Alfonso Cota Ponce

Alfonso Ponce, 50 passed away May 20, 2010 after a brief illness. He was a Ventura county resident for the past 40 years and worked as a Merchant Marine for 5 years with Seahorse/Zapata Gulf Marine and sailed the high seas from the San Diego waters to the Alaskan Coast in Dutch Harbor where he also spent some R&R at the Elbow Room and Unicy Inn with his brother David. In addition to his work with the merchant marines he also was a glazer, delivered toner for the county, drove a forklift and spent several of his young years unloading produce from semi-trucks in LA with his brothers. Alfonso had a very big heart, endearing personality and a great sense of humor. He made people laugh and perfect strangers feel like they had know him for years. He was blessed to have had some very wonderful and caring friends. One in particular mentioned that she used to call him Oscar, a.k.a. “Oscar the Grouch”. To those who knew him well, that too was fitting as he could be a little grumpy. He was sweet, a brat, our brother and we loved and will miss him dearly. He is preceded in death by his parent’s Rosario and Jess Ponce and leaves behind ten brothers and sisters. Richard Soto of Oxnard, Alex Gutierrez (wife Nolia) of Azusa, Hortencia Tellez of Indio, Jessie Ponce, Manuel Ponce (wife Angelica), David Ponce (wife Rita), Victoria Rivera (husband Louie), Frances Ponce, Sylvia Beas (husband Timeo), and Daniel Ponce; all of Oxnard, two God-children and plenty of nieces, nephews. To the staff at VCMC who helped our family through this difficult time, doctors, nurses and social services were loving, compassionate people who truly seemed to care about their patient and his family. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. To the merchant marines, brothers at sea, SOS, SOS, his ship has gone down. We thank you also for the wonderful times that he expressed to us during his many story times. Memorial services in celebration of his life, will be held at Oxnard State Beach at 1 p.m. Friday, May 28th 2010.