Rafael Ortega-Lopez's Obituary
Rafael Ortega López, 64, died at 6:05 PM in San Diego, CA, on Friday, November 13, 2015 at LifeHouse San Diego Healthcare Center in his sleep of complications from Dementia. Rafael was born on December 19, 1950 to Rafael Ortega Jiménez and MarÃa de Jesús López de Ortega in Ejutla, Jalisco, MX. He was family-oriented. As a child, after his sister Martina married, he would ride a burro all the way to the rancho where she lived to visit her. He made these trips alone. Rafael was the youngest of 12 siblings. Their names are BenjamÃn Ortega López, Cesário Ortega López, CecÃlia Ortega de Chávez, Concepción Ortega de Murillo, Hermelinda Ortega López, José Ortega López, Juana Ortega de Islas, Martina Ortega de Pelayo, Petra Ortega de Santillán, Rosa Ortega de Gradilla, and Teodora Ortega López. On March 28, 1981 in Carson City, Nevada, Rafael married Debbie Lyn Marie Baxter in a civil ceremony. Rafael and Debbie were divorced on June 16, 1989. Despite their divorce, they remained lifelong friends. Rafael worked at Placerville Industries Incorporated Chile Bar Slate Mine in Placerville, CA from 1986 to 2007 where as a Shift Supervisor he trained his coworkers. Other jobs held include Heavy Equipment Operator at Taki Mori Farms in Elk Grove, CA from 1974-1985. Rafael moved from Elk Grove, CA to Placerville, CA to live closer to his daughter.In his spare time, Rafael enjoyed boxing. One of his favorite fights was in 1994 Julio César Chávez versus Tony “The Tiger” López in MX. Another sport he enjoyed was fútbol mexicano, which he enjoyed playing with his granddaughters. He also enjoyed playing the slot machines at various casinos while his daughter and her friends played in the casino’s arcades. Other interests and activities included dancing, writing, and attending powwows. He was of a curious temperament, a lover of knowledge, and appreciated sarcastic humor. Rafael was a mentor to his nieces, nephews, and his daughter’s friends. Some of his daughter’s friends would later go on to say he was the only father they ever knew.Rafael is survived by his daughter Theresa Lyn Ortega and granddaughters Alita Ortega-Fowler and Dénzhoné Luna Ortega-Muñoz who currently reside in San Diego. He is predeceased by his paternal grandparents Lucio Ortega and Antonia Jiménez, maternal grandparents Faustino López and Dionisia Pérez, parents Rafael Ortega Jiménez and MarÃa de Jesús López de Ortega, brother Cesário Ortega López, his sister Rosa Ortega de Gradilla, his brother-in-law Miguel Gradilla Santana, his sister-in-law Rosa GarcÃa de Ortega, and his nephews Jose Ortega GarcÃa, Raúl Gradilla Ortega, Manuel Ortega Pelayo, José Ortega Chávez, BenjamÃn Islas Ortega, and a niece MarÃa Murillo Ortega.Entierro/Burial Saturday, November 28 10:00 AM Greenwood Memorial Park & Mortuary 4300 Imperial Avenue San Diego, CA 92113 Officiant: Dennis Alto, TipaiVelación/Wake Wednesday, November 25 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Greenwood Memorial Park & Mortuary 4300 Imperial Avenue San Diego, CA 92113 Bird/Tin Can songs: Alan Hatcher, Kwapa and Stanley RodrÃguez, IpaiPotluck Reception Saturday, November 28 12:00 PM Centro Cultural de la Raza 2004 Park Boulevard San Diego, CA 92101Rafael Ortega López place of interment is located in Rest Haven section at Greenwood Memorial Park & Mortuary. For more information, please call 619-248-0116.The Ortega family would like to thank Dennis Alto, Tipai Stanley RodrÃguez, Ipai Alan Hatcher, Kwapa Centro Cultural de la RazaPadre nuestro Santificado sea su memoria Mecca en Mexihco Ejutla, Jalisco TrabajoThey call Dementia, “The Long Goodbye” “Pero estoy fuerte!” he criedRafael Ortega López Family. Strength. Work
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