12/13/2025
Salvador Barrera Abreo went to be with our Lord and Savior on December 9, 2025. He was deeply cherished by family and friends and will be remembered with love. Salvador, lovingly known as Sal, was born in Big Spring, Texas on September 12, 1955, the first-born son of Noe B. and Rosa Abreo. His name, which means savior, was given in honor of his father’s eldest brother who was killed in WWII, and Salvador carried that name with humility and quiet pride throughout his life.
From a young age, Salvador dreamed of becoming a Texas State Trooper. Inspired and encouraged by his father’s example of hard work and integrity, he pursued that goal with determination. In 1979, he joined the Texas Department of Public Safety as a trooper after completing the Texas DPS Academy. He continued to advance his education, earning a degree in criminal justice from the University of Texas El Paso in 1989, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college—a milestone that brought him lasting pride.
Following his early success as a trooper, Salvador was promoted to Sergeant Investigator within the Narcotics Division in 1986. This is where he formed a lifelong friendship with Gerald Villalobos, affectionately known as “Wey.” Their camaraderie and shared dedication made this period some of the most memorable and thrilling years of his career. In 1994, Salvador was selected to serve in the Texas Ranger division, a role he carried out with honor and dedication until 2007.
Family was the heart of Salvador’s life, and his love for them defined who he was. In 1976, he celebrated and welcomed his first daughter, Jessica Leigh Abreo, with his then-wife Rosary, who remained supportive and gracious through the final years of his illness. In 1996, Sal married the love of his life, Rosanna Lue Church; they shared 29 years, 3 months, and 5 days of marriage marked by devotion and partnership. Together, in 1999, they welcomed their daughter Gabriella Viviana Abreo. Sal took profound pride in seeing the foundation he laid carried forward by his daughters, and later his grandchildren, each pursuing higher education with the same drive and discipline he had worked so hard to instill. Salvador’s generosity and selflessness were evident in every part of his life. He had a quiet way of making every person he met feel seen, safe, and valued, and his acts of kindness touched countless lives.
In his later years, Salvador faced the challenges of early-onset Alzheimer’s, a disease that slowly takes pieces of a person long before their loved ones are ready to say goodbye. Alzheimer’s is complex and often misunderstood, affecting each individual in unique ways. While it may change how a person expresses themselves, it does not diminish the love, kindness, and character that define who they are. For Salvador, these qualities endured, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.
Salvador is survived by his devoted wife, Rosanna Abreo, and his daughters, Jessica (Justin) and Gabriella and her fiancé, Jason. He adored his grandchildren, Analise, Renzo Salvador, Dylan, and Daniela, who brought him immense joy. He is also survived by his loving mother, Rosa Abreo, his brothers, Noah and Joshua Abreo, and his sister, Nora Abreo. He held lifelong friendships close to his heart, especially Gerald Villalobos and Robert and Liz Longoria, who could always make him laugh. Salvador also leaves behind many in-laws, cousins, aunts, an uncle, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Irma Abreo Garza, and his beloved father, Noe B. Abreo.
Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 19, 2025 at Travis Funeral Chapel, 125 S. Church St., La Plata, Missouri 63549. Burial will be in the East Addition of the La Plata Cemetery.
Donations may be made in Salvador’s honor to the
- Alzheimer’s Association
- New Sweden Lutheran Church, 12809 New Sweden Church Rd., Manor, TX 78653
- Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, 3686 State Road E, Auxvasse, MO 65231
