Lucio "Chio" Gonzales

Our father, Lucio "Chio" Gonzales, was born on December 15th, 1931, in Blythe, California. He was the fifth of eleven children born to Claro Sr. and Francisca Guzman Gonzales. His family settled in Delano, California in 1948.

Growing up, our dad spent most of his time working in the fields. His mom would carry him while she picked crops, and he started his first job at the ripe old age of seven, shining shoes, before working in the fields himself at age 12. In 1947, he was separated from his family and lived in Blythe by himself for an entire school year. He supported himself by helping the janitor sweep the high school after classes were over. He was asked by the basketball coach to join the team because he was a good shooter, but our dad told the coach he couldn't because he had to work. Our dad recalled being very lonely and living off of bologna sandwiches and canned sardines. It wasn't until he reached his 70s that he could eat a bologna sandwich again.

When he was 15 years old, he met the love of his life, Butter Torres. She was in a car with our dad's sister, Marina. He didn't notice her until he opened the car door and the overhead light came on. It was love at first sight for both of them. Our dad returned to Blythe and told everyone he had a girlfriend named Butter.

In 1953, our dad contracted tuberculosis and was sent to Stony Brook Sanatorium in Keene, CA for ten months. Once again, our dad was sad and alone. He missed being outside in the sun. His only happiness during that time would be when our mom would visit him. Kissing was against the rules, but our mom admitted that they snuck one in here and there. How interesting that years later, the property the sanatorium was built on would be purchased by the UFW as their headquarters, an organization our dad would end up helping support.

The movie The Notebook was the same type of love story as our parents. In fact, that was one of their favorite movies to watch together because it was so similar to their romance. After years off and on, long distance, etc., our parents finally got married on November 24, 1956. Their first child, Anthony, was born one year later. Their second child, Eddie, came three years after him. Our parents bought People's Market in Delano and other properties from our grandfather, and our parents worked side by side for over 40 years. In 1967, Heidi was born and their family was complete.

Do you know the scene from the movie The Godfather where there is a line of people outside the Don's office during his daughter's wedding, waiting to go inside and ask the Godfather for help? That is exactly what the outside of People's Market looked like - - except our dad was not in the Mafia. Instead of sitting behind a desk, our dad was standing behind a meat counter. Instead of wearing a tuxedo, our dad was wearing a green apron. Instead of making illegal deals, our dad was helping people register to vote while slicing their bologna next to a jar of pickled pig's feet. Our dad learned about politics from his father-in-law, Salvador Torres, and our dad's boss, Alex Burns, when he worked at Dan's Market. He also learned on his own from reading, asking questions, and being a good listener. He didn't want to be, as the Godfather would say, "a puppet on a string," or a victim of ignorance. His mission in life was to always help people with whatever they needed, to speak up for those who couldn't speak for themselves.

Dad served his community in so many different ways. He was a founding member of the Ideal Club, founded the local chapter of The Mexican-American Political Organization, Member of the Delano City Planning Commission, St. Mary's School Board, Kern County Board of Trade, Delano Elementary School Board, Department of Corrections Citizens Advisory Committee, and received many honors and awards. He and our mother organized and hosted fundraisers for St. Mary's School and Church, and many elected officials, including Governor Jerry Brown, Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamente, and U.S. Congressman Jim Costa.

Our dad was a simple man. He looked forward to attending church every Sunday with our mom. He loved to play golf and treasured the hours he spent teaching, and playing with, his sons. Dad enjoyed listening to Vin Scully announce the Dodger games. He made us promise to let everyone know he was the #1 Dodger fan who ever lived. He worked hard all his life to provide for his family. Our dad was always busy with his hands and preferred to be out in the sun and heat. A cold beer at the end of the day was his way of celebrating another day of life. He was never envious of someone else, because he said you can't just envy one part of a person's life. You would have to envy their entire life. Is that a life you would trade for your own? The answer was always, no. His wit was always sharp, right up to his last few weeks on earth. He loved to smile and laugh and appreciated a good joke and the company of people with a great sense of humor.

Although we have lost both our parents this past year, we always knew they would not last long without each other. They are in heaven dancing together, holding hands, and sitting side by side as they did throughout their entire relationship.

Our dad is survived by his son Anthony (Arleen), son Eddie (Lilly), daughter Heidi Dyar (Ken), grandchildren Aaron Gonzales (Nikka), Aubree Gonzales, Dena Dominguez (Steven), Jeffrey Gonzales, Marky Gonzales, Benjamin Bulseco, Michael Dyar (Megan), Samantha Dyar, great-grandsons Nathan and Gabriel Dominguez, his sisters Marina Hernandez, Sandy Cortez, Margie Rodriguez (Peter), Hope Felix (Richard), and special family members, Debbie Bulseco, Janet Rabanal, Zachary Rabanal, Taylor Rabanal, Nicole Villaruz (David), Thomas and Violet Ramirez, Suzanne Villaruz, Arnie Morrison, Lou Villaruz, Jay Tamsi, and many special nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers are Aaron Gonzales , Jeffrey Gonzales , Michael Dyar, Benjamin Bulseco, Steven Dominguez , Zachary Rabanal , Jay Tamsi and Jose Herrera .

A visitation for Chio will be held Friday, January 26, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at St. Mary's of the Miraculous Medal Parish, 916 Lexington St., Delano, CA 93215. A holy rosary will occur Friday, January 26, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, 916 Lexington St., Delano, CA 93215. A mass of christian burial will occur Saturday, January 27, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 916 Lexington St., Delano, CA 93215. A committal service will occur Saturday, January 27, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at North Kern Cemetery District, 627 Austin St., Delano, CA 93215.

Services entrusted to Funeraria Del Angel Delano, a Dignity Memorial provider.