Manuel Zavala Enriquez

Manuel Zavala Enriquez, 97 years young, peacefully passed away on July 20, 2025 at 7:30 pm at the Fresno Veterans' Hospital. Manuel was born in Stockton, California on May 14, 1928 in a home on Jackson Street. His father was Dolores Robledo Enriquez and his mother was Concha Zavala Enriquez. Manuel's wife was Nancy Carol Baker and they had a marriage of 58 years. She preceded him in death in February of 2012. Manuel was a resident of Fayetteville, North Carolina for about 60 years prior to moving to Selma, California on June 4, 2012.

Further, Manuel had two children, who also preceded him in death, Mary Dolores Peery and Joseph Manuel Enriquez. He was very fond of his nephew Billy Fuller and Manuel has two surviving grandchildren, Alyson Smith, and her spouse Martin Smith, and Leyna Varnum and her spouse Thomas Varnum. He also has four surviving great grandchildren, Tyler Linwood Varnum, Lyla Virginia Varnum, Caroline Margo Smith and Chloe Anne Smith, all residents of North Carolina. He was also very fond of his nephew Billy Fuller and family, and his niece Bobbi Layman, both from Tennessee.

Furthermore, Manuel has two surviving sisters Victoria Hernandez of Stockton, California and Ramona E Irigoyen of Selma, California. Preceding Manuel in death include 7 siblings Margaret Silva, Mike Enriquez, Robert Joe Enriquez, Dolores E Ramos, Daniel Clement Enriquez, Antonio Enriquez and Mary Enriquez. Manuel was blessed with many nephews and nieces in and friends who cherished and loved him.

Manuel has a great life story that cannot be fully detailed in these writings alone. In listening to his grandchildren, Leyna recalled how their grandpa shared, that he remembered working in the fields when he was a child and saying that he wanted something better for his life. His granddaughter Alyson recalled how her grandpa gave "exceptional advice that always cut to the heart of any problem." Alyson shared that her grandpa told them "Don't ever be afraid to work" and this was his life's guiding principle, and his children and grandchildren took that counsel to heart. They expressed how their grandpa took his role as a provider very seriously, and he always made sure that there was milk in the refrigerator and that all the cars were gassed up every night before he went to bed. His family relied on him for many things. Even the smallest of things.

Their Grandpa was quick to serve and help others, whether it was cutting grass for a neighbor, helping someone move a piece of furniture, or buying toys for other children at Christmas when a family fell on hard times. Manuel was also a wonderful uncle and showed support to all family members who wanted to join and participate in the Army, Navy, Marines or ROTC service and he was there to support his family members including his brother Daniel Clement Enriquez, Joseph Manuel Enriquez, Cynthia Enriquez Aguirre Laoukili, Victoria Jean Delgadillo, Carl Hernandez, and Christopher Delgadillo and we all know, that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Manuel had community connections, which included being a member of the Special Forces Association, that offers support to veterans and their families and where he did volunteer work. He also volunteered his time with the Red Cross where he served at blood drives at the high schools where he taught. He was a faculty advisor for the Spanish Honors Society at EE Smith High School. To boot, he was even a high school soccer coach one year, and to our surprise he stated, "I knew nothing about soccer!" and nonetheless he took the team to win the Championship that year. Manuel also volunteered at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, and lead tours. He helped to raise funds that began the 82" Airborne Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Manuel was a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus at St Patrick's Catholic Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina. As a "Sir Knight" Manuel participated in honor guards, patriotic programs and local Fourth Degree Assemblies. Manuel was committed to patriotism and practiced active Catholic citizenship.

As a teenager, Manuel worked with his father Dolores for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Manuel did not like the work on the railroad and decided to enlist in the United States Army. This became a challenge for him because he was too young and his mother Concha would not allow him to enlist. Manuel also decided to enlist in the army because he wanted to avoid further trouble with the law. As an adolescent he served a one-year sentence in the Preston School of Industry in Ione, California, where he learned ROTC military training with academic coursework. This is where Manuel learned leadership development and discipline. Manuel took conunand of his life and soon after his time at the Preston School of industry, he enlisted in the United States Anny in 194 7, where he immediately began to rank up and promote because of his time in service, his excellent performance in the field and his outstanding leadership qualities.

On July 31, 1976, Manuel retired as an Honorable Command Sergeant Major (CSM) E-9 from the United States Anny after serving 26 years and a day. Manuel was a Green Beret in Special Forces and a Medic in the field. He was Airborne all the way in the 82d Infantry Regiment. He taught Parachute Land and Fall (PLF). He served 3 tours to Vietnam and I to Korea. Manuel received a Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster, and Second Oak Leaf Cluster), 7 Good Conduct Medals, a Vietnam Service Medal, 1 Silver Star, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, an Anny Commendation Medal and a National Service Defense Medal. Obviously, Manuel had come a long way from his time at the Preston School of Industry.

Furthermore, in 1968, Manuel's combat company received an invitation to the White House where he shook hands with President Lyndon B Johnson. Unfortunately, his Commanding Sergeant was killed in action when their company was taken under attack in Vietnam by the Viet Kong. Manuel was returning from retrieving provisions for the company and the combat action and attack had already occurred. His commanding officer's valor earned him a Medal of Honor. Furthermore. Manuel continued his education at Appalachian State University, in North Carolina where he earned his Master's Degree in Spanish, and taught high school for 22 years prior to his retirement in 1993.

In 2012, Manuel called his sister Ramona, and asked if he could move back to California and if she had room for him at her home on Irigoyen Farms. Ramona graciously said yes, and her husband Jose Luis Irigoyen and their sons, Joseph, Julian and Javier Irigoyen were in full support of this decision, and rolled out the red carpet for the patriarch of the family. What a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father and a rich blessing that they all were able to receive from this transition and the big change in Manuel's life and their lives as well.

Manuel eventually had a village of caregivers because his sister Ramona, pulled in her heavy hitters beginning with her nieces, Concepcion Susana Castaneda, and Louise Ramos Ramirez, followed by the respite caregivers, Alma Irigoyen and Anita Cardenas. Manuel had a full team of caregivers who treated him like a sultan. How fortunate that they all were to have had the honor and the ability to serve Manuel and attend to his every need. Ramona displayed an excellent example of what Christ-like qualities are. She did all things possible to provide the best care for her brother Manuel, and to ensure that he was happy, safe and protected. Our Heavenly father was with all of his caregivers and family.

Manuel's family also gives a special thanks to the Nazareth House of Fresno. On April 17, 2017, Manuel moved into the Nazareth house where he was well taken care of and loved by their staff. The Nazareth House will cherish their time with Manuel and he will be remembered.

In closing, Manuel was a remarkable person. He was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Our Heavenly Father blessed him with a remarkable long life. How wonderful it is to have shared so many great memories and times with him. He will forever be in our hearts and we will carry him in our memories. We humbly thank our Dear Lord for allowing us the opportunity to have had such a great person in our lives, who had an impact on us all, and now we are better people because of Manuel Zavala Enriquez.