ravenna, Elma (Ted) Roen of Ravenna and Olivia (Bill) Jones of Cleveland; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arturo DeLeon and Herminia (Garza) Costilla. The family will receive friends at Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 19, 2008, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Knights of Columbus will hold a Rosary Service at 9:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at 11:00 a.m., with the Rev. Donald L. Feicht, as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
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