Manuel Tosta

1923 - 2012

MANUEL TOSTA
MAY 24, 1923 - SEPTEMBER 9, 2012
Born and raised in Los Banos, Manuel was a devoted family man with an extremely strong work ethic.  As a young child, he started working on his parent's dairy milking cows by hand. He in fact had to drop out of school at a young age to help his family make a living. He then selflessly worked long hours on his own dairy for his own family for 38 years until he sold the business in 1974. He then continued working as a successful rancher and farmer for another 30 years. Manuel was a 4-H Leader for many years and was always a prominent face at the various livestock shows throughout California. Manuel was a devoted grandfather who enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting events and spending  time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling to his mountain cabin in Twain Harte and taking his family on precious days off from work to the beach in Santa Cruz and Pacific Grove. Although he was not formally educated, he believed that education was a gateway to success and passed this down to his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years Cecelia. He is survived by his children, Larry and his wife Roberta Tosta of Elk Grove, Claudia and her husband John Jordan of Los Banos, Claudette and her husband Michael Hitchcock of Corral de Tierra; three grandsons, three granddaughters, 8 great-grandchildren and his sisters Mary Pereira and Alice Cabral of Turlock.
Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 16 with rosary to follow at 6:00 p.m. Mass on Monday September 17 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church burial to follow at Los Banos Cemetery.  Services are under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Chapels - Los Banos.
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