Jesús Lugo Leos Jesús Lugo Leos of Kingsville passed away in Austin, Texas at age 92 on April 27, 2010. He was born to Isabel Leos and Isabel Lugo Leos on August 6, 1917 in Taft, Texas. Jesse Leos, as he was known to his friends, colleagues and family, attended schools in Gonzales, Texas and Kingsville, Texas, where he graduated from the Texas Mexican Institute for Boys, a predecessor of what is now Presbyterian Pan American School in Kingsville, Texas. Following graduation from high school, he entered the Civilian Conservation Corps where he worked with many other young men to improve millions of acres of federal and state lands and parks. Mr. Leos was drafted into military service and proudly served his country in World War II from 1941 until 1945 as sergeant and tank commander in the 3rd Army, 757th Tank Battalion, Company B. During his years in the United States Army, he served in Africa and Italy under General Patton. He was wounded twice and awarded the Purple Heart and several battle stars. His experiences in the military had a profound influence on his life and he described many of those experiences to friends and family for the rest of his life.

Upon his honorable discharge from the United States Army, Mr. Leos entered The University of Texas at Austin and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Philosophy and minors in Greek and Hebrew. During his years at the university, Mr. Leos made his decision to enter the ministry and enrolled in the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he studied theology concurrently with his undergraduate studies. He earned the Master of Divinity degree in 1952.

Mr. Leos was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in June 1952 just weeks before losing his wife, Lorraine Rodriguez Leos, unexpectedly. With three young children, Rev. Leos maintained his faith in God and stayed in the ministry despite strong doubts that he would be able to do so. In the later years of his life, he recounted publicly how he doubted that he would have the strength and faith needed to stay in the ministry during that difficult period. He credited family, friends, and especially fellow ministers with giving him the strength to continue to serve God in this capacity. He went on to serve churches in Taylor, Texas, Victoria, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, Austin, Texas, San Benito, Texas, and Kingsville, Texas. In 1971, he was called to ministerial and teaching duties at Presbyterian Pan American School in Kingsville where he served as chaplain, teacher, administrator, advisor and mentor to the students he taught and the colleagues with whom he worked. He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas in recognition of his years of service to the church and to education. In 2002, the Senate of Texas honored Dr. Leos with a resolution recognizing his fifty years in the ministry.

For Dr. Leos, the word “retirement” merely meant a shift in responsibilities. In 1998, at age 81, he decided that it was time to progress beyond his electric typewriter and learn word processing. He purchased his first computer, learned word processing, and produced the church bulletin for Gethsemane Presbyterian Church in Kingsville, Texas, where he served as the church’s advisor and pastor for many years. He also continued teaching part-time at Presbyterian Pan American School until 2008. In late 2008, María Zulema Leos, his wife since 1955, passed away at age 89.

The Rev. Dr. Jesse L. Leos is survived by his sons, Jesse Leos (Linda) of Rowlett, Texas, Robert H. Leos (Nancy) of Austin, Texas, daughter, Dorothy Leos Teague (Albert) of Caddo Mills, Texas, brother Ephraim Leos of Corpus Christi, Texas, sister Rebecca Gutierrez of Austin, Texas, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. The Leos family is grateful for the support and friendship given to Dr. Leos by his many friends and family members and for all who have offered words of comfort at this time of loss.

Throughout his lifetime, Dr. Leos touched the lives of thousands of individuals through the many baptisms, Professions of Faith, marriages, and funerals over which he presided. He counseled many individuals through times of grief and personal difficulty. Dr. Leos will be missed by all who knew him and knew his strength, devotion, and service to God, to education, to his family, and to his country. We will miss the colorful descriptions of his years in the Civilian Conservation Corps and in the Army, his intelligence, honesty, and sense of humor. May God bless him for his life’s work and may he rest in peace following the many years that he dedicated to helping others.

Visitation took place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 29, 2010 at the Turcotte Piper Mortuary Chapel with the family receiving friends during those hours. The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. on April 30, 2010 at Gethsemane Presbyterian Church, 1312 E. Kleberg, Kingsville, Texas 78363, with the Rev. Chuck Miller officiating. Burial with military honors followed in Kingsville at Chamberlain Cemetery.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Gethsemane Presbyterian Church. Services were entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd., Kingsville, Texas.

Señor, ¿qué pudiera yo darte Por tanta bondad para mí? ¿Me basta servirte y amarte? ¿Es todo entregarme yo a ti? Entonces acepta mi vida,

Que a ti solo queda rendida,

Pues yo soy feliz, pues yo soy feliz por ti.

(Jesús es mi Rey soberano; Vicente Mendoza, 1920)