Louis Alfonso Fernandez

Louis A. Fernandez was born May 19,1916 in Mexico City to Francisco and Luisa Fernandez nee Saenz. He passed away January 7, 2015 after a long illness. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Venessa S. Fernandez nee Rutledge; brothers Frank, Hubert and Charles; sons Louis F. and Gregory A. Fernandez of Chula Vista and grandson John E. Dickinson of Riverton, WY.

Louis' family moved from Mexico City to Chula Vista in 1918. He attended "F" St. Elementary School and was graduated from Sweetwater High. He also attended San Diego City College. During his teen years he attended the Golden Junior Olympics in New Jersey. He met his wife, Venessa in Chula Vista in 1938 when she was visiting relatives and they married in Oklahoma on October 19, 1939.

During WWII Louis worked in the airplane blueprint department at Ryan as liaison between the blueprint and factory departments. After the war he bought a cafe in Otay where he was instrumental in bringing city water and sewer lines to the rural community. He and his wife, Venessa, both spoke before the State of California legislature for free lunch milk for schools in California.

In the mid-fifties he leased the cafe and took the position of production control for NAPCO in National City and later was sent to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area when the company expanded into Texas. He worked again for Ryan Aircraft during their development of the Minute Man Missile, and for other companies in the aerospace field the rest of his career. He retired in 1982 as Director of Shipping at Scientific Atlanta.

Louis enjoyed golfing with his son, daughter-in-law and friends for many years. He also was a Chargers and Padres fan and never missed a game on TV. He enjoyed his grandchildren's visits and later his great-grandchildren's visits.

He is survived by his daughter, Venessa Dickinson of Riverton, WY; daughter-in-law, Beverly Fernandez of LaMesa; grandchildren, Louis A. and Steven G. Dickinson of Riverton, WY, Peteolean Settlemire-Ransom of Castle Rock, CO; Luke Fernandez of LaMesa, Gail Greenfield of Shelton, CT; Venessa Wilson, Thomas and Tony Fernandez of Las Vegas and Gregory Fernandez of Chula Vista; eighteen great-grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.