Orlinda Valdez Lopez Obituary (1928 - 2016)

Orlinda Passed away on December 10, 2016 at the age of 88. She was born in Youngsville, New Mexico to Donaciano Valdez and Isabel "Rosa" Trujillo on September 25, 1928. She enjoyed telling her children about her young life on their ranch. She had to quit school after the fifth grade to help her father work on the ranch. She remembered working by moonlight beside her father during harvest season, yanking icicles off the porch awning and making fresh snow and milk slush's. Orlinda liked to "throw a fit" with her sister Angie, in order to go with their brother Max to the dance in town. At the age of 16 she worked as a kitchen employee in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Due to several years of drought her family moved to Porterville in 1948. They lived in an army tent on the property of her uncle Esequiel Velasquez while her father built their home on Beverly Drive. Orlinda had a strong catholic faith and was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church. She always had a smile for everyone and was known as "Orly" by family and friends. Her hobbies were sewing, gardening, hiking with family, bingo, and family vacations. She was head cook at Elsie's Spanish Kitchen for 15 years. Orlinda was preceded in death by her parents Donaciano and Isabel and her step mother Rebecca M. Ortiz, her brothers; Eliseo Marselino, Jose Rujelio, Jose Rujellio "Rugie", Donaciano Jr., sisters; Ursula Aida Valdez, Maria Olinda Valdez, Maria Angelica "Angie" Salas, Rosita Terecina Valdez, Maria Sorida"Mary"Ford, and Rosita "Rosie" Greatorex, sons; Bernabe Federico Lopez, Cirilo Lopez and daughter -in-law Susan D. Busch Lopez and her daughter Antonina "Toni" Lopez. She is survived by her brothers; Jose Maximo"Max", Jose Ejinio "Joe" (Janie), sister; Dorita "Dora" Cisneros (Larry),sons; Manuel and Bernabe R. "Bernie" Lopez of Porterville, daughters; Rosabel and Josephine Lopez of Porterville, grandchildren; Cirilo E."Mark" Lopez (Jessica) of Magna, UT, Monica D. Lopez Jones (Michael )of Visalia, great-grandchildren; Aubree M. Lopez, Trevor C. Lopez of Magna, UT, Sudhanna D. Jones of Visalia. Orlinda will be missed.