Lewis Valenzuela

Lewis T. Valenzuela, 95, passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family and into God's arms on July 23, 2017. Lewis was born in Fresno, California on March 7, 1922, to Cecilia Vega-Lamas and Peter Lewis Valenzuela. He was raised in Los Angeles and moved his family to the Santa Barbara Mesa in 1963. Lewis held a Doctorate of Chiropractic and was a master craftsman in vehicle and heavy equipment maintenance, retiring from the Santa Barbara City Parks and Golf Course operations in 1995. Lewis was a dedicated member of Catholic Church, being the eldest parishioner of Holy Cross and attained the rank of 3rd degree in the Knights of Columbus. Lewis was a fervent preservationist of California history and was a past-president of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West. He participated in the Rancheros Visitadores for many years and volunteered at the SB Carriage Museum preserving floats and historical memorabilia for Fiesta. Lewis is survived by Lydia Valenzuela, his loving wife of 75 years, four children: Myrna and Don Kastor, Esteban and Mary Ann Valenzuela, Paul and Patricia Valenzuela, and Robert and Diane Valenzuela, along with 14 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. A rosary will be held in his memory at Holy Cross Church at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2017. The funeral mass will follow at Holy Cross on Friday, August 4, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. with interment at Calvary cemetery to follow. Sail on Dad!