Leonso "Lee" Ponce

Leonso “Lee” Ponce, 92, of 962 W. Berrien St. Galesburg, died at 1:25 p.m. on November 16, 2006 at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg.    He was born on September 10, 1914 in Leon, GTO, Mexico, the son of Santiago and Paula Hernandez Ponce.  He married Delores Delgado in 1935.  She died in 1936. He then  married Mary Maciel on June 5, 1939 in Davenport, Iowa.   Surviving are his wife Mary of Galesburg; two sons Ruben (Virginia) Ponce of Galesburg and Robert Ponce of Crestwood, IL; and one daughter Jovita (Jesse) Perez of Galesburg.  Also surviving are 5 grandchildren,13 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by 2 brothers and 1 sister.   Lee was a machine operator for the Sante Fe Railroad for 38 years.  He then was the head of maintenance at Corpus Christi Church for 17 years.  He was a member St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the LULAC club, and of the 3rd order of the Lay Carmelites. He was also a team member of Cursillo.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Monday November 20, 2006 at St. Patrick’s Church.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday November 19, 2006 at Watson Funeral Home with the rosary being prayed at 7 p.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the LULAC Scholarship fund or to St. Patrick’s Church.