Luis Paulino Espinosa

1921 - 2014

Luis Paulino Espinosa died peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, November 6th, 2014. He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Luz Maria Espinosa.

He was born on June 22, 1921 in Kanopolis, Kansas and raised in Uruapan Michoacn Mexico. In 1944 He married Luzmaria Basurto Espinosa. They were blessed with their first child in 1945, Carmen Soledad Espinosa Basurto. Carmen was followed closely by Victor Manuel, Luzmaria and Analuisa. As his family grew, life became more economically challenging.

In 1951 he made the journey north. He returned to Kansas where he had a maternal uncle. He spent 2 years in Kansas and worked for the Union Pacific railroad. After the first year he returned to his wife and children, including his new daughter, Margarita. When he returned to the United States he traveled to California working at various jobs throughout the state. He was a man who was dedicated to his family and separation from them was difficult. Discovering that his wife was to have another child, he decided to apply to bring the family to his birth country.

In 1956 with the birth of his daughter, Martha Judith his family of 6 children and his wife joined him in what would be his life long residence in Santa Paula. In Santa Paula his last two children, Luis Javier Jr. and Erendira Guadalupe were born. He was an agricultural worker when he first came to Santa Paula and is recognized on the Santa Paula Farm worker Monument. He worked for Wilson/Gouforth Citrus and Avocado Nursery and became renown throughout the county as an expert grafter. He was instrumental in developing the avocado industry in Uruapan, Michoacn, which is now one of the leading exporters of avocados in the world providing jobs for many in his childhood state. He also worked for the Ventura Coastal Corporation for many years until his retirement in 1986.

He was involved in community affairs including being one of the co-founders of La Casa Del Mexicano, Sociedad Fraternal and MACO. He served for many years as the Master of Ceremonies for the Fiestas Patrias of the cultural center known as La Casa Del Mexicano. He participated in community activities at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church including the Sociedad del Santo Nombre and the Knights of Columbus.

Luis had a lifelong passion for gardening and landscaping. His garden always brought much pride and pleasure to his wife and children and his dedication to it kept him active well into his 90's. He was recently awarded his second "Yard of the Month Award". His other passion was poetry and rhyming. He entertained his children when they were young with his ability to find a rhyme for any word they presented. He wrote many poems to his wife and wrote poems for his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his eight children, two daughters in law (Laura Espinosa and Dawn Espinosa) a son in law (John Taboada), five grandsons, nine granddaughters, one great grandson, three great grandchildren, his sister, Amalia in Arizona and numerous other nieces and nephews.

His family thanks Livingston Hospice, especially nurse "Juanita" Coleman, social worker Kenny Aragon, CNAs Lupita and Araceli Ochoa and other staff who so graciously cared for Luis and helped him transition from this life to eternal rest.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 14, 2014 from 12pm-5pm at Chapel of Angels, 600 East Pleasant Street, Santa Paula followed with the recitation of the rosary at 7pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 427 North Oak Street, Santa Paula. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am, Saturday, November 15, 2014 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Santa Paula Cemetery.

For map and directions to ceremony locations and to sign the family's online guestbook, share memories and post pictures please visit our website: www.santapaulafuneralhome.comFuneral Arrangements are under the direction of the Family Owned & Operated Robert Rey Garcia Jr. Funeral Services, Santa Paula. 805.229.7054.