Delia Champion Aguirre Parks

Delia Champion Aguirre Parks Delia Parks passed away on August 24, 2012 at the age of 95. She was born on February 22, 1917, in Donna, Texas, to Pedro S. Champion and Josephina Munoz Champion. She met and married Leonides (Lee) Salas Aguirre in 1938. The couple moved as migrant labor workers in caravans from state to state harvesting farmers' crops in Michigan, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California from 1952 to 1957. They made their final stop in McFarland, CA, and raised their family. She and Lee worked as labor contractors in the agriculture field(s). Delia was a devoted wife and mother of eight children, Oscar Champion, Arthur Aguirre, Leonard Aguirre, Mary Alaniz, Ymelda Wild, Rene Aguirre, Lily Thomas and Isabel Palagyi. She remarried in 1966 to Clayburn Parks and lived in Hemet, CA, until moving to Bakersfield in 1979. Delia was a talented and creative wife and mother, accomplished cook, gardener and seamstress. She enjoyed swap meets, yard sales and her many friends that always stopped by to visit and give her fruits and vegetables. They shared their daily lives with conversations together on a regular basis. She loved her home with wonderful citrus trees which she always juiced and gave to family and friends keeping her active. She was a loving mother and doted over her little companion, Molly [Schnauzer dog], who kept her company and spoiled her immensely. Delia is survived by two sisters, Josephina (Chena) Longoria of Mercedes, Texas, Manuela (Nena) Ochoa of Progresso, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews; and her own 6 children. She has 23 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Gumesindo (Gume), Pedro (Pete), and Roberto all from Progresso, Texas; sister, Guadalupe (Lupe) Garcia of Wachula, Florida; husbands, Leonides Aguirre from Runge, Texas, in 1978 and Clayburn Parks from Bakersfield in 1998; oldest and youngest son, Oscar (Joe) Champion of Bakersfield and Rene Aguirre from Tacoma, WA. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her for the kind, warm and generous person that she was. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary starting at 6:00 p.m., at Greenlawn Southwest Memorial Chapel, 2739 Panama Lane. Mass will be held on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at 10:00 p.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church, 900 H Street. Burial will take place on Thursday, September 6, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at Queen of Heaven Cemetery 2161 So. Fullerton Rd. Rowland Heights, CA (Fwy. 605 East to Fwy. 60 East) For condolences please visit www.greenlawnmortuaryandcemetery.com. Greenlawn Southwest www.bakersfield.com/obits