1925 – 2021
Guillermo Medina Parra was born on April 25, 1925 in Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico. His parents were Guillermo Medina Amor, from Veracruz, Veracruz. His mother was Maria Dolores Parra from Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico.
In 1927, the family moved to Los Angeles, California and lived in the Boyle Heights and Belvedere communities until the family relocated to south to Tijuana, Baja California. His father had lost his job with the Singer Sewing Machine Company and was advised that in Tijuana he could find a job in his field of work of accounting.
Guillermo Medina was enrolled in schools in Los Angeles, California and after moving to Tijuana, he was enrolled at Escuela Primaria Miguel F. Martinez and finished fourth grade there. He was transferred to Escuela Primaria Alvaro Obregon where he graduated from sixth grade.
Guillermo was a businessman. He owned Casa Medina, Tienda de Abarrotes Medina, milk routes with Leche Jersey, Armstrong Family Shoes in La Mesa, California and other businesses in the South Bay.
Besides being a businessman, Guillermo was an avid sports athlete, fan and supporter. He enjoyed watching boxing legends: Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Archie Moore and many Mexican boxers like Babi Arizmendi, Manuel Ortiz, Raul Macias, Jose Becerra, Vicente Saldivar, Ruben Olivares, Salvador Sanchez, Julio Cesar Chavez and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. He was a member of the basketball team that represented Baja California in the Nationals in Puebla, Puebla. In Tijuana, he was a member of the Diablitos Rojos basketball team. He also played softball and baseball. In the 1970’s he coached the baseball team from Lecheria Jersey. He played basketball competitively until the age of 70. He was also a member of the Centro Mutualista Zaragoza in Tijuana and in Chula Vista, California.
He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Carmen Cornejo Martinez of Lompoc, California. Also, his older brother Tomas Medina and sisters Carmen and Olga Medina. He was father to Bill Medina (wife Hortencia), predeceased son, Richard Medina and Barbara and Delia Arambula Cornejo. He is survived by his grandsons, Guillermo (wife Angelica), Giovanni (wife Michelle) and Eric Medina. Additional grandchildren: Carmen Patricia Brugger, Ana Leon, Romulo Gomez, Gerardo “Jerry” Gomez, Raul Gomez, Barbara Valenzuela and Sergio Omar Valenzuela. He is also survived by 15 great grandchildren and 5 great, great grandchildren.
Guillermo Medina was known to all of his family members as Papa Memo. Papa Memo will be remembered for his never ending advice on how you must work or study if you want to be successful in life. He was always helping out family no matter how big or small the problem was. He learned as a child that you sink or swim. The years of financial depression were hard on all of the family and they had to work together to survive. His work ethic was the key to success. Papa Memo will always be remembered for being there when you needed help the most.
Rest in Peace Papa Memo
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