Antonio Valencia Contreras

Antonio V. Contreras (Tony) was raised in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico. He grew up in difficult times during the Great Depression era as his parents did the best they could to provide for their large family of three boys and four girls.

Young Antonio wasn’t all that fond of school as he preferred to work; he only completed the 3rd grade before deciding that ‘hitting the books’ wasn’t for him. Instead, he used his streetsmarts and hustle as a shoeshine boy at the nearby train station to provide for his parents and siblings.

Fast forward to 1949, when 21-year-old Tony went to Chicago with a friend in search of a better life in the States. Shortly thereafter, Tony was drafted into the U.S. Army. He bravely served from August 17, 1951 to May 18, 1953, which included a stint in Korea behind the front lines as an army combat engineer. There he would build roads and bridges for the soldiers. Tony recalled this as the scariest time of his life as he would hear mortar shells going off all around him.

Upon his Honorable Discharge and return to Chicago, Tony took on various jobs, including a short time working in a chocolate factory – he never forgot about the stifling heat in there! Along the way, Tony learned to spray paint, which would serve him well for decades to come.

In his spare time, Antonio and friends enjoyed hanging out at local nightspots, including those frequented by Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack. Tony and company also enjoyed going to White Sox games at old Comiskey Park in the 50s and early 60s on the Southside, where he rooted for ballplayers like Nellie Fox, Minnie Miniso and Luis Aparicio.

On a return trip to Uruapan in 1961 to attend brother Roman’s wedding, Antonio met a pretty young lady named Eduviges (Vicky)Ortiz. They would soon strike up an adventurous romance that would see them marry on July 10, 1963, despite her father’s rifle-yielding protests!

Their union would produce a son, Samuel, who was born the following year on July 3, 1964 in Chicago. Within a year, Tony and Vicky figured that The Windy City was too cold to raise a family, so they eventually made their way to Southern California, where daughter Olga was born four years later on April 1st, 1968 — no, the stork was certainly not joking!

Tony and Vicky raised their two children in a cozy Huntington Park community, where they bought their first home, ‘the house on Grand’ in 1972. Family trips to Mexico in the years ahead allowed Samuel and Olga the opportunity to better understand and appreciate their deep Mexican roots.

Some 21 years later, Tony and Vicky made a move to their beautiful home in Diamond Bar. Then, within two years, they became empty nesters as Olga and Samuel married their respective spouses, Richard and Patricia in 1993.

The house on Bellows Court was newly abuzz with activity as Tony and Vicky became grandparents in 1995, when they welcomed granddaughters Samantha and Amanda. Future years saw more grandchildren come along as Aidan, Adriana, Erich and Andrew were welcomed into the tight-knit family.

Tony was plenty busy after he proudly retired from McDonnell Douglas-Boeing in 1994. He tended to his beautiful garden, drove the grandkids to and from school and went on more ventures to Mexico with Vicky.

Macular Degeneration robbed Tony of his central vision in 2008, so he could no longer drive nor read his favorite newspaper, the LA Times. Nevertheless, with his faith in God, Tony stayed positive and enjoyed life to the fullest. Car rides for appointments and errands from Olga and Samuel allowed for father and kids to spend precious time together to talk about all things family, music and current events.

Tony marveled at his long life, once saying, “I didn’t think I’d live this long!” He outlived all his siblings and many others who were close to him. Along the way, he saw Samuel and Olga graduate college, as well as Amanda, Adriana and Samantha. He also looked forward to the day when Aidan, Erich and Andrew would receive their college diplomas, too. Simply put, Tony couldn’t have been more proud to know that his children and six grandchildren were positive contributors to society.

Tony’s sharp mind allowed him to share his rich, lifelong experiences of 95 years with one and all who would listen. Worthy life events included his marriage to Vicky, raising his children and assisting with the grandkids in his own special way.

In his final moments, Tony was sure to listen as a promise was whispered into his ear: His beloved Vicky, ‘La Guera,’ would be well taken care of. A life well-lived, Tony knew that he could finally rest in peace.