Alfonso B. Diaz

Alfonso Diaz Rafael Alfonso Bautista Diaz passed away on August 21, 2010 at the Shoreline Convalescent Home in Oxnard, California. Those who knew him called him "Al". He was born on October 23, 1923 in Santa Rita, NM. Al was raised in Saticoy, California along with 5 siblings, by his grandmother, Micyla Aguilera, after he lost both parents at a young age. He was always finding ways to help his grandmother make ends meet as a young child. In his adult years, Al later became well-known in town as the local barber on Violeta Street. In 1943, Al enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp and served as a crew member of B-24 Liberator Bomber which was shot down over Europe. He was held as a POW for one year. With the aid of a German soldier, Al escaped and was rescued by British forces spending two months in a British hospital. Those war experiences, as well as his poor childhood, influenced the rest of his life in that it made him see the beauty of everything even the simplest pleasures and to wake up each morning to appreciate a new day. He found happiness and blessings in the smallest things but the greatest love in his life was his family. He married Vita Gomez in 1947 and they lived in Saticoy and then East Ventura, both working hard to support their growing family of 4 daughters: Anna, Donna, Irma and Yolanda. Life took an unexpected turn in the Diaz family when Vita suddenly passed away in 1973. A new life began for Al in 1975 when he met and married Bertha Morales of Canoga Park where they continued to raise Yolanda and Bertha's three younger children until they were grown. Later, they created a life together as a couple in Moorpark, Las Vegas, Apple Valley and resettled in Moorpark until his recent passing. Al will always be remembered by his friends and family as a caring, giving and patient man who instilled in each and everyone an appreciation for life. His most remembered words of wisdom were "Wake up, thank God you are alive", Give thanks to God" and "Life is not always fair, you have to pull yourself together and be tough" although he was never known as a tough man. He always had a philosophical answer for life's problems or enigmas. He was very proud and honored to be an American of Mexican descent and happy to have served his country. During the years of the Vietnam war, Al could be found at dawn at the Greyhound bus station in downtown Ventura showing appreciation to the newly-enlisted young men heading off to boot camp. His daughters remember his volunteering his barbering skills at the local hospitals and nursing homes on his days off. Al never waited to be asked for his help in anything that was needed. He would just be there. He was a member of the Saticoy Lion's Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He leaves behind his loving family: wife Bertha, his daughters, Anna (George) Carillo, Donna Foster, Irma (David) Baca, Yolanda (Frank) Gaona and Jim Foster (former son-in-law), his stepchildren, Lilia (Hal) Hammersmith, Orlando Morales, Amelia (Mike) Jacalone, Lori (Joe) Manheim, 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, a surviving sister, Vera Hernandez, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rafael and Catalina Diaz, his grandmother, Micyla Aguilera, his first wife, Vita Diaz, sisters, Genevieve Marin, Lydia Negrete Sanchez, Fred Diaz, Agustine Wiltron and some nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to The Roze Room Hospice in Ventura can be made. He would also have greatly appreciated remembering our military families.