Odilia Longoria

Odilia Longoria, Born: November 28, 1918, Died: November 18, 2016 Born at her grandparents ranch, el rancho Santa Rita near Rachal, Texas to Eugenio Longoria, a rancher, school board trustee and county commissioner and Ana T. Longoria, a teacher. After graduating from Falfurrias High School in 1936 she went on to study at Edinburg Junior College (UT-RGV), received a Bachelor's in Education degree from San Marcos State Teachers College (Texas State University), and a Masters degree in Education from Texas A&I University (TAMU-Kingsville). She taught K - 8th Grade for seven years at the Longoria School in Rachal, and at a one-room school house in Encino, Texas, before moving to Weslaco, Texas where she taught language arts and social studies for 38 years with the Weslaco Independent School District - at North Ward Elementary School, Horton Elementary School, Sam Houston Elementary School and Dr. Armando Cuellar Elementary School as well as night classes at Weslaco High School for war veterans returning to school under the G.I. Program. During her teaching career, Miss Longoria was a member of school PTA's, the N.E.A., T.S.T.A. and sponsored various UIL competition teams. She was a Girl Scout leader and served St. Pius Catholic Church in the Lay Ministry, taught Catechism, was active in the Parish Council and pastoral work. For many years she volunteered at the Weslaco Community Store, an interdenominational clothing outlet. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugenio Longoria and Ana T. Longoria; her brothers Lionel ( Rosenda), Raul ( Zoila), Ponciano T., Ponciano ( Maria), Osvaldo ( Ana) and Oscar ( Otila). She is survived by her sisters Estela Jones ( Harold) and M. Irma Garcia ( Baltazar) and numerous nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews and great-grand nieces and great-grand nephews. Pallbearers are her nephews, Raul N. Longoria, Ernesto Chavez, David R. Garcia, Anthony J. Garcia, Aaron J. Garcia and Paulino Gonzalez. Visitation will be held on Sunday, from 1-9pm, and Monday from 1-9pm, with a rosary at 7pm on Monday. Mass will be held on Tuesday, November 22nd, at 10am, at St. Pius Catholic Church in Weslaco, with burial to follow at Weslaco City Cemetery.