1928
Ninfa
2015
Ninfa Irma G. Longoria
March 1, 1928 — September 12, 2015
Ninfa Irma González Longoria entered this world March 1, 1928 in Laredo, Texas and transitioned on September 12, 2015 in McAllen, Texas at the age of 87, from natural causes. She loved and idealized her parents, Emerico González Pepi and Maclovia González Morales de Gonzalez, both of whom were descendants of true pioneers, Spanish land grant families that were deeded porciones and settled the Texas borderlands in the 1750s as part of the Escandon Expedition. She was related to founding families in Webb and Zapata counties, a fact that she was immensely proud of; and, shared a South Texas hobby of “connecting the dots” to figure out how someone was related to whom.
Ninfa attended Laredo schools, graduated from Laredo Martin High School in 1946 and attended Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women’s University) before embarking on a lifelong career with the Western Union Telegraph Company. Western Union sent her to various locations throughout the country until she arrived in the Rio Grande Valley on assignment in Edinburg, Texas where she met and married Alfredo (Fred) Longoria, Sr. In her 47 years with the telegraph company, Ninfa served as the manager at the Edinburg office, worked in the Corpus Christi office before being tapped by WU for a pilot program which involved her recruiting and training new agents in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and the Caribbean. During her tenure with WU, Ninfa saw many innovations and changes. When she first began at operator school in the 1940s, she was trained in Morse code. Years later, she was one of the first telecommunication operators in Edinburg to alert the Edinburg schools in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. She worked the teletype for the Civil Defense when the Rio Grande Valley was inundated during Hurricane Beulah and the telegraph was the only way to let the outside world know what was going on in the Valley. She was part of the WU team sent to man the teletypes that the Associated Press wire used to file news reports on President Richard Nixon visiting Laredo; the opening of the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport; and, was there when the first Concorde landed at DFW airport. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Ninfa transitioned into technology, delivering, installing, setting up computers for WU and training the personnel who used them.
Ninfa was a top recruiter/producer for her company, was awarded various distinctions and honors for her performance; but, her favorite award was the one that earned her an invitation to WU’s national business conference where she met one of her favorite football players, company spokesperson, Walter Payton, AKA “sweetness”. Ninfa loved sports, could stand toe to toe with anyone discussing stats, skills, and plays. As a result of her football knowledge, she spent the evening discussing football with Sweetness and the company’s board of directors. A story she loved to share throughout her years.
Anyone who knew Ninfa knew that her passions included football, politics, dressing up, and tennis. She was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan from the days they were an expansion team and followed them with a devotion she inspired in others. She enjoyed trips to Texas Stadium to see her team. If the Cowboys were playing and you were in the house, you could hear her yelling for her team. In her younger days, she served on the Hidalgo County Democratic Women’s Caucus and actively campaigned for her candidates whether locally, state or nationally. Ninfa relished dressing up, whether for a special occasion or having lunch with her comadres. She was an active woman who loved playing tennis when younger and enjoyed watching the Grand Slam events. Her last evening on this earth was spent watching the U.S. Open with Rowdy, her pet poodle, on her lap while chatting with her son.
She was quick to act and enjoyed going on trips; so, it’s no surprise that when she left this world and journeyed to the next, her transition was a swift one. Ninfa enjoyed being the life of the party, music, dancing and chatting. If there is indeed a heaven, have no doubt, she made a grand entrance with a big smile on her face when she arrived and her parents, siblings, son, relatives, comadres, compadres, and colleagues were there to greet her.
Ninfa is preceded in death by her parents, Emerico González Pepi and Maclovia González Morales de Gonzalez; her son, Michael Charles Longoria; her siblings, Emerico González, Jr., Gloria Blanco (Carlos), Emma Leonor Mauck (Hollis), Guillermo Daniel González, Jorge Oscar González; and, her granddaughter, Allison Miranda Hunter; and, brothers-in-law, Jose G. Perez and Willie Self.
Ninfa is survived by her children, Col. Alfredo Longoria, Jr. (USMC, Ret.), Lolly Pena and Gina Longoria. She is also survived by daughter-in-law, Stacy Banks; son in law, Jesus Pena; beloved grandchildren, Lt. Michael Longoria (USA) (Kayla), Caitlin Longoria, Nicholas Longoria, Sara Longoria, Cpl. Laura Longoria (USA), Gillian Longoria, William Longoria and great-grandchildren Alyssa and Michael J.
Ninfa is also survived by her sisters, Ana Perez (Jose G.); and, Eva Self (Willie); her former daughter-in-law, Allison Longoria; and, her dear niece and care provider, Suzanne Longoria; and, numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation and rosary will take place at Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home, 322 East Kuhn Street in Edinburg, Texas on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary to be prayed at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Memorial service will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, 122 West Fay Street in Edinburg, Texas on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Having the distinguished honor to serve as honorary pallbearers will be Michael Longoria, Nicholas Longoria, William Longoria, Miguel Rangel, Jose Rangel, Mario Rangel, Joe Perez, John Perez, David Perez, and Dolores Rangel. In accordance with Ninfa’s wishes, graveside services will be private.
Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home in Edinburg is in charge of arrangements.
The family, respectfully, requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the staff at The Gardens @Brook Ridge and our mother’s nurse, Ms. Isabel Ovalle.
The author, George Eliot, said, “Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.” Remember Ninfa, as we always will, with a big smile; and, an even bigger personality.
Ninfa attended Laredo schools, graduated from Laredo Martin High School in 1946 and attended Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women’s University) before embarking on a lifelong career with the Western Union Telegraph Company. Western Union sent her to various locations throughout the country until she arrived in the Rio Grande Valley on assignment in Edinburg, Texas where she met and married Alfredo (Fred) Longoria, Sr. In her 47 years with the telegraph company, Ninfa served as the manager at the Edinburg office, worked in the Corpus Christi office before being tapped by WU for a pilot program which involved her recruiting and training new agents in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and the Caribbean. During her tenure with WU, Ninfa saw many innovations and changes. When she first began at operator school in the 1940s, she was trained in Morse code. Years later, she was one of the first telecommunication operators in Edinburg to alert the Edinburg schools in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. She worked the teletype for the Civil Defense when the Rio Grande Valley was inundated during Hurricane Beulah and the telegraph was the only way to let the outside world know what was going on in the Valley. She was part of the WU team sent to man the teletypes that the Associated Press wire used to file news reports on President Richard Nixon visiting Laredo; the opening of the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport; and, was there when the first Concorde landed at DFW airport. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Ninfa transitioned into technology, delivering, installing, setting up computers for WU and training the personnel who used them.
Ninfa was a top recruiter/producer for her company, was awarded various distinctions and honors for her performance; but, her favorite award was the one that earned her an invitation to WU’s national business conference where she met one of her favorite football players, company spokesperson, Walter Payton, AKA “sweetness”. Ninfa loved sports, could stand toe to toe with anyone discussing stats, skills, and plays. As a result of her football knowledge, she spent the evening discussing football with Sweetness and the company’s board of directors. A story she loved to share throughout her years.
Anyone who knew Ninfa knew that her passions included football, politics, dressing up, and tennis. She was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan from the days they were an expansion team and followed them with a devotion she inspired in others. She enjoyed trips to Texas Stadium to see her team. If the Cowboys were playing and you were in the house, you could hear her yelling for her team. In her younger days, she served on the Hidalgo County Democratic Women’s Caucus and actively campaigned for her candidates whether locally, state or nationally. Ninfa relished dressing up, whether for a special occasion or having lunch with her comadres. She was an active woman who loved playing tennis when younger and enjoyed watching the Grand Slam events. Her last evening on this earth was spent watching the U.S. Open with Rowdy, her pet poodle, on her lap while chatting with her son.
She was quick to act and enjoyed going on trips; so, it’s no surprise that when she left this world and journeyed to the next, her transition was a swift one. Ninfa enjoyed being the life of the party, music, dancing and chatting. If there is indeed a heaven, have no doubt, she made a grand entrance with a big smile on her face when she arrived and her parents, siblings, son, relatives, comadres, compadres, and colleagues were there to greet her.
Ninfa is preceded in death by her parents, Emerico González Pepi and Maclovia González Morales de Gonzalez; her son, Michael Charles Longoria; her siblings, Emerico González, Jr., Gloria Blanco (Carlos), Emma Leonor Mauck (Hollis), Guillermo Daniel González, Jorge Oscar González; and, her granddaughter, Allison Miranda Hunter; and, brothers-in-law, Jose G. Perez and Willie Self.
Ninfa is survived by her children, Col. Alfredo Longoria, Jr. (USMC, Ret.), Lolly Pena and Gina Longoria. She is also survived by daughter-in-law, Stacy Banks; son in law, Jesus Pena; beloved grandchildren, Lt. Michael Longoria (USA) (Kayla), Caitlin Longoria, Nicholas Longoria, Sara Longoria, Cpl. Laura Longoria (USA), Gillian Longoria, William Longoria and great-grandchildren Alyssa and Michael J.
Ninfa is also survived by her sisters, Ana Perez (Jose G.); and, Eva Self (Willie); her former daughter-in-law, Allison Longoria; and, her dear niece and care provider, Suzanne Longoria; and, numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation and rosary will take place at Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home, 322 East Kuhn Street in Edinburg, Texas on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary to be prayed at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Memorial service will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, 122 West Fay Street in Edinburg, Texas on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Having the distinguished honor to serve as honorary pallbearers will be Michael Longoria, Nicholas Longoria, William Longoria, Miguel Rangel, Jose Rangel, Mario Rangel, Joe Perez, John Perez, David Perez, and Dolores Rangel. In accordance with Ninfa’s wishes, graveside services will be private.
Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home in Edinburg is in charge of arrangements.
The family, respectfully, requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the staff at The Gardens @Brook Ridge and our mother’s nurse, Ms. Isabel Ovalle.
The author, George Eliot, said, “Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.” Remember Ninfa, as we always will, with a big smile; and, an even bigger personality.
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