Jose Flores

His son, Joseph, visited earlier that afternoon and spent time with him sharing their love and saying their goodbyes. God called Jose home later that evening in the presence of his daughter (by his side), granddaughter (Mindy holding his hands), and great granddaughter (Sofie throwing kisses). The angels took him home to unite with his wife of 63 years who passed in 2012. He would once again be held in the arms of his mother Brigida Trujillo Hernandez, his sisters Elvira (Vera) and Margaret and his brothers Louis and Francisco.

Jose was born on 7/4/1924 in the mining town of Sonora, Arizona (Ray Mines). He would always tell the story that his legal birthday was 7/6/1924 as the offices that would do birth recording were closed for the Fourth of July holiday so his birthday of 7/4/1924 couldn’t be recorded officially, the earliest date on record of his birth was when he was baptized on 7/6/1924. He was the first born of 4 siblings (2 brothers, 2 sisters). His father, Trinidad Flores passed of black lung disease (from working in coal mine) when Jose was only 8 years old. Jose was able to go to school but was also responsible for working as a laborer/farm worker helping to provide for the family. His family moved to Mexico and then later moved back to Arizona and then to California. The family was living in Corona, California when Jose enlisted to the military on October 22, 1943, at 19 years of age. He was asked to provide 3 letters of recommendation; he shared the letters with a friend who was a Captain in the Army Air Corps and his friend was so impressed that he helped “Flores” (as he was called by the Captain) join the military even without his birth certificate. His date of entry into active service was on November 12, 1943, at Fort MacArthur in California. His military occupational specialty was Sergeant of the Guard (His military qualification was AAF Tech Badge with Mech Bar). He went to boot camp in Denver, Colorado, and later was stationed in Oklahoma, Arizona and finally returned to California. His military service was during the Korean war - although, Jose never served in a combat area. He worked as an aircraft mechanic on various planes. In 1947 the Army Air Corps became the United States Air Force. Jose received various medals to include The American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal. He was released from active duty status on August 13, 1951 at March Air Force Base in California. His career as aircraft mechanic continued and Jose started working at Naval Air Station North Island where he would retire in 1979 as a Planner and Estimator. Jose met his wife when he was stationed at March Air Force Base in California and got married to Lorinda Esparza on November 19, 1949. Jose and Lorinda were married for 63 years until Lorinda’s passing from Alzheimers in 2012.

Both Jose and Lorinda were devote Catholics who would attend masses religiously/weekly, it is here that they met when Jose was an usher at St. Judes Catholic Church. While working and attending the church, they met a woman and became the foster parents to two boys (Pepe and Mon) until the boys were grown and moved away. When Jose married Lorinda they chose to live in San Diego and in the 60s they bought the family home in Chula Vista where they started their new family.

Jose and Lorinda adopted two children a son named Joseph and daughter named Yvonne. He became a grandfather (Tata) in 1994 with the birth of his first grandson Joshua Ryan from his daughter Yvonne, followed by a granddaughter Michaela Marlinda (Mindy) in 1997. He was further blessed with 2 more granddaughter’s (twins) in 2001 Rhonda and Jeanette from his son Joseph. In 2021 Jose became a great grandfather with his first great grandson Grizzly Refuge from Joshua born in May, followed by great granddaughter Sofia Yvelle from Mindy born in August of that same year. He then was blessed with another great granddaughter Isabella from Jeanette followed by a great grandson Theodore Jose from Rhonda born in December 2022. Later he would have another great grandson Aspen from Jeanette in 2024 followed by the last great granddaughter Phoebe Lorraine from Rhonda born in October 2024, totaling 6 great grandchildren from 4 grandchildren. Jose was always a family man and loved his wife his whole life, followed by loving his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren – they meant everything to him and each and every one of them had a special place in his heart.

Jose’s son Joseph moved into the home in Chula Vista in 2010 with his two daughters and helped with his mother’s care until her passing in March 2012. Jose continued to live in his home in Chula Vista with his son Joseph and granddaughter Rhonda until 2019 when he moved to Ramona to live with his daughter Yvonne, Mindy and Jeanette. On Sundays after mass when his children were growing up, Jose would love to take the family on road trips and try new places to have Sunday dinner. It was at one of these Sunday dinners that his daughter Yvonne fell in love with Ramona and told her dad that she would someday live in Ramona and that she wanted him and mom to come live with her.

Jose always loved the outdoors and to travel, he shared that love with his wife and children going on many camping trips to many places. Jose always was very mechanically inclined and could fix anything, he became the family’s “go to person” whenever anything needed to be fixed and got the title “Tata can Fix it”. Jose would bring Lorinda and his children to weekly mass and was an usher for St. Pius X Church in Chula Vista for many years until his knees began to bother him and he couldn’t kneel easily anymore.

Jose enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies to include: Carving, gardening, camping, hiking, rock collecting and polishing (agates), taking pictures and making videos of all the family activities/adventures/celebrations, he loved playing cards, watching sports (Loved the San Diego Padres and watching Boxing as well as going to boxing matches), he loved spending time with his grandchildren and attending any activity they would participate in, he made sure he attended all their graduations and celebrations. When he was Blessed with Great grandchildren his eyes would light up at the mere sight of them.

He had a special place in his heart for birds and enjoyed sitting outside in the sun and listening to the birds sing, he also enjoyed staying indoors and for hours would love looking at the fish tanks and watching the fish swim (you didn’t dare put anything in the view of these fish or sit in front of the fish tank or he would have you move). He enjoyed bowling and participated on several teams bringing home several trophies. He enjoyed playing cards with relatives and games with his children and grandchildren. He always loved to travel and in later years discovered Laughlin, Nevada and would make several trips throughout the year with his wife and it became one of their favorite destinations. He would love playing the video poker but his favorite was playing 21 at the tables, he would even sit next to his wife and play the slot machines even though it was her that liked the slots. He loved taking his family out to eat and trying new places. After grandkids arrived and it became more difficult to go to restaurants, Denny’s became one of his favorite places to take the family.

God granted Jose a long fulfilling life and it is amazing all he accomplished. There are so many memories in these 100 years but not enough time or space to write them all down. They are etched in each and everyone of our memories and will bring sunshine to our darkest days. Jose was exemplary about making good use of his time here with his family and friends.

A day didn’t pass that Jose wasn’t there for his family in every way possible, loving us all, no matter of our weakness and/or faults and offering to help us in any way possible. Jose had a motto: Create great memories and have few regrets. He set a goal that he wanted to reach 100 years of age and just like any goal he ever made, he met it and was celebrated by the VFW surrounded by his friends and family. Jose was a survivor and fighter throughout his life and was the best role model, his actions spoke louder than his words, he was generous and kind-hearted, he loved with all his heart and was loved with all OURS.

As years go by, we realize that memories are perhaps the greatest and most priceless of treasures one can possibly possess – Narin Grewal

May the tears we’ve shed in 2024 Water the seeds we plant in 2025 – Soul Kissing

The AfterGlow

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when my life is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering in your thoughts of the happy times, laughing times and bright and sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun, thinking of happy memories we shared and that I leave when life is done.

A Light is Gone

A light is from our household gone.

A voice we loved is stilled.

A place is vacant in our home,

that never can be filled.

The Golden Gates did open.

A gentle voice said, “Come”.

And with farewell unspoken,

we said,“Thy will be done”.

May the Blessed Virgin greet him

and present him to her Son.

May Her Sacred Heart receive him,

as it was, God’s will was done.