Salvador L. Terrones

Salvador Lopez Terrones born on March 3, 1931 in Guadalupe Ca, one of 12 siblings. At the age of 5, his parents returned to Chinampas, Jalisco México where he grew up working the fields and training horses to help his parents manage the family home. At the age of 17 he soon followed his brothers to the US so that he could register for the draft and work with his brothers as “braceros” working as a farm worker most of his life from northern california to the Mexican border.

Settling back in Guadalupe in 1953, he met the love of his life, he was 22 and our mom Sally was 15, soon they eloped, married and began their lovestory. In 1955 they moved to San Diego, continued as a farm worker until he was hired at the Town & Country Hotel, and later retired from Wonder Bread Bakery.

He had strong work ethics and was proud to say that he never missed a days work unless he was flat on his back. He worked hard to ensure his children, Clara, Salvador Jr, Robert, Johnny, Carlos, Richard, Marylou and Raymond didn’t lack anything.

Dad had no formal education, didn’t write, was able to read some and yet he (and mom) put us all in catholic school, bought their first of many homes which they still have today.

Dad was a dedicated family man - faithful to prayer, he prayed the rosary nightly. To say he was a good man would be an understatement. He was an extraordinary man who acted like an ordinary one. But we all knew he was one of a kind.

An amazing Friend, Brother, Uncle, Husband, Dad, and Grandfather He loved so fully and is loved by so many.

There are no words to express his influence on our lives or his influence on those around him. He was always there for us, taught us to be faithful, to work hard, to be respectful and most importantly that family was always first.

When I think of my Dad all I have are warm and welcoming memories, he always gave his unconditional love and support for our Mom, his 8 kids, and all 106 of his grandkids. He loved his yard, his plants, lemon and avocado trees and of course his nopales. He loved to dance, sing and enjoy life. He loved San Diego but was most proud of being from National City where he built his dynasty. He was the Biggest Friar Faithful and loved “his Padres”. But his greatest love of all was our mom, his Vida, he had so much love for her that it only took him 72 days to be reunited with her once again. We know Dad is dancing and singing in Heaven with the love of his life.

We will miss him deeply. But we are grateful - grateful to have had him, to have learned from him, to have been loved by him and grateful knowing he is exactly where he wanted to be.