Lucia Chavez Salcido

Lucia Salcido was born in Smeltertown, TX on January 9, 1927 to Josefa and Tomas Chavez. She grew up in Smeltertown, attending Vilas School and El Paso High. In 1943, Lucy’s mother was killed in a train accident, forcing her to drop out of school at age 16 and help raise her four brothers. In 1946, she went to a Valentine’s dance, where her best friend introduced her to Ruben Salcido, who had just returned from serving in WWII. They married in August of that year. They would raise six children together, and were married for 76 years.

Lucy was a proud military wife and Catholic who worked various jobs to provide for her children, but something that was a constant was her political involvement in local and state politics. In the 1960s her friend, Alicia Chacon, introduced her to Paul Moreno who was running for state representative. Lucy and other Mexican American women ran for precinct chair to make sure that their families were being represented at the state level. She devoted time, energy, and talents toward realizing the Texas Democratic Party platform goal of guaranteeing open and fair participation in the democratic process. She served as an executive member of the El Paso County Democratic Committee, was inducted into the Democratic Party Hall of Fame, was a Tejano Democrat, and served as a precinct chair until 2008. People in the community would call her to help get people elected, and she would help everyday people who had real problems and connect with elected officials. Politicians would often stop by at her home during a Northeast Easter Parade or ask her to put up a sign at her home.

Lucy was truly a woman that knew how to do anything and taught her children and grandchildren how to camp, sew, cook, bake, and most importantly to vote. She was a caring grandmother to 13 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, and was a dear aunt and godmother to many. She is preceded in death by her loving husband Ruben B. Salcido, and her son Michael Thomas Salcido. She is survived by her children Elizabeth (Gilbert) Cordova, Amparo “Amy” Paz Marmalejo (Hank+), Blanca (Julio) De la Rosa, Lillian (Carter White) Salcido, and Ruben Salcido Jr. The family would like to extend special thanks, and appreciation to her caregiver, Zita Acosta, and the nursing staff at Hospice El Paso.

In Lieu of flowers, the family is asking that a donation be made to the Blessed Sacrament Parish endowment fund at the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso by calling 915-872-8412 or donating online at catholicfoundationelpaso.org.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 8:00pm with a Vigil/Rosary to begin at 6:00pm on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at Sunset Funeral Home - Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass Dr. Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30am on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 9025 Diana Dr. Committal Service to follow at 11:00am on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Ave.