Det. Leo Ponce

Family and friends of Det. Leo Ponce will gather to recite the Holy Rosary at 7 pm on Monday, January 24, 2022, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated in honor of his life of 60 years at 10 am Tuesday, January 25, 2022, Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Det. Leo will be available to visit on Monday, January 24, 2022, from 9 am until 4 pm at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. The Lubbock Police Department’s honor guard will honor their fallen brother, Leo, at the services and accompany him to Ropesville Cemetery in Ropesville, Texas. We invite you to view the live-streamed Rosary and Mass, sign his virtual guestbook, and download his memorial keepsake folder to your device for printing here on this page.The committal service will not be live-streamed but recorded and uploaded to the website hours after the services.On October 16, 1961, Leonel was born to Manuel and Eloisa Ponce in Brownfield, Texas. He grew up in San Jaun, Texas and graduated from PSJA, and went on to work with United Blood Services. Leo began his law enforcement career in 1995 with the San Juan Police Department. He then joined the Littlefield Police Department, in which he rose through the ranks and served for 22 years before retiring in 2017 and was currently serving with the Olton Police Department. Leonel loved his family and friends dearly. He took great pride in his career and taking care of his family. He especially enjoyed cooking out for his family and friends. His favorite thing to do on any given day was to light up his grill. He loved playing golf, watching UFC fights, listening to music, and having movie nights with his family. His greatest joy was being a father and grandfather, and that love was extended to his nieces and nephews as well.  Leo’s loving compassion, wisdom, laughter, and strong protective presence will be greatly missed.Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Irene Ponce; their children, Christin Ponce, Leonel Ponce, Jasmine Saenz, Zach Cantu, Anisia Cantu, Sonya Cantu; grandchildren, Brooklyn Thigpen, Lola Saenz, Leo Saenz, Sariyah Cantu, Ivar Carmiche; parents, Manuel and Eloisa Ponce; siblings, David (Laura) Ponce, Gavino (Juanita) Ponce, Manuel Ponce; Mary Ann (Alberto) Martinez, and Sonia Ponce, along with numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews.He was preceded in death by his special aunt Blanca Ponce and brothers, Roberto Ponce, and Daniel Ponce.Family Pallbearers are Gavino Ponce, David Ponce, Manuel Ponce, Jr., Robert “Bobby” Ponce, Jr., Rolando Ponce and Leonel Ponce. Law Enforcement Paul Bearers: Chief Reginald Holmes Jr.- Olton PD, Sgt. Joshua Garcia – Olton PD, Sgt. Pedro Cruz – Littlefield PD, Sgt. Samuel “Sam” Garcia – Littlefield PD, Deputy Michael Armstrong – Lamb County S.O., Deputy Jacob Scivally – Lamb County S.O., Trooper Bobby Garcia – Texas DPS, Trooper Billy Spears – Texas DPS.