Manuel De Los Santos

1922 - 2006

Manuel De Los Santos, 84, of Ventura passed away peacefully with his loving wife and family at his side Tuesday, July 25, 2006, after a brief illness.

Manuel was born July 16, 1922, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Ramon and Felipa De Los Santos. He was a resident of Ventura County for 78 years.

As a young man in 1942, Manuel joined the United States Army. He served in the 104th Infantry Division as a staff sergeant. The 104th was the first American division to go directly from the United States to France. The division was in combat for 195 consecutive days, from Belgium through Holland and into Germany. He was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded by sniper fire near Paderborn, German.

Manuel began his professional life working for civil service at the Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme. While working there, he attended San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University, Northridge)in the evenings, earning a teaching credential and master's degree. He served the children of the Oxnard School District as a teacher for 23 years, bringing his joy of learning into everyday lessons. Manuel's professionalism and devotion to teaching was an ongoing example to students and colleagues alike. He retired from teaching in June 1988. He was a member of the Mexican American Golf Association and the National Timberwolf Association.

Manuel's most important activity in life was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He loved teaching them how to read and practice math skills and heshared stories and poetry with them that he had written. Manuel had a beautiful singing voice and in his younger days he would join with his brothers and play the guitar locally and at all the family gatherings. His other two joys in life were traveling with his wife, Lillian, and their friends and playing golf.

Manuel is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Lillian. They met at the Green Mill dance hall in Ventura and married in April 1950. Manuel would always tell his children that he could not believe the fact that someone as beautiful as Lillian would marry him!

He is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Tony and Sylvia De Los Santos, Marcelino and Esperanza De Los Santos and Richard and Emily De Los Santos; sisters, Julia Aparicio, Carmen Raudales, Mary Salsedo, Frances De Los Santos and Gloria De Los Santos; sister and brother-in-law, Anita and Wes Schmidt; daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy and David Dressler and Tricia and Tim McClain; sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Leslie De Los Santos and David and Donna De Los Santos; grandchildren, Eric Morter and his wife, Jenny, Matthew Dressler, Alisa and Nicholas De Los Santos, Richelle, Kevin, Adrian and Marcus De Los Santos and Serafina and Colin McClain; great-grandchildren, Evan and Justin Morter; and many nieces, nephews and godchildren.

Manuel was preceded in death by his parents, Ramon and Felipa De Los Santos.

Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Recitation of the rosary and celebration of the funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, July 31, at San Buenaventura Mission, 211 E. Main St., Ventura. Interment will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura, with a reception afterward.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory, Ventura.