Salvador Guzmn Ledesma Sr.

Salvador Guzmn Ledesma Sr., age 91, passed away April 18, 2010, at St. John's Regional Medical Center.

Born on July 1, 1918 to Camilo Ledesma and Juanita Guzmn in Oxnard, CA, Sal was the seventh child born among his seven siblings. He met the love of his life, Lucina Escalante, as neighborhood friends when they were kids growing up in Oxnard. They married on May 25, 1942.

Sal proudly served in the U.S. Army and is a veteran of World War II, during which he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Lu and their then toddler son, Sal Jr., waited for his safe return from the War. After returning home, Sal and Lu continued to expand their family with the additions of Priscilla and Marline. Sal was strongly loyal and bighearted to his family.

As a kid, he decided not to complete the eighth grade nor enter high school. Rather, he began his career shining shoes and gave the earnings to his mother to help support the family. This spirit of entrepreneurship and generosity was a consistent pattern throughout his life. Sal always knew he wanted to achieve great things.

A natural businessman, Sal and his brother, Ray, opened Ranchers' Corner, a produce market near the corner of A St. and 7th St. in Downtown Oxnard, in 1949. That same year, they opened the first Christmas tree lot in Ventura County. Sal and his brother regularly donated Christmas trees to Santa Clara and Our Lady of Guadalupe Churches. They eventually relocated their business and renamed it Oxnard Produce, which put them on the map for local fresh food, serving multiple restaurants, schools, state institutions, and more. Oxnard Produce once was listed in the Top 100 Hispanic Businesses in the U.S., and Sal was an active member of the Latin American Businessmen's Club in the 1950s and 1960s. At various times through Oxnard Produce, Sal employed his children, cousins, son-in-laws, and grandchildren, some who experienced their first job with him.

Despite being resolutely committed to his work, Sal was a dedicated family man. He frequently came home for lunch where he enjoyed the company of Lu and miscellaneous family members who often joined the meal. When his grandchildren were young, Sal entertained them on Christmas by dressing as Santa Claus and passing out gifts.

Affectionately known to many as "Don Chava," Sal demonstrated to and instilled in his family and those who knew him a strong work ethic. He created many opportunities for his family directly and indirectly through his endeavors. Even after Oxnard Produce closed after 43 years of business, Sal always kept his mind busy and engaged in ways to satisfy his entrepreneurial cravings. With a real knack for business, his small commercial hobbies flourished, and he intentionally had to keep them from growing so as not to interrupt his "retirement."

Then in his later years, Sal discovered his passion for the stock market and replaced his business pursuits with trading and following the market. He could lose himself in a conversation with anyone about stocks and was always looking for a Golden Goose to produce nest eggs. Family would find him sitting at his computer and television, with the volume blaring, absorbed in the day's progress of the market. Surrounded in a sea of paper work, he sometimes immersed himself in trends, numbers, quotes, and tips from when the market opened in the early morning to after the ring of the closing bell.

Sal is preceded in death by his parents, Camilo and Juanita; his five brothers, David, Joe, Rafael, Ral, and Ray; and his two sisters, Mary and Remedios.

Sal is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lucina Escalante Ledesma; his son Salvador Ledesma Jr. and grandchildren Salvador III, Marc, Christina, and Elena; his daughter Priscilla Ledesma Acosta; granddaughter Amy Aguilar and her husband Francisco; grandson Darin Acosta, his fianc Theresa Lopez, and great-granddaughters, Darian and Katherine; his daughter Marline Ledesma Palomares; grandson Nicholas Palomares, his wife Shannon, and great-granddaughters, Sophia and Lily; and granddaughter Natalie Palomares. He is deeply loved and missed by all.

Visitation for Sal will be held on Thursday, April 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. with a recitation of the rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Santa Clara Mortuary and Cemetery, 2370 North H St., Oxnard. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 23 at 10 a.m. at Santa Clara Church, 323 South E St., Oxnard; interment services will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery.

Condolences and special memories may be shared with the Ledesma Family at www.santaclaramortuary.com Santa Clara Mortuary 805-485-5757