JOSE R. SABALA

Dec. 28, 1924 - July 18, 2010

Jose Sabala died peacefully in his sleep July 18th at home.

Jose Sabala was born December 28, 1924 in Merced to Sipriano and Maria Esperanza Zavala at 851 13th Street. His only education consisted of Kindergarten at Galen Clark School, he never learned to read or write. At the young age of 6, Jose and his family left to Mexico when the U.S. Government offered a one way ticket back to Mexico during the Great Depression. Jose came back to Merced in 1949 to work as a Farm Laborer. Jose married Rosa in 1950 and they worked as farm laborers until 1964. He started his own business as a Gardener to support his wife and 11 children without assistance from the Government such as Food Stamps, Welfare, or Medi-Cal.

Jose suffered his first heart attack in 1975 and as a result he and Rosa began to sell at the swap meets in the San Joaquin Valley. They sold at these venues for over 30 years. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 81. Jose was a man of great character who instilled the value of honesty, integrity, hard work and not being afraid to sweat into all of his children.

Jose is preceded in death by his three sons, Sipriano, Adrian and Raymond Sabala; his sister Loretta Mendez and brothers Francisco and Raymond Zavala; two grandchildren Robert Sabala and Joshua Lopez III. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Rosa Sabala; their 9 children Marguerite Lopez, Loretta Pond, Tina Sabala, Maria Esperanza (Hopey) Sabala, Maria Jessie Lopez of Merced, Maria Elena Wagner of Lacey, Washington, Carlos and Robert of San Monica, Joe Sabala of San Diego; one sister Maria Elena Murillo of Mexicali, Mexico. He is survived by 9 children, 17 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation on July 22, 2010 from 3-6pm with a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00pm at Wilson Family Funeral Chapel of Merced, 525 W. 20th St. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 23, 2010 at 12:00 noon at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Wilson Family Funeral Chapel of Merced.