Lucio M. Lopez

Lucio M. Lopez, from Shafter, passed away, June 11, 2023, at the age of 94. He was born in 1929 and lived most of his life in Shafter.

Lucio, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, is survived by his wife, Lydia; sons;Danny Sr., Bernard, and Ernie; stepson Floyd; daughters Priscilla, Patricia, Rosalee, and Janett;l stepdaughters Sonya and Sundrina; as well as 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Lucio enlisted in the US Army in 1954 to follow in his brother’s footsteps. In 1957, he married Vicenta Carrasco (deceased), and of that union, seven children were born. He worked 13 years as a welder for Frank Russell and Adams Hardfacing. He then went on to fulfill a 25-year career with the State of California as an employment representative for disabled veterans.

In 1967, Lucio worked on the TAP (Target Area Program) committee that brought the Head Start program to Bakersfield and later to Shafter.

Lucio was once a write-in candidate for city mayor. In 2005, along with his sister Matilda Pineda (deceased), they served as grand marshals of the Cinco de Mayo Parade.

In 2006, he married Lydia Moreno Gaitan and spent the remainder of his years living with her family in Bakersfield.

Throughout his life, Lucio enjoyed deer hunting, camping, gardening and spending time with family and friends. You would often find him sitting outside listening to music or watching a Dodgers game in the warm Shafter sun.

The viewing will be held on Monday, June 19, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Rosary at 6 p.m. at Peters Funeral Home in Shafter. A funeral Mass will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20 at St. Therese’s Catholic Church in Shafter, with a military burial service to follow at 12:30 p.m. at the National Cemetery in Arvin.