Christopher "Kit" Alexander Lopez

Christopher "Kit" Alexander Lopez, 95, formerly of La Junta, Colorado, passed away on April 7, 2021 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.He was born July 8, 1925 to Cosme and Apolonia (Garcia) Lopez, the fifth of eleven children. Kit graduated from La Junta High School in 1943 and was inducted into the U.S. Army shortly afterward. During WWII, he served in the 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division in the South Pacific Theater. He saw combat in Iwo Jima and won the Army Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Bronze Star. He was part of the occupation forces in Japan and was honorably discharged in April 1946.Kit married his sweetheart, Rosa Pauline Sosa, on June 4, 1951. They raised four children and remained married for sixty-nine years until her death earlier this year. Kit was a dedicated Santa Fe Railroad employee for forty-three years and was a proud member of the Brotherhood of Railway and Airline Clerks. He retired in 1985 and thereafter was a frequent visitor to the La Junta Senior Center where he won many card games, especially Conquian. Kit loved his hometown of La Junta and often volunteered for activities with Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church. In 2019, Kit and Pauline moved to Brookdale Skyline Assisted Living Community in Colorado Springs to be closer to family. He made many new friends and attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church.Kit was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; brothers, Edward, Paul, Daniel, and Gilbert; sisters, Helen Cortinez, Rita Dundas, and Marguerite Phelps; daughter, Cindy Lopez; and grandson, Reyne Stokes Lopez. He is survived by his brothers, Matthew and Cosme; sister, Gloria O'Keefe; children, Steven (Paula) Lopez, Sandra (Ed) Gravley, and J. Lake Lopez; grandchildren, Michael (Jenny) Lopez, Matthew Lopez, Hunter (Meg) Gravley, Hayden Anne (Kevin) Clark, and Hollan Gravley; and great-grandchildren, Colton, Willa, Olaf, Galena, Kinley, and Zoey.The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the many assisted living and hospice professionals who cared for Kit in his final days.A Graveside Service for Kit and Pauline will be held at 11:00AM, Friday, April 30, 2021, Fairview Cemetery, 402 Potter Drive, La Junta, Colorado 81050. Events Graveside Friday, April 30, 2021 11:00AM Fairview Cemetery (La Junta, CO) 402 Potter Drive La Junta, CO 81050