Mr. Peter Joseph Del Testa

Peter was the son of Frank and Ida Del Testa and attended Tranquillity High School. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving in World War II. His tour took him to Australia, the Philippines and Japan.

He and his wife, Margaret Armas Del Testa raised a family and farmed in Tranquillity and the surrounding westside area. Even after moving to Fresno, driving to the ranch was a daily routine. In the end he had to depend on family members to help him make his business- pleasure trips. There were fields to check, stops at the bank and TID, the garden to tend, friends to visit, and dogs and cats to feed.

Peter was of the generation that watched farming progress from picking cotton by hand, to the modern pickers and module presses. He lived through the depression years of the 30's and when he was about 12 his father had to buy a water heater and a stove just to get power poles and electricity to his rural home. Pete was a story teller and loved to repeat the adventures of hunting trips, school activities, his army service, and his black jack strategy and investment tips.

Pete was a board member of the Fresno Slough Water District. He was also a member of Westside Growers and other ag related co-ops.

He added horse racing to his interests in the 60's and 70's. He operated Silken Oaks Farms where he bred and sold thoroughbred horses. He also raced horses under Anderson-DelTesta at race tracks throughout California.

Pete's business associates, financial advisors, neighbors and employees became life-long friends.

The Del Testa families would like to thank St Agnes Medical Center, the doctors and nurses that attended Peter, and the loving care of St. Agnes Hospice and it's nurses that supported Peter and his wife, children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son Dino and his son-in-law Lonnie Allen.

Pete is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret; his children, Francis and his wife Rita, and grandchildren Brian and Julie Del Testa, Brandi and Larry Williams; Christine Dabbs and her husband Fred and grandchildren, Fred Jr. and Rosalva Dabbs, and Gianni and Marcelina Dabbs; Terri Allen; Donald and his wife Valerie and grandchildren, Ashley and Chelsey Del Testa. He has eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Olivina Motta of Santa Maria.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Monday, March 17, 2014 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Followed by another visitation at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. with Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 5770 N. Maroa Ave., Fresno, CA 93704 or St. Agnes Hospice, 6729 N. Willow #103, Fresno, CA or the charity of your choice.