Manuel Encinias

Manuel Encinias

1933 - 2025

Manuel Encinias, 92, of Santa Maria, California, passed away peacefully on December 4, 2025 surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Born in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1933, Manuel was the second of ten children born to Conrado and Virginia Encinias. He spent his childhood in Flagstaff and attended Flagstaff High School, where the foundations of his lifelong dedication to learning and service were formed.

He entered the United States Military Services during the Korean War era and very proudly served in the Army at Fort Lewis Army base in Tacoma, Washington. After completing his service, he used his GI Bill to attend Arizona State College (now NAU-Northern Arizona University), earning his Bachelors Degree and eventually a Masters Degree. This launched his long and impactful career as an educator.

Manuel met his first wife, Mary Lizardi where she worked at Navajo Ordnance Depot (NOD) in the Belmont area near Flagstaff. They married in Williams, Arizona and welcomed two children, Josie and Mario.

His teaching career began at Redwood High School in Visalia, California. In 1973, he moved to Santa Maria, California where he taught for 23 years at Santa Maria High School and Righetti High School before retiring in 1996. Manuel had a long career teaching Spanish and English classes where he was known as a firm teacher with high expectations, always pushing his students to reach their full potential. Former students often expressed their appreciation for his driven, disciplined approach, greeting him warmly in the years following his retirement and thanking him for the role he played in shaping their lives.

Beyond education, Manuel was actively involved and deeply committed to advocacy and service to help the underserved Hispanic community. As a United Farm Workers (UFW) activist, he worked closely with Cesar Chavez during the farm labor movement. He held various leadership roles and was instrumental in organizing workers and developing projects for the union. Manuel was assigned by Cesar Chavez to personally meet with workers in the fields and gather their opinions on strategies to fight for their rights. In 1976, he prominently marched to rally attention and support of Proposition 14, an effort to amend California law to provide permanent funding for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) and ensure the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975 could not be easily weakened by the state legislature.

After retiring from teaching, Manuel remained active serving the Santa Maria community by supporting numerous organizations, including the American GI Forum, and by teaching ESL classes in Guadalupe. In 2006, he was honored and presented with the Most Influential Latino Award from Latino Today.

Later in life, Manuel met Eileen in 2003 and the two later married. They shared many joyful years traveling to Baja California, spending winters on his land there, enjoying time with friends and family, and embracing a slower pace filled with warmth and adventure. They found time to explore traveling across other areas of the western U.S., especially around Truckee and many good times visiting family across Arizona.

Manuel will forever be remembered for his many countless stories- vivid, humorous, tall tales of struggles and adventures that would sometimes keep you entertained long enough to "hold you hostage" for hours!

Manuel is survived by his wife Eileen, along with her daughter Nicole and her grandson Gabriel, his sister Gloria Granillo, daughter Josie Hernandez, son Mario Encinias and many beloved nieces and nephews. As well as his grandchildren, Monica (Joe), Corina, Breianna, and Raymond (Kristen). His Great Grandchildren, Michael (Jazmyn), Alexis (Fabian), Aracely, Larissa, Danay, Alyssa, Hayden, Darius, Gabriel, Roman, Isabella, and Julia. His Great Great Grandchildren, Anthony, MJ, Zakayah, Mayan, Genaro, Gianni, Eliana, Camila, and Larissa.

He is preceded in death by Mom and Dad, Conrado Encinias and Virginia Encinias, Brothers Conrad Encinias and Luis Encinias, Sisters Irene Tellez, Helen Mayorga, Pita (Pat) Tegreeny, Mary Lou Villanueva and his first wife Mary Lizardi Encinias.

Rosary and Prayer Service will be held Saturday January 17, 2026 at 12:00pm in Santa Maria, California at Dudley Hoffman Mortuary 1003 E. Stowell Road, Santa Maria CA 93456

Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary

Final arrangements will be planned for June 2026 in Flagstaff, Arizona. Funeral Mass will be held at Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Burial Interment at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Calvary Catholic Cemetery

Visit www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com to leave a condolence for the family.