Daniel Richard Deleon

Daniel Richard DeLeon, age 51, passed away on July 1, 2012. The Lord needed a jack-of-all-trades who could build and fix and invent anything for that particular spot in heaven, so he called his loyal servant, Daniel Richard DeLeon, from a busy life here on earth. Dan was only 51 but his heavenly ranking was very high and the Lord told him, "you are the one for the job." As he had always done when called upon for help by anyone, Dan answered that Last Call. Daniel Richard DeLeon was born on June 21, 1961 in Wichita Falls to Daniel Robles DeLeon and Belen Cano DeLeon. The family moved to Corpus Christi where he graduated from Moody High School. He then graduated from Sam Houston State University. He served in the U.S Army as a military police officer. Dan had a wicked sense of humor--with himself, with Cris and the boys, and with all friends. And he could take it, too, which made the sparring all the more fun. He loved to joke and he could find humor in any and everything. One of his great loves was chess and teaching it to students. Both sons and his many students have earned more trophies, medal, and pins over the years and have filled three trophy cabinets. None of this would have been possible without his great energy and devotion. There is no way to list all the work he did at Central Catholic Elementary. A few verbs would include building, mowing, growing, painting, replacing, repairing, trimming, cooking, etc. and there is no way to thank him for all the service he will continue to give us through his guidance and intercessions over the years to come. Dan expected only the best from himself, from Cris, and especially from Daniel and Andrew, his two sons. He started both boys on an early college track and he demanded high academic scores, good manners and equal treatment of all others. He pushed them to excel physically and he and Cris drove them to many track meets. His last short illness kept him from taking them to a national contest for which they had both qualified. Dan joins in heaven by his father, Daniel R. DeLeon. He leaves behind the love of his life, Cris; sons, Danny and Andy; mother, Belen C. DeLeon; sister, Belinda (David) Hirsch; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will be receiving friends at Trevino Funeral Home 3006 Niagara at Port on Wednesday, July 4, 2012 from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm; with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 7:00 pm that same evening. Rites of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:30 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 9:30 am. Interment will follow at Coastal Bend Veterans Cemetery on Interstate 37. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Daniel DeLeon Memorial Scholarship Fund for his sons.