Darius A. De Leon

Darius A. de Leon, 84, of Woodbridge, VA, passed away peacefully on November 30, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.
Darius was born in Lingayen, Pangasinan, on September 26, 1940, to Nicasio P. de Leon and Paciencia R. Abalos. He was the eldest of five siblings and grew up with a deep appreciation for family and faith. He attended school in Manila, Philippines, where he excelled in academics and developed his love for learning, which he carried throughout his life.
Darius married the love of his life, Melita C. Solano, on June 29, 1969, in Quezon City, Philippines. Together, they built a strong and loving family, raising five children who were his greatest source of pride.
A devout Catholic and servant leader, Darius was deeply involved in the Filipino-American community and his church. He served as president of Kababayan, Inc., for two years and was an active member of Couples for Christ (CFC) and Missionary Families of Christ (MFC), where he shared his faith and inspired others to live with love, compassion, and generosity.
Darius was known for his warm smile, sharp wit, and boundless generosity. He enjoyed fishing, playing chess, and spending time with his grandchildren, who lovingly called him "Juju." He took pride in his heritage, often sharing stories of his hometown and culture with those around him.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Melita de Leon, his children, Maria de Leon (Leah Patino), Joseph de Leon (Sharon de Leon), Margarita Chavez (Jed Chavez), Glenn de Leon (Diseree de Leon), and Meliza Aquino (Art Aquino, Jr.), his siblings, Corazon Ruperto, Ofelia Nicolas, Jose de Leon, and Teresa Virrey, and his cherished grandchildren, Katya, Jasmine, Micah, Christian, Alex, Matthew, Desmond, Regina, Eleanor, Guile, and his great-grandchild, Giovanni.
Darius leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and service. His life touched countless others, and his memory will forever be a source of inspiration and comfort to his family and friends.