Manuel Lopez Herrera

Our beloved Grandmother, Maria Lopez Herrera gave birth to Manuel Lopez Herrera on April 22, 1923 in Los Angeles, California. He was the eldest of four siblings, Fred, Socorro (“Corky”) and Terry. He is survived by his sister, Terry Perez and family, daughter Roberta Jennifer Wheeler, son Ernest Steven Herrera, Daughter-in-Law, Kathy Tellez Herrera, three Grandchildren, Vanessa Thea Herrera, Jerry Peter Herrera and Adam Christian Wheeler, Two Great-Granddaughters, Sophia Julian Herrera-Womax and Alyssa Marie Wheeler. Manuel was also Godfather to Gary Herrera, Ida Lancaster, Donovan Huss and was “Uncle Manuel” to more nieces and nephews than can be counted.

Manuel graduated from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles. Thereafter, he served a term in the United States Army Air Corps. After being honorably discharged, he was employed by Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank, where he spent several years working on top secret projects informally known as “Skunk works.” He retired from Lockheed in the late 1980’s after working there for 40 years. He spent his retirement years living in South Gate, surrounded by many friends and his faithful companion, Nellie Macias and family. He was also an active member of several Senior Citizens social organizations such as the Young at Hearts Club and the Club Latino in Bell Gardens as well as the Cudahy Club in Cudahy, California where he frequently enjoyed dining and dancing with countless friends. He also enjoyed playing pool, ping pong, taking trips to local casinos and singing songs like “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

Manuel became a member of a new club on December 24, 2011, as a Guardian Angel at the tender young age of 88 years 8 months and 2 days.