Raymond Mendez Jr.

Raymond Mendez Jr. passed away on Friday, April 29, 2022. Ray was a native of San Diego and died at the age of 90. Ray is survived by his wife, Loretta, daughters, Christine and Denise, 3 grandchildren, Ryan, Reid and Trevor (he was ecstatic to finally have boys in the family), step-children Carin, Mark, Warren and Aimee, sisters Yolanda, Virginia, Vanessa, and brothers Archie and Richard.

Ray graduated from San Diego High School, Class of 1950. He played on the SDHS Junior Varsity baseball and basketball teams. After high school he married Estella Mendoza and joined the U.S. Marine Corp serving as a PFC in the Korean war. Following his time in the service Ray played in farm league baseball, batting both right and left, and played the positions of shortstop and 3rd base. He retired from Solar Turbines after 30 years where he was a manufacturing engineer.

He and his first wife Estella met in elementary school and married right after high school. They were married almost 50 years before Estella passed. They enjoyed traveling to Laughlin, Vegas and Hawaii. There are too many memories to list, but family time was what they enjoyed most, which included family dinners, baseball games on Easter Sunday at Cindi’s house, celebrating birthdays and going all out for one another at Christmas.

In 2004 he married Loretta Williams and they were married for 18 years. Over their 20 years together they traveled to Texas, Colorado and North Carolina. They visited North Carolina to attend Loretta’s class reunion and family reunion. They lived a simple life and enjoyed golfing a par 3 course. Most importantly they enjoyed just being together.

He was a devoted husband and father, raising his 3 girls to Marine Corp standards:

• Standing at attention when the Marine Corp hymn, Halls of Montezuma, was played

• How to make a military-style bed with tight corners, and

• A very strong work ethic

Ray was an avid baseball fan and followed the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres and attended games at Lane Field, Westgate Park and eventually the MLB San Diego Padres at San Diego Stadium. A fond memory is from 1969 when he took the family to the first MLB Padres game at San Diego Stadium. His love for baseball was a major influence in the family’s love for the Padres. We will continue your legacy of supporting the Padres – Go Padres!

Ray is preceded in death by his first wife Estella, daughter Cindi, sister Irene and brothers Frank and Joe.

“Say not in grief he is no more, but in thankfulness that he was.” – Hebrew Proverb

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.goodbodymortuary.com for the Mendez family.