Luis R. "Louie" Espinoza Sr.

LUIS "LOUIE" R. ESPINOZA, SR.

July 16, 1930 - Feb. 21, 2011

Louie R. Espinoza, 80, of Calexico, CA passed away on Monday, February 21, 2011 of congestive heart failure at El Centro Regional Medical Center. He went peacefully surrounded by family. He was born in Stockton, CA and was married to Georgia Faye Espinoza.
Louie moved to Calexico with his parents when he was 9 years old from Stockton, CA. He attended Calexico local schools, played football, wrestled and graduated from Calexico High School in 1951. After High School he joined the Army and in 1953 on a weekend pass married Georgia Faye Frazier in Yuma, AZ. He served in the Army at the end of the Korean War in Darmstadt, Germany and he and Georgia explored Europe by car and train. Upon returning home Louie and Georgia started a family and Louie had several business ventures including, Louie's Radiator, Louie's Richfield and finally Appollo Drain Service. He continued his Military Service in the National Guard and Louie served his community as a Calexico City Treasurer, and a Calexico Unified School Board Member. He coached Pop Warner Football and was instrumental in bringing the first Pop Warner Football teams to Calexico and he was also a Boy Scout Leader. He was the eternal coach and quoted Vince Lombardi frequently. He volunteered at Calexico High School football games on the Chain gang on the sidelines. He was a firefighter for the Calexico Fire Department before starting his businesses and then continued as volunteer Fireman, once even delivering a baby on the way to the hospital. He loved hunting and deep sea fishing in Baja and taking his family on car trips. In his retirement years Louie volunteered with the Disabled American Veterans driving Imperial County veterans to their doctor's appointments at the V.A. hospital in La Jolla, CA. Louie loved to tell a good story and if he caught your ear watch out, because, you could be there a while.
He is preceded in death by his father, Zacarías Espinoza, and mother Josefina Espinoza de Licon'.
Louie is survived by his wife, Georgia Faye Espinoza of Calexico, CA; daughters, Gina Linn Espinoza of Los Angeles, CA, Rosanna Pritting of Imperial, CA, Susan Ann George of Lancaster, PA; son, Luis "Louie" R. Espinoza, Jr. of Calexico, CA; grandchildren, Niki Salgado of Imperial, CA, Julia Gonzalez of Los Angeles, CA, Matthew Pritting of Imperial, CA; his very special sister in-law, Nancy Rivera of Calexico, CA. and many nieces, nephews and many, many friends.
Rosary and visitation will be held on Thursday, March 10 from 6p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hems Brothers, 1820 N Imperial Avenue, Calexico, CA 92231. Church services will be held on Friday, March 11 at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 124 East 5th Street Calexico, CA 92231. Military Graveside Services immediately following church services at Mountain View Cemetery, 895 Scaroni Rd, Calexico, CA 92231.
Celebration of Life Gathering immediately following Military Graveside Services at the Espinoza Family Home in Calexico. The family suggests memorials in his name to: Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 124 East 5th Street Calexico, CA 92231 (760) 357-1822.