Baltazar Calderon

1933 - 2010

On Nov. 2, 2010, Baltazar Calderon passed away peacefully at home after a lengthy, courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible amount of love given by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Baltazar was born on April 5, 1933 in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. When he was 23, while staying with his brother, he met 19-year-old Lucila Saucedo, who was visiting from Durango. Baltazar and Lucila were married in 1956 and settled in Ciudad Juarez to start their ever growing family. His first venture into the U.S. was through the "Brasero" Guestworker Program of the 1950s. He traveled through California and the southwest as an itinerant farm worker, eventually concentrating on Southern California. When he happened upon a small town nestled in the shadow of South Mountain called Santa Paula, he knew it was the place he wanted to raise his children with Lucila.

Baltazar will always be remembered by his family and friends for his remarkable work ethic, and the indescribable joy he found in simply being around his many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the most important part of his life, and he cherished every one of them from the moment they were born.

Preceding Baltazar in death were his mother, Soledad, and his father, Martin; his brother, Lorenzo; and his aunt, Elena. He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Lucila; his brothers, Melchor and Gaspar of Mexico; his children, Manuela (Rito) Vega, Margarita (Tony) Pineda, Veronica (Salvador) Varela, Diana (Jose) Garcia, Baltazar Jr. (Martha), Lucy (Javier) Sandez, Jose, Alfredo, and Irene (Kevin) Buggy. Also grandchildren, Sergio, Rito Jr., Brenda, Roberto, Anthony III, Jeannine, Salvador, Jennifer, Jessica, Denise, Edward, Arlene, Michael, Ryan, Nicole, Alex, Lily, Joey, Briana, Melony, Tristan and Kaitlyn, and 11 great-grandchildren.

He will also be missed by numerous grandchildren- in-law. Baltazar Calderon was a light in all of our lives, and he will continue to burn brightly in the hearts of those of us who will love our "Apa" forever. The Calderon family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Mike Tushla and his staff, and all the Vitas Hospice nurses that cared for Baltazar in his final days. Their comforting and compassionate care helped him and his family get through this difficult time. God saw you getting tired, and a cure was not to be.

So he put his arms around you and whispered, "Come to Me." With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you pass away, And although we love you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us, he only takes the best. -Author Unknown Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula. Graveside service will be held at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7 at Santa Paula Cemetery, 380 Cemetery Rd., Santa Paula.