Delfino C. Macias
December 24, 1930 - September 27, 2021 Woodland, CA
Delfino C. Macias was born in Brawley, CA on December 24, 1930 to Pablo Lopez Macias and Juana Cabello Macias. In 1931, he returned to Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico with his parents and older sister Maria. When he was just three years old, his mother died giving birth to his younger brother Zenon. His father remarried Fidel Pinedo and they raised Delfino and his 12 siblings in Totatiche and Santa Maria, Jalisco.
At the age of 15, he was sent to the U.S. alone to work and help his father support their family. He began working as a farmworker in the Imperial Valley and then in Yolo County. In 1945, he arrived in Woodland, CA and made this his home for 76 years. He met Francisca Saragoza Villa and they were married in 1960. They raised their six children, Dolores and Joe M. Villa, Victoria, Pablo, Virginia and Delfino Macias, Jr. in Woodland.
In 1955, he became a truck driver, purchased his first truck and began D.C. Macias Trucking. He traveled throughout California hauling agricultural crops. Some summers he would travel as far south as El Centro to work with his brothers-in-law Gonzalo and Refugio Saragoza. In the winters he would travel as far north as Oregon to haul Christmas trees. He shared his skill of driving truck by teaching many young men to drive, including his son Joe Villa. After retirement he continued to share his expertise as a truck driving instructor. He tried organizing small independent truckers to help improve their working conditions and pay. He advocated with other parents for bilingual teachers and academic opportunities for Mexican youth within Woodland Joint Unified School District in the 1960’s.
Although Delfino came from humble beginnings he aspired to create opportunities for others. He was a founding member of the Mexican-American Concilio of Yolo County in 1973, alongside Rick Gonzales, Sr. He dedicated 48 years serving the Concilio. He served as a member of its Board of Directors and, until his death, was the oldest active member. He enjoyed volunteering at the Concilio’s annual scholarship dinner. In 1998, he was awarded the Concilio Recognition Senior Citizen Award.
He was an active member of Holy Rosary Church since 1945. He served as a Eucharistic Minister and Catechist in Spanish. He was a former member of Los Guadalupanos, Comite de Beneficencia, Los Caporales and Federacion de Charros. He bragged of serving as “body guard” for Cesar Chavez, when Chavez tried organizing farm workers in Yolo County. Delfino and Francis instilled within their children the importance of advocating by participating in protests and marches with organizations like the UFW at the State Capitol on numerous occasions. The Macias home was always open to friends and family, especially those coming from Mexico.
Delfino leaves behind a legacy of public service, the importance of education, voting, cultural pride, family and faith.
Delfino is survived by his children, Dolores and Tom Savala, Vicky and Armando Fernandez, Paul and Christi Macias, Delfino and Leap Macias, Virginia Rivera and Rosalinda Villa. Grandpa Fino is survived by 23 grandchildren, T.J. (Krista), Nick (Robin) and Falicia Savala; Joe (Juanita), Ricardo and Guillermo Villa, Isela (James) Astwood; Cristina Smith, Enrique (Nicole), Alexander and Robert (Samantha) Fernandez; Sarah, Christianpaul, Jarod, Keala, Laura, Tim, Tom and Jacob Macias; Sewit Tesfamiceal; Bryanna, Isaac and Mateo Rivera. Grandpa Fino had 12 great-grandchildren, Melissa, Vanessa, Evan, Nolan, Dylan and Ava Savala; Lauren, Grace, Melinda and Yazmin Villa; Ciara Fernandez Smith and Elias Fernandez.
He is survived by his siblings, Barbara Estrada, Ruperta Quezada, Juana Ortiz, Zenon, Dario and Telesforo Macias (Mexico), Fidencio Macias (San Bernadino, CA) and Eulalio Macias (Woodland, CA). He also leaves behind numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Francis Saragoza Macias and son, Joe M. Villa; siblings, Maria Ureña, Juana Macias Salazar, Ignacio and Eduardo Macias; his parents, Juana C. Macias, Pablo Macias, Fidel Macias (stepmother); Jose and Sebastiana Saragoza and many brothers and sisters in-laws.
Delfino C. Macias went to meet his Heavenly Father on September 27, 2021, at the age of 90.
Please join Delfino’s family for the Rosary at Holy Rosary Church at 6 p.m. on October 12, 2021. Funeral Mass will be October 13, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church. Burial at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Celebration of life immediately following at the Holy Rosary Tumulty Hall, 301 Walnut Street, Woodland, CA.