Eleno L. Espinoza

Mr. Espinoza was born in Jalisco, Mexico on August 18, 1920 to Dámaso and Refugio Espinoza, the youngest of six children. When Eleno was three years old, his family moved to Clint, Texas, where his father had been offered a job working on a ranch.

At the age of twenty-two, Eleno began his service in the Air Force unit of the US Army during WWII. While still in the service, he met and married Maria Consuelo Mendez. He was honorably discharged from service in 1942, receiving an American Theater Ribbon, a Good Conduct Medal and the Victory Medal.

Eleno and his wife eventually settled in Bakersfield, California, and raised a family of six children: Leopoldo Marquez, José Espinoza, William Espinoza, Gloria Heaton, Victoria Moren and Carmen Spradley.

Eleno worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad for thirty years, retiring in 1985. Mr. Espinoza enjoyed fishing, gardening, and spending time with his family.

Mr. Espinoza is survived by several of his children; Leopoldo, William, Gloria, Victoria and Carmen; by his grandchildren, Monica and Brian Marquez, Jeff and Jennifer Heaton, Tanya Schwarz and her husband, Tim; Danielle Moren, Kurt Moren, Jason Spradley and Madison Spradley; and by his great-grandchildren, Aiden and Jack. He is also remembered with great affection by his many nieces and nephews in California, Texas and New Mexico, and by their children.

Mr. Espinoza was preceded in death by his wife, Maria; by his son, José, and by all of his brothers and sisters.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, February 28, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella.