Sr. Guillermo C. Lizarraga

Guillermo Lizarraga was born in Mazatlan, Mexico. Guillermo was one of seven sons and two daughters of Rosario Canedo and Elisseo Lizarraga. When Guillermo was little, he lived with his family in Mazatlan, Mexico. Elisseo Lizarraga died when Guillermo was very young. Rosario took her children and moved north to Tijuana for a better life. After the death of Guillermo’s mother Rosario Canedo, Guillermo and his siblings were forced to grow up fast. Guillermo would travel along with his brother in law to Los Angeles and as far north as San Jose, California to work in the fields. Guillermo found excitement in traveling back and forth from Tijuana to California, working alongside his brother in law. Once, while back in Tijuana, he found time to just be a kid and was playing a game of tic- tac- toe in the home of a childhood friend. While playing that day, Guillermo met his friend’s sister Carman. Guillermo was instantly smitten. Soon after meeting Carman, Guillermo, still a young boy at the time, left Tijuana to go work in Los Angeles. Over the years he’d return to Tijuana to visit his brothers and was always hoping to see Carman again. Years pass and Guillermo was now more man than boy, he decided to take fate into his own hands and he showed up at Carman’s parents house hoping to see Carman again. Carman was not home at the time so a very brave (12 year old Guillermo) gave a pretty flower to Carman’s mother and said to her, “I am going to be your son in law some day” and with that, he handed Carman’s mother Sara the flower. He then told Sara, “Please give this flower to your most beautiful daughter.” Soon after that day, Guillermo was off once again to Los Angeles to work alongside his brother in law in the fields. The years pass and true to his words, Carman and Guillermo were married in 1958 and Carman’s mother Sara had a new son in law. You’ve got to admire determination like that! A few more years pass and Guillermo and Carman started a family together. Their two sons, Guillermo and Cesar are an attribute to their father Guillermo. After their youngest son Cesar was born, they moved to San Diego from Tijuana to build a future as a family. Guillermo worked for Consolidated Waste and the family made their home in San Diego. Carman Lizarraga was always the devoted wife of Guillermo and son Cesar has learned quite well, the determination from his father and has taken care of his parents over the years. I am sure Guillermo and Memo are smiling down at this family and are very proud.