Jess "Pepe" González

Our Grandpa was born on Christmas in 1949. Jess B. Gonzalez, “Pepe,” was born in San Francisco del Rincon, Purisima in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. He was born into the family of Encarnacion and Socorro Gonzalez. He was the second oldest brother to eight siblings. In order: Angelina Olivo, Cristino Gonzalez, “Pepe,” Mario Gonzalez, Leticia Cerda, Socorro Trejo, Rosa Limon, Adriana Gonzalez-Gonzalez, and Teresa Trujillo. After his father and oldest brother passed, he assumed the role of the patriarch of the extended Gonzalez family. Our family looked up to “Pepe” for advice, he always had wisdom to guide us through life. He has an abundance of nieces, nephews, and many other family members that will continue to live life to the fullest, the way he lived!

“Pepe” came to United States in 1960, and the family established roots in Santa Paula. He graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1968. He met his beautiful wife Patsy Gonzalez in 1967, began dating “Gorda” as he affectionately referred to her in 1969 and the two fell in love, and married on February 11, 1972. He had four children together, first Jess Gonzalez Jr. who passed in 1972. Then Jess Gonzalez III arrived in 1973. Later Lydia Gonzalez-Jimenez came in 1976 and Christina Gonzalez-Ornelas was born in 1981. “Pops” had a beautiful group of eight grandchildren. Isaiah (19), Xelina (29), and Jaoquin (11) are the children of Jesse and Xochitl Gonzalez. Jazmyn (13) and Roman (11) are the children of Isaac and Lydia Jimenez. Lucas (9), Lorenzo (3), and Lariana (2) are the children of Christina and Richard Ornelas. Grandpa always taught us that family was number one and so the family will continue grandpa’s legacy by camping in Carpinteria, enjoying family meals at Wood Ranch, gambling at Chumash, and enjoying his favorites beverages!

“Pepe” is well known in Santa Paula for the support and guidance he provided the community, as well as for his career accomplishments. He began his career in car sales at the age of twenty and opened his car dealership in 1988. With the support of his wife and son, our dad established a successful car dealership for twenty-five years. He instilled the value of hard work and being independent which was the core values of his success and how he guided our family. He always told us “pay now, play later.” He was well known for helping people who were in need, he went above and beyond to get people what they needed. Many came to him in challenging times, he sold cars to people when no one else would or provided assistance when someone couldn’t afford the payments. Customers became his friends. He had a brilliant business mind and caring heart for the working class.

His family will continue to celebrate his spirit through laughter and love in the home that he built with his wife. His property of citrus trees was his one of his joys, he enjoyed pruning his trees (especially his pomegranate trees) and watering his grass. His wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family will find comfort in knowing that his spirit will live on within each of us. He had an infectious laugh, a wicked sense of humor, and strong pride in his family and culture. We love you dad! As he would say, “only in America.”