Long-time San Luis resident, Virgil Levi Lucero, 89, was called home by our Lord on Jan. 21, 2023. He was born on Feb. 26, 1933, in Estrella, Colo., to Julian and Charlotte Lucero. He was married to Loyola Lucero, and they had five beautiful children.

Virgil proudly served in the United States Army from 1951-1953 where he was stationed in Ft. Lupton and served in Korea during this time. He was honorably discharged in 1953. He worked on military equipment including tanks and trucks throughout his time in the Army.

Virgil went to Mercy High School in San Luis and would go on to earn a vocational degree in Carpentry from Trinidad State Junior College. He loved to read and to learn about everything through books and life experience. He was a mechanic for most of his life and could fix anything.

Virgil loved and cherished his family. You could find him singing, fishing, barbecuing, gardening, reading the bible and loving and serving the Lord as a devoted Catholic.

Virgil is survived by his children Rocky Lucero, Gayle "Gas" (Martha) Lobato, Victor Lucero, Laura Lucero and Richard (Shanda Taylor) Lucero all of San Luis. He is also survived by his siblings Josephine Lobato of Westminster, Loretta Medina of Denver, Arthur (Isabel) Lucero of Trinidad and Leroy (Charlene) Lucero of Pueblo. Virgil also has eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Loyola, and three siblings Adolph Lucero, Julian "John" Lucero Jr. and Aline Fortenberry.

A Rosary will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, at Sangre De Cristo Catholic Church. A Funeral Mass will follow at 12 p.m. also at Sangre De Cristo Catholic Church. Interment will be held at the Sangre De Cristo Cemetery.

The care of arrangements has been entrusted to Romero Funeral Home of San Luis.