Marcial Lopez

Marcial was born on September 16, 1935 in El Paso, Texas, to Marcial Lopez and Antonia Rodela Lopez , He was the second of eight children. He graduated from Bowie High School in 1954, having participated in the ROTC program and serving as a member of the Texas National Guard. Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the Army and attended basic training at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX. Marcial volunteered for army Airborne jump school and was eventually assigned at Ft. Campbell, KY as a member of the 508th RCT. While serving with the 508th, his company went to several places including Japan and Thailand. The company was reassigned stateside as part of the 101st Airborne back at Ft. Campbell KY. During his service he made 21 jumps, including one very memorable jump when he struck the tail of the aircraft. After his service in the Army, he continued to serve his country enlisting in the Air Force, where he was stationed in Kansas and Alaska. After his military service he settled in Los Angeles, CA, where he met and married Josephine Flores on February 23, 1963. While in LA, he held several jobs including warehouse driver for LA Sheet Metal, an animal control officer for the city of South Pasadena, and a computer operator for NCR. In 1972, the family relocated to Escondido, CA, where he continued his employment with NCR at the Rancho Bernardo plant, retiring in 1992.

Marcial and Josie had three boys, Marcial, Mark and Michael. He enjoyed watching his sons play baseball, basketball, soccer, and water polo. He participated in Boy Scout camping trips with his youngest son, Mike. Marcial was active with the Church of the Resurrection in Escondido, volunteering with Share the Food ministry. He also obtained his bus drivers license to drive the church bus. In retirement, he found employment with the Springs Retirement Center, driving the center bus, not only delivering the residents to and from appointments, but also showing them the sites and entertaining them with his own personal tour of North San Diego County.

In 1998, Marcial and Josie relocated to Murrieta, CA where Marcial found employment at Guidant Corp as a shuttle driver. He continued to be active in the church, attending St. Martha’s Catholic Church. Marcial enjoyed living life, gardening, tending his fruit trees, and any project working with his hands. His biggest joy was being with his family and many friends. His smile was never bigger as when he was playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Marcial is survived by his wife of almost 56 years, Josephine Lopez, his children, Marcial J. Lopez (Margo), Mark A. Lopez (Kirstie), Michael C. Lopez (Shannon), his grandchildren, Marcial “Mick” Lopez (Sally), Melissa Franco (Bryant), Melinda Haro (Samuel), Anthony Lopez, Jessica Lopez, Mateo Lopez, Christian Lopez, Austin Leonard, Sophia Lopez, Joshua Leonard, and Tucker Leonard, his 6 great grandchildren, his siblings, Elizabeth Rios, Juan Lopez, Frank Lopez, Grace Perez, Antonia Lopez, Manuel Lopez, Cecilia Lopez, his half sister Irene Caballero, and countless others who grew up calling him “Dad” or “Tio”.