Ignacio Barranco

Born on September 11, 1938, Ignacio (Nacho) was the only child of his parents, Angelina and Ignacio Sr. At age 2, he moved into his grandparents’ home and grew up in the city of Los Angeles. He credited his grandfather, Juan Vidal, for teaching him discipline and his grandmother, Emilia, for teaching him humility. They were the inspiration for his hard work and achievements.

From his earliest years, Nacho demonstrated ingenuity, productivity, integrity, and discipline. His first job was shining shoes using a stand he handcrafted from a fruit crate. By the time he was a teenager, Nacho had already worked several jobs, including placements at Dix Crate Yard, Waste King Disposal, and Del Rey Lamp Company. He was highly respected by his employers and was frequently promoted to management roles. Through his industriousness, he saved the down payment for his first car—a 1947 Ford Sedan.

During his time at John Adams School and Manual Arts High School, Nacho met the love of his life, Josie. From the very beginning of their relationship, they modeled sacrificial, genuine love for each other. For example, Nacho once walked home for hours in the dark because he didn’t have enough money for both a bus ticket home and the popcorn Josie had spontaneously requested during their date at the movies. In return, Josie always made sure Nacho had something to eat by supplying him with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches she brought to school.

On September 26, 1959, Nacho and Josie were married. They worked together to build a life they were proud of. Their son, Gilbert, was born in 1962 and their daughter Virginia, was born in 1965. Even though money was often tight in these early years of marriage, they provided a wonderful and loving home for their family.

In 1968, Nacho was able to leave his job in insurance to pursue his dream of working in law enforcement. His first duty station was Valley Services in Van Nuys, California. This location was the primary jail for the city of Los Angeles, so it was often a challenging and dangerous place to work. During his time with L.A.P.D., he strove to keep his community safe. He met many people in Van Nuys that he was honored to work alongside.

In 1980, Nacho began working for the Santa Ana Police Department. Members of S.A.P.D. were excited to offer him a position because they were impressed by his years of service as well as his bilingual experience. In 1985, Nacho was promoted to Detective in the Special Investigations Division. As a detective, Nacho worked undercover to resolve drug smuggling, robbery, missing person, and murder cases. He tirelessly protected the communities of Southern California and held an unwavering commitment to justice and truth.

On November 30, 2002, Nacho retired from law enforcement. After a fulfilling career, he was ready to prioritize spending time with friends and family. Nacho was a caring grandfather, who took an active role in his grandchildren’s lives. He taught them valuable lessons such as the importance of showing kindness to strangers, the significance of being present, the beauty of a handwritten note, and most importantly, 1+1=11.

Nacho was a parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Chino Hills. He served as a money counter there for several years, and was particularly thrilled whenever he came across origami dollar bills.

Throughout his retirement, Nacho sought to help others, build community, and enjoy the little things (especially coffee-dunking cookies and black olives on his pizza). In honor of his incredible life, his family will continue to uphold these values.

He is survived by his wife (Josie), his aunt (Emily), his two children (Gilbert and Virginia), his grandchildren (Jennifer, Michael, Sarah, and Paul), and his great-grandchildren (Andrina and Brihanna).

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service at 9am on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at Rose Hills Memorial Park - Hillside Chapel, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, California 90601.

Ignacio will be laid to rest in Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, California 90601; Garden of Serenity; Gate: 1, Section: 30, Lot: 5860, Grave: 3.