Frank Ybarra

Frank Ybarra, a respected business man and long time resident of Watsonville known for his integrity and honesty, died Wednesday November 29, 2006 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease.

They say some people live to work, and others work to live. Frank definitely belonged to the latter. He worked up until months before his death but he never let work come before the true loves of his life-his wife, his family, and his friends. For Frank, work was a means to providing a better quality of life for his family. A strong advocate of education, Frank managed to provide for his family while simultaneously returning to school to finish and receive his high school diploma. He went on to open his own business being one of the first Hispanic brokers in Watsonville. He was known among both his colleagues and his competition as "Honest Frank," for his honorable nature and way of dealing with people. He has left behind a family legacy at El Camino Realty where his son-in-law, grandson, and nephew continue his commitment to providing honest and knowledgeable service in helping the Watsonville community.

After a long day at the office, you could most likely find Frank in one of three places. He'd be in his backyard practicing his short game with his grandsons. He could be sitting in "his" chair at the dining room table, just waiting for family to walk in the door so he could beat them at a game of dominos. Or enjoying his favorite two olive dirty martini. Happiness to Frank was barbequing in his backyard with a home full of children, grandchildren and his wife by his side. The only thing better, was whisking them all away to his favorite destinations including Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and Hawaii. Those special getaways were a must for Frank, spending a week living in the same full house with his three kids and their children. A proud parent and grandparent, he lived to see them succeed.

Frank was born in Chandler, Arizona on January 26, 1933 to Bernardo and Rita Ybarra and was raised in Gilbert, Arizona. He was one of 6 children, including his older brother Alfred Ybarra, and his younger siblings Bernardo Ybarra, Josephine Pacheco, Edward Ybarra, and Jesse Ybarra.

He married Dora December 2, 1953. This year marks their 54th anniversary. Frank served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955. Upon his return, he moved to Watsonville, California, where he remained until his death. He became a father in 1956 with the birth of his first daughter, Diana Vargas. Later his son Felix Ybarra was born and his youngest daughter Christina Fischer, all of Watsonville. He also leaves behind eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He was a man of great faith and a parishioner of Saint Patrick's Church in Watsonville. He served as the former treasurer for the Watsonville Penny Club, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, an active member and former president of the Freedom Lion's Club, and a member and former president of the Watsonville Association of Realtors. He received the Watsonville Association of Realtors "Realtor of the Year" award. The Watsonville Association of Realtors also created the "Lifetime Achievement Award," last year specifically for Frank.

If Frank would ever miss a putt, he would always be quick to say, "You can't win them all." Though he wasn't always a man of many words, he taught by example. Golf often served as a metaphor for life. And just as it holds true in golf, though he may have lost his battle with Parkinson's disease he was successful in leaving the world a better place by the lives he touched and the people he will live through.

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