Gloria And Leopoldo Lucero

The Love Story "And now the purple dusk of twilight time, steals across the meadows of my heart..." The first two lines of a love song adored by a boy and a girl during the latter part of the 1940s. You never hear the first line without the second line being hummed. That boy, Leopoldo Celestino Lucero and that girl, Gloria Pauline Padilla (Peaches) began a love story that most people only dream about. Much like the two lines of the song, you cannot speak of the boy without speaking of the girl. The girl Gloria Pauline Padilla was born in Alamosa, Colorado to Fidelio Padilla and Elisa Medina on August 2, 1929. She was the surviving twin born to a family of seven: two older brothers, Joe Blase Padilla (Margaret), Louis Padilla, her twin sister Maria Padilla who passed away at birth, one younger sister Mary Lou Rennaker, and two younger brothers Ray Padilla (Maria) and David Padilla (Connie). In her youth she attended school in Alamosa, Co., Riverside Ca., and Leadville, Co. She graduated from Leadville High School in 1949. By that time she had met "The boy." The boy Leopoldo Celestino Lucero was born in Capulin, Colorado to Federico Lucero and Gregorita Candelaria on September 17, 1924. He was the third boy in a family of four: two older brothers Joe Lucero (Mercedes) and Frank Lucero (Viola) and one younger sister Margaret Padilla (Joe Blase Padilla). He grew up on the family ranch and farm learning his way around animals, especially horses, and the duties of farming. His family attended St. Joseph Catholic Church where he received his education up to the 9th grade. He then took on more responsibilities at home with the ranching and farming until he joined the Army during World War II, serving his country as a combat engineer in the European Theatre. He was honorably discharged on December 2, 1945. He returned to the family ranch staying but a short while and then finding his way to Leadville, Colorado, where, unbeknownst to him his bride awaited. They met through a neighbor, Frank Lucero, in the summer months of 1947. As the friendship grew into love they were wed on December 26, 1949. As their love grew so did their family: Patrick L. Lucero (Carol Copper) was born the following year, Wayne Lucero (Nancy Godwin) born 4 years later, Leota Lucero born 7 years later, Lisa Grace born and deceased 3 years, and Jacqueline Lucero (Dustin Burk) completed the family 13 years later. Throughout the years, this boy and this girl set out on many adventures of hunting and fishing, dancing and singing, laughing and loving until March 13,2012 when Leopoldo took up a carpenter's apprenticeship with THE MASTER CARPENTER. He had lived a full life touching many others with his knowledge being a machine doctor (mechanic) at the Climax mine, his green thumb, the skills of being an outdoorsmen, and Boy Scout leader, and the most important his relationship with Jesus the Christ. He would begin to prepare their table he would build in their little corner of heaven to dine on the feast the Lord prepared for them. As painful as their separation was, Gloria push on courageously with life, reminiscing and sharing stories of their courtship which included escapades of motorcycles, horses, and firearm lessons. As the years rolled by without the boy, she drifted to memories of better times as the music "Cielito Lindo" and "Stardust" beckoned her to take her place beside the boy, her sweetheart,her husband. On the morning of May 29, 2016 she gently glided from this world to the emaculately decorated dance floor beside her partner. They will dine together at the table of the Lord. The celebration of Gloria Pauline Lucero's life will take place June 10, 2016 at Holy Family Church, 4377 Utica St., Denver, Colorado 80212. The Rosary will begin at 9:15 am and mass will follow at 10:00 am. After mass, her final journey home to Leadville, Colorado will end at St. Joseph Cemetery around 1:30pm. A reception will follow the graveside service at the Eagles Lodge, 812 Hemlock St., Leadville Co. 80461.They will be united once again just like the last two lines of their love song Stardust: "Though I dream in vain, in my heart it will remain. My Stardust melody, the memory of love's refrain." And so we say dance on! Their legacy will live on in the minds of their friends, hearts of their children, smiling faces of their grandchildren, and sparkling eyes and laughing hair of their great-grandchildren.