John Lopez Sr.

John Lopez Sr, 85, lived in Edgewood, WA, since 1969. He passed away on March 31st at Good Samaritan Hospital from complications after suffering a heart attack. John was born January 13, 1930 in Malta, Montana to Dinicio and Emma Lopez. He grew up in Wapato, WA. and after graduating from high school he enlisted in United States Air Force. He was a proud Combat Korean and Vietnam War Veteran. He attended the yearly Veterans Day parade in Auburn and was recognized by South Korean Government Officials as a Korean War veteran. His career allowed him to travel all over the world where he met Fumiko Kawamura in Tokyo, Japan in 1954.They were married a year later. They had three sons John Jr., Antonio, and Raymond who died at birth. He is also survived by Granddaughter Amy-(Jeremy George, husband), Grandsons John III-(Sarah McGrath, fiancée), Anthony-(Alyssa), and Robert (Skyler). Great-Grandsons Jeremy George Jr. and Jaxon Lopez, Great-Granddaughter Khloe Lopez. John had many interests which included softball during his younger years in the military recreational leagues. He was an avid fisherman and like to lake fish for trout and river fish for steelhead with his sons and grandsons. He deep sea fished the Gulf of Mexico and Santa Rosa Sound. He taught both of his sons how to play pool and he loved to bowl to with Fumiko. During the 1970’s John was a youth baseball coach in Edgewood where he won a league championship with Mackie Construction by finishing the season undefeated. He later had the opportunity to watch all three of his grandsons win league championships in the Puyallup Valley Leagues. John and Fumiko loved to travel especially to Reno twice a year where they would play Cards-Dad and nickel slots –Mom. The would always go to Dad’s hometown a few times during the summer to visit their favorite places, Cle Elum Bakery, Laymans and of course all the truck farmer stops for all the fruit and vegetables they would give away when they got home. Family time for them was very important, even more so after their first grandchild, Amy, came into their lives.They lived a very fulfilling life together. John also had a second career as a USPS worker before he retired from that too. He worked at the 4th & Lander Street Annex in Seattle, the Air Mail Facility at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and was the third employee at the Federal Way Bulk Mail Center. During his time there he got involved with the Mail-handlers’ Union first as a union steward and later was elected as one of 5 regional vice-presidents. During the last years of his life he dealt with being a diabetic. It was a daily struggle for him and he was not the kind of person to complain about it but would always look at the bright side of things when dealing with the disease. The family would like to thank the Doctors, Nurses, and Staff at Good Samaritan Hospital during his last stay there for their compassion and understanding they expressed to our family during this difficult time.