Lena Padilla Torres

Lena Padilla Torres, 92, of Waco, Texas, passed away on November 5, 2025.

Lena was born in Asa, Texas, on September 23, 1933. She grew up in Waco, Texas, near the river known as Sandtown. Oh, she was proud of her Sandtown upbringing. She went to South Third Elementary School.

She worked hard in the cotton fields like in the film “Roots” she would say. She loved to go to LA Plataforma, a dance somewhere on Third Street. The rule was you couldn’t dance with the same guy twice.

Later, she ran away with Mr. Archie Torres from Sandtown also. After getting married, the war started and all the men were drafted. Mrs. Lena stayed behind, but she was not alone, because she was pregnant. She had her first child right before she turned 15 years old, that was the marrying age back then. Lena later had more children; 5 boys straight in a row, and finally her beautiful daughter Norma.

Lena was preceded in death by her parents, Pedro and Vicenta Padilla, her husband, Archie Torres Sr., sons, Archie Torres Jr, Alonso Torres, Steven Torres, grandchildren, Valerie Torres, Michael Joshua Castillo and Justin Castillo, siblings, Pedro Padilla Jr., Chin Marcellino Padilla, Manuela Padilla Contreras, Antonia Padilla Espinosa, Frances Padilla, Juan Padilla, Valentina Castaneda, and Pepe Padilla

Lena is survived by sisters, Hope Padilla Torres and Dolores Padilla Santos, children, Rudy Torres, Lupe Torres and Norma Torres Vazquez, and husband Mario Vazquez. In addition, she is survived by 11 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, way too many to mention but loved every single one of them.

Special thanks to my #1 niece Michelle Torres and Carol Salcedo.