Donald Lopez

Donald Robert Lopez, age 72, died of complications from West Nile virus on January 28, 2022. Don was born in Antioch in 1950 and was raised in Byron. He graduated from Liberty High School in 1968 and went on to attend Modesto JC and Fresno State, where he graduated with a BS in agriculture education in 1977. He was a reserve Sheriff's deputy in Brentwood until a teaching position opened up at Liberty in 1979. There, he taught agriculture for 30 years, was an FFA advisor, and was heavily involved with the Contra Costa Fair and Youth Fair. On the rare occasion when he wasn't busy with his students, he was an avid outdoorsman. He was an amateur bass tournament fisherman, life-long hunter, and a devoted father and husband. In 2002, he moved his family to Isleton where they raised show lambs for 4H and FFA kids. In 2013, he contracted West Nile virus, which left him unable to walk. He remained up-beat with a positive attitude, and continued to manage the family sheep ranch for eight and a half years.