Mercedes A. Sandoval

Mercedes A. Sandoval died at her home in Oxnard on November 26, 2018, of heart failure at the age of 100. She was born on August 26, 1918, in Aguascalientes, Mexico to Miguel and Micaela Arenas. Her family emigrated to California in 1919 and lived in Palmdale, Los Angeles and finally settled in Moorpark, CA. Mercedes was the second oldest of eleven children.

After attending Moorpark High School, she worked at Castro's Market where she met her future husband, Lino C. Sandoval. Two years later they became engaged and were married on December 26, 1937, at Guadalupe Church in Oxnard. Mercedes and Lino were married for 63 years and raised seven children together in Moorpark and Oxnard.

While living in Moorpark the married couple owned a cafe and gas station on High Street. During WW2 Lino enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps while Mercedes ran the business with three small children. After the war, the family moved to Oxnard where Lino managed the Oxnard Citrus Labor Camp on Fifth Street. In 1951 he was hired to manage the Buena Vista Labor Camp, the largest labor camp in the Western United States. Mercedes raised the children, taking them to school and ushering them to their sports activities, while Lino was working and supporting the growing family.

With the coming of a sixth child, Joseph, the family moved to 1121 West Beverly, a new suburb on the west side of Oxnard. All the children went to Santa Clara Grammar and later to Santa High School. Mercedes keep a close eye on her children to make sure they were educated, properly dressed and ready for college. In 1958 with the arrival of their seventh child, Michelle, the family moved to 48 Carriage Square on the outskirts of Oxnard.

In 1968 when her son George went to Vietnam, Mercedes got a job at Penny's in downtown Oxnard to keep herself occupied. In 1975 she worked for the Oxnard School District at Marina West School assisting teachers with young children who spoke only Spanish. She retired 22 years later in 1997 at the age of 77 only because her husband needed her at home after open- heart surgery.

Mercedes resided at Carriage Square until 2005 then moved to Port Townsend, WA. She returned in May 2007 and spent her last years in Oxnard. 

Mercedes's life was devoted to her seven children. She had a passion for her Roman Catholic faith, teaching young children, music, reading and haute couture. She also enjoyed traveling visiting Europe and Mexico. Her long life is attributed not only to her genetics and strong faith but her self -discipline focusing on exercise and good eating habits. 

Mercedes is survived by her children: Bill Sandoval (Carmina) of San Pedro, CA, Christina Rothrock (Terry) of Mill Creek, WA, George J. Sandoval (Gina) of Ojai, Joseph Sandoval (Judy) of Kalispell, MT, Michelle Sandoval (Marty) of Port Townsend, WA, her sisters, Josephine Arenas and Dolores Castro of Moorpark and forty-two grand and great-grandchildren, cousins and relatives in Ventura County and beyond. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lino C. Sandoval, daughter, Mary Ann Crist and son, Edward Sandoval.