Lloyd Velarde Fernandez
We are saying goodbye to and celebrating the life of our husband, father, grandfather, and great-grand father Lloyd Velarde Fernandez who passed away peacefully on February 7, 2014. He was with us for 93 years, giving us all his life lessons.
Born on November 30, 1920, Lloyd was the eldest of the nine children of Lorenzo and Frances Fernandez and was a life-long Santa Paula resident. He was a sixth generation Californian, proud of his family roots. Lloyd was a descendent of Lt. Jose Joaquin Moraga who came to California with the DeAnza party, founding the Presidio in San Francisco and contributing to the settlement of the city of San Jose.
Lloyd was the owner of Fernandez Floor Covering in Santa Paula for 54 years. He was well known in the community for the quality of his work, which can still be seen in many locations in Santa Paula.
Lloyd celebrated 64 years of marriage with his wife Molly (Amalia) Fernandez. Lloyd and Molly met before he joined the service, corresponding for years while he was overseas. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 until 1945 in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Lloyd enjoyed the outdoors and camping. He especially loved Yosemite National Park where he and Molly honeymooned in 1949. For years, he and Molly took their children on summer trips to Yosemite, beginning a family tradition of camping vacations which his children continue today. Among his other joys were his trips with friends and family to Las Vegas and the Chumash Indian Casino where he could always be found locked in battle with a keno machine. After his retirement Lloyd and Molly were able to enjoy weekly trips. Alternating their luck between each other, they always seemed to be ahead.
Our father was a great believer in education. He was proud of his children and grandchildren and their many accomplishments. He was a self-taught man who was educated in many subjects. He was an avid investor in real estate and the stock market, grew his own fruits and vegetables, and was familiar with how to use a number of herbs and vitamins to treat just about any ailment.
Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, Lorenzo and Frances Fernandez, his brothers Andrew and Lawrence Fernandez and his great granddaughter Sophia Amalia Andrade (our little angel).
Lloyd is survived by his wife of 64 years Molly Fernandez; three daughters, Patricia (James) Andrade; Ellen (Paul) Olivares; Nancy (Andy) Ventura; two sons, Ralph (Catherine) Fernandez and Michael Fernandez; grandchildren, James (Dr. Sandra), Steven; and Daniel (Sarah) Andrade; Michelle and Sean Olivares; Andrew, Krystin, and Valerie Ventura; Elizabeth, Laura, Julia and Robin Fernandez; Siblings, Hortencia Borras, Alice Guerrero, John Fernandez, Anita (Frank) Luna, Frank (Alejandra) Fernandez and Esther (Joe) Marquez. Lloyd is also survived by his aunt, Myra Harrison.
Please join us in honoring his life.
The viewing will occur at Skillin Carroll Mortuary 738 E. Santa Paula Street, Santa Paula, California 93060 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Monday, February 17, 2014 with a rosary to begin at 7:00pm.
The funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00am February 18, 2014 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church 425 N. Oak Street, Santa Paula, California 93060
