He was 84, and died Feb. 24 at Amdal Residential Care in Rancho Mirage where he had lived with his wife of 58 years since August of 2001.
He was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on Dec. 28, 1917, and moved to Downey in 1948, with his wife, the former Mildred Wittrock of Okarche, Oklahoma.
He retired to Cathedral City in 1971.
He was a 30-year member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge No. 1905 in Cathedral City.
Survivors include three children, Donald Pappas of Whittier, Marilyn Davis of Cathedral City and Elaine Lawson of Laguna Beach; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Louise Altizer of Kingfisher, Oklahoma.
Visitation is today from 5-8 p.m. at Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary which is handling funeral arrangements.
A graduate of St. Theresa's College in Wynona, Minnesota, she served in the Army during WWII. It was at this time that she married her husband Eugene, and they were married for 54 years until he died in March, 1998.
She worked as a volunteer at the Downey Regional Medical Center and St. Joseph's High School in Lakewood. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and gardening.
She is survived by daughters Macrina and Bonita, brother Joseph, sister Wanda and granddaughters Valerie and Natalie.
Interment will be at All Souls Cemetery in Long Beach.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to the American Heart Association, 12458 Rives Ave., Downey, CA
Interment follows at Resurrection Cemetery in South San Gabriel.
She immigrated to the U.S. in 1981 and settled in Bell. She had recently come to reside in Downey with her daughter due to ill health.
In her early years she was an accomplished equestrian. She enjoyed gardening, cooking and spending time with her family.
She is survived by sons Antonio (Marina) of Downey, Luis (Nivia) of Miami, daughters Esther Quintana (Joaquin) of Downey, Olga Perez (Armondo) of Bell, brother Luis Clavijo of Cuba, sister Ana Clavijo also of Cuba, eight grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary is handling all arrangements.
Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery.
There will be visitation from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 10.
She was born in Los Angeles and died in Lynwood March 4 at the age of 78. She was a member of Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship.
She is survived by sons Ray, Nicholas Medrano and Michael Silva, daughters Lydia Valdez and Delores Alvidrez, 18 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren.
Born on Dec. 19, 1905, she was a native of Morrill, Nebraska and had resided at Lake Arrowhead for 15 years. She died at Lake Arrowhead Community Hospital Feb. 7 of heart failure.
Her husband and brothers and sisters all preceded her in death and except nieces and nephews, she had no survivors.
Born to parents George Elmer and Martina Restituto Hill in Los Angeles on Jan. 6, 1916, he retired as a supervisor from Rubber Craft, a rubber castings company, after 40 years of service. He had been a resident of Redondo Beach for 78 years.
He served with the 141st Armored Signal Company of the U.S. Army during WWII, earning the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
He enjoyed spending time with his two grandsons and with Brandon Hickman whom he likewise treated as a grandson. He also loved his Yorkshire terriers, Charlie and Angel.
He is survived by his wife of more than 55 years, Sophie; son Martin R. Hills (Winke) of La Jolla; daughter Milayna R. Allen (Steve) of Downey; sisters Helen Garduque of Santa Monica, Margie Liberato of Concord, Vickie MacIntosh of Fullerton; and grandsons Frank J. and Nicholas S. Allen of Downey.
Arrangements were by Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary.