Sunrise: 8/19/1923
Sunset: 8/28/2020
Rafael Lopez was born August 19, 1923 in Los Angeles to Luis G. Lopez and Beneranda Palazuelos. Hailing from Sonora, Mexico, his father immigrated to the United States in 1917. As 1 of 8 children, Rafael grew up in a full house and attended school until third grade before he moved to Mexico. He returned to the United States in 1939 to enlist in the Army to fight in World War II, but was not able to serve due to a foot injury sustained as a child and went back to Mexico to marry his love, Clara Perez on November 15, 1948.
They settled in Los Angeles and Rafael took on several jobs from restaurants to the railroad before landing one on the assembly line at Chrysler in 1955. He transferred to the company’s Detroit headquarters in 1971 and stayed there until 1976, when he retired. Rafael eventually moved to Rancho Cucamonga where he lived out his days enjoying his home and his family.
Rafael Lopez died peacefully at his home on August 28, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Clara Lopez, and their 8 children Ralph, Carmen, Javier, Irene, Elsa, Victor, Jesse and Danny. He leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; as well as 2 sons-in-law and 4 daughters-in-law.
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