Agustina E. Bastida

Agustina was born on Sunday, February 28,1915, in Wellington, Kansas. She was the youngest child of Margarito and Micaela Espinosa. Her two older brothers, Susano and Fermin, rounded off the family. By 1918, Agustina along with her parents and brothers moved to California where they relocated several times. In 1936, she married Vicente Bastida and started a family: three girls and four boys…Maria Carmen, Benjamin, Rebecca, Jerry, Lucy, Alfred, and Joel.

Family and friends knew her as Tina. Her petite size never deterred her and with a family of eight to feed, Tina worked outside the home. In Bostonia, Tina worked at a chicken farm plucking chickens, at an olive factory where she sorted and canned olives, and cleaned houses in Point Loma. Tina, always generous, gave Benjamin and Rebecca a little money from her jobs. When she struggled to drive the family’s Chevy because she couldn’t reach the pedals, her son Benjamin put 2x4 blocks of wood on the gas, brake, and clutch so she could drive around town. Granted, Tina wasn’t the most skilled driver. Her daughter Lucy recalls a destroyed picket fence and lots of gear grinding.

Tina raised her family of eight in their modest home on National Avenue in San Diego starting in 1952. She could often be found in her garden tending to her carnations and roses with her 4-legged companion, Oso. Tina’s hobbies included crocheting, caring for her parakeets, reading the Bible, and faithfully watching her novellas. Her hidden talent, singing, filled her home with hymns and praise for the Lord.

In 1940, Tina accepted Christ into her heart. Tina first became a member of the Free Methodist Church in Escondido before relocating to San Diego where she has been a long-standing member of Iglesia Metodista Libre for over 65 years. As a new believer and up until her illness prevented her from serving, she was active in every aspect of the church where she served as a delegate for church conventions, a board member in the Ladies Society, an advisor on the church board, sang in the church choir, and provided a Godly example of Christ-like living for the younger generation. Tina, a great cook, often prepared meals and shared with those in need in the church and community. Agustina has followed the Lord her God wholeheartedly (Joshua 14:9).

Tina, left her earthly body on Sunday, October 7, 2018, and was welcomed into heaven by Lord Jesus Christ. She is preceded in death by her husband, Vicente, daughters, Maria Carmen and Rebecca. Celebrating her life today are 5 children, 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 4 great great-grandchildren.