Gloria Alegre Castellon's Obituary
Gloria Alegre was a Tejana woman born under the harsh El Paso sun during the even harsher times of the Great Depression in the westernmost part of Texas. She was born to two hardworking parents: a housewife who gave birth to and raised over 23 children, making sure each and every one was cared for, embracing them with warmth and unconditional love; and a father who was considered the toughest man in El Paso. While running a store to provide for his family during the Depression and World War II, he was forced to travel dangerous routes back and forth from Juárez, Mexico, to Texas, bootlegging and selling liquor on the side to ensure his family’s survival.
If life had taken a different course, Gloria could have been a glamorous movie star. Instead, she lived through not only the Great Depression but also the hardships of World War II. She was a resilient woman who, at a young age, dropped out of school in the third grade to help support her family by going to work. While her brothers fought bravely in the war, Gloria contributed on the home front.
Throughout her life, she held many jobs and roles: hotel cleaner, hospital housekeeper, laundromat employee, laundromat owner, housewife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Gloria had two children from a relationship that later fell apart. Despite this, she persevered and eventually married a man she remained with until his passing, and together they had five more children.
As a young woman, Gloria walked miles to get to work in Texas. Later, she continued to walk long distances to care for her children after settling in California. She lived in Compton before eventually making her home in the quiet town of Escondido.
Her early life experiences taught her two important lessons: never quit, and lucha por tu vida (fight for your life). Like her father, but in her own way, she became one of the toughest individuals to come out of Texas—small in stature but incredibly strong in spirit.
She lived through wars, presidencies, and the many ups and downs of the economy. If there were an award for longevity in employment, she would surely have earned it—working for over 80 years of her life and dedicating more than 95 years to her family. She served her country on the home front and remained devoted to her parents, her children, her husband, and her loved ones.
Now, as Gloria Alegre Castellon returns to her mother and the setting Texas sun, her family will always remember her as a funny, tough, and deeply loving woman. She didn’t need a six-shooter—because everyone who truly knew her called her Bala: the mighty bullet.
What’s your fondest memory of Gloria?
What’s a lesson you learned from Gloria?
Share a story where Gloria's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Gloria you’ll never forget.
How did Gloria make you smile?