Guadalupe S. Montaño

Guadalupe "Lupe" Montaño, 85 passed away quietly on April 20, 2013 at his home in Alpine, California. Lupe, as he was known to many, was born in Bisbee, Arizona on December 13, 1927 to Miguel Montaño and Emilia Soqui de Montaño. Lupe was the fifth of six children. His family relocated to Divisaderos, Sonora Mexico when Lupe was five years old. He remained in Mexico until the age of 23 when he traveled to Los Angeles in search of employment. Lupe joined the United States Army beginning in 1953, served his country during the Korean War conflict and honorably discharged. While in the military he married Clotilde Ancheta in December 3, 1956, and together they moved to the Imperial Valley. While living in the Imperial Valley, Lupe was in the Army Reserves and worked for the Department of Labor. He later was employed by the El Centro School District as a Master Electrician from 1962 -1987, when he retired. Lupe and Clotilde lived in El Centro where they made many friends and raised their six children, Mary De la Torre, Ann Casas, Jesse Montaño, Guadalupe Montaño-Lima, Carmen Valdez and Emilia Noronha. After retirement, Lupe and his wife moved to Mira Mesa, California, and afterwards moved to Chula Vista, California. Lupe and Coti resided in Chula Vista until June 2010, when he moved to his final home in Alpine, California.

Among the various hobbies and activities that Lupe enjoyed were fishing & hunting which he had learned at an early age. He also self taught himself to play various musical instruments. Dominoes was his favorite game and loved playing it for hours on end. But, throughout his lifetime, one hobby in which he will be remembered for the most is his natural ability to draw. He was a remarkable artist with his trademark being the napkin drawings. He was known at most restaurants and coffee shops throughout the Imperial Valley for sketching odd characters and caricatures of people on napkins.

Lupe Montaño is survived by his six children, ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Estela Ruiz, and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. Lupe was preceded in death by his wife, of 53 years, Clotilde, in 2010, his parents, brothers, Miguel Montaño and Manuel Montaño and his sister Beatriz Rodriguez.

Visitation will be held Friday, April 26, 2013 at Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Little Lodge Room, 3838 Bonita Rd, Bonita, California 91902 from 5-9 pm. A mass will be held on Saturday, April 27 at 9:00 a.m. at St Pius X Catholic Church, 1120 Cuyamaca Ave. Chula Vista, California 91911, with burial and honorary taps to follow at Glen Abbey Memorial Park. Messages for the family may also be delivered by way of this site.