Hector Manuel Lopez

Hector Manuel Lopez, age 82, of San Diego, California, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. Hector was born in Lima, Peru, on March 8, 1942. Hector enlisted into the Peruvian Navy at the age of 18 where he served for 15 years before moving to the United States and joining the US Navy in 1975. He worked as an IC 2/Interior Communications Technician, 2nd Class for 5 years. After his time in the US Navy he worked as an electrician before retiring in 2008. 

After retirement, Hector spent his days doing what he loved most: spending time in the backyard, hitting (and exceeding) his daily step goal, and buying literally anything from every thrift store on his walk. His favorite times were spent with his family playing board games and card games. He never took the games seriously so no one ever wanted to be on his team, but he loved to hear them playing. 

If you walked into the backyard on any given day, you would find him working on one of his never-ending garden projects, doing his shuffle dance while listening to music, or simply sipping a beer and enjoying the sunshine. His pride and joy in the yard was an avocado tree that he grew from a seed in 1982. His wife, Debbie, was always quick to let people know that he once grew a whole tree from a single stick. 

He was a huge music lover and often sent songs to his kids he thought they would enjoy. Celia Cruz, Little River Band, Sonora Santanera, Paul Simon and Frank Sinatra were some of his favorites.

Did he do some questionable things? Yes. Did he try to open a beer bottle with his bare 80 year old teeth? Yes. Did he duct tape his shoes when they started to break down? Yes. But he also made friends with everyone he met. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wasn’t touched by this positivity and smile (even with the cracked tooth). His family got to experience this positivity through random notes and texts he left for them, reminders to “stay safe, positive, happy and healthy,” “love you always,” or “99” to say night night. 

He will be remembered as a loving and absolute goofball of a husband and father. He is survived by his wife of 41 years Debbie Lopez; his previous wife, Yolanda Lopez, his daughter Kathy Camps and her husband Javier; his son Omar Lopez, and his wife Angie; his daughter Jennifer Lopez-Payne and her husband George; his daughter Delisa Lopez and her partner Forest; his grandsons Francisco, Marcos and Hector Camps; his granddaughter Cecilia Camps; and a host of family and friends. 

A service for Hector will be held at Miramar National Cemetery on October 11, 2024 9:00 am - 9:30 am, followed by a Celebration of Life.