George N. Quintana "Napo"

George Napoleon Quintana 1926-2014 George Quintana passed away on November 25th surrounded by his family. George was a father, grandfather and great-grandfather; he served in the Navy during World War II and was a resident of the greater Los Angeles area during some of its most seminal moments. George made Los Angeles County his home for over 40 years raising his family and working for the City of LA. He was a resident of Oceanside, California from 1991 until his death. George was born in Calwa and raised in Malaga in the Central Valley of California, the second of twelve children. His father, José Galvn Quintana an employee of the Santa Fe Railroad, and his mother Mara Amparo Negrete, were both immigrants from Mexico. George attended Fowler High School until his 17th year when he joined the Navy and served as a Motor Machinist Mate third class in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre during World War II. He completed high school while serving his country and attended college on the G.I. bill after his service. After his honorable discharge in 1946 George returned to California where he worked briefly in Isleton before opening his own business in LA. In 1954 he went to work for the City of Los Angeles and retired after 32 years as Superintendent of Public Works. George and Mary Esperanza Oropeza were married in Fresno, California in 1951. They raised 6 children in La Mirada and were members of St. Paul of the Cross Parish. George will be remembered by all who knew him as a generous, warmhearted man. He was described by some as a gentle giant, standing at 6'3". He was gifted with innate mechanical ability and a mischievous sense of humor. He emulated his parents' commitment to their children's education by encouraging and supporting his children and grandchildren to fulfill their academic potential. When George learned he had Alzheimer's he joined a research trial at UCSD where he underwent annual testing and donated his brain in the hope of helping others. George is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Quintana, his six children, Elsa Quintana-Gibbs, Daniel Quintana, Irma Quintana, Hector Quintana, Nora Quintana and Brenda Quintana, his six grandchildren, Richard Quintana, Stephanie Quintana, Sara Bigelow, Nathaniel Bigelow, Alex Gibbs and Olivia Quintana and his great grandchild Levi Quintana and his eight siblings. A rosary and memorial service will be held on Sunday December 14, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at McAulay & Wallace Mortuary, 902 N. Harbor Blvd. Fullerton, CA 92832. Interment to follow on Monday, December 15, 2014 at 11:30 AM at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92508. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to the Shiley-Marcos Research Center at http://adrc.ucsd.edu/giving.html or the Alzheimer's Association.