Clarence ‘Cal’ Joseph Lopez
1930 — 2024
Clarence “Cal” Joseph Lopez, 93, of Sonora, passed away peacefully with his family by his side March 28, 2024.
Cal was born April 2, 1930, to Joseph and Palmeda Lopez. He grew up in Oakland, California, and attended Castlemont High School, where he met the love of his life Edna in the ninth grade. They were married for 74 years and together raised their three children, Christina, Glenn and Kenneth.
In his early days, Cal worked various jobs for General Motors, Lucky Foods, driving trucks and finally as a maintenance supervisor for a large Bay Area construction company until his retirement in the early 1980s. Not staying retired too long, Cal went to work for Walmart in the garden department, where he was loved by many.
Cal had many hobbies, including working in his yard, raising birds, building bird houses and taking Hawaiian vacations and cruises with lifelong friends. He also had a love for music and could play many instruments, including the piano, the accordion, the harmonica and the ukulele. His children will always cherish the memories of the whole family gathering after dinner and singing while he played any one of his instruments. He was a man with a song in his heart!
The most important thing in this world to Cal, or “Bomps” as his grandchildren called him, was spending time with his family. They all have fond memories of him telling stories of the good ol’ days, large holiday gatherings, summers at Kennedy Meadows, or just visiting while having a cold beer under the shade tree in the front yard.
Cal will always be remembered for his kind and gentle nature. To know him was to love him, and he will be deeply missed.
Clarence is survived by his daughter, Christina (Mike) Whitney, of Sonora; son, Kenneth Lopez, of Sonora; daughter-in-law, Kim Rodgers, of Sonora; grandchildren, Brian (Michelle) Alberto, Mark (Cherie) Alberto, Kevin (Jackie) Alberto, Stacey (Jack) Klein, and Joseph (Megan) Lopez; great-grandchildren, April, Austin, Chloe, Madison, Emerson, Cooper, Rylee and Jacob Alberto, Tyler, Hannah and Hudson Klein, and Deacon Lopez; sister-in-law, Sotiria Knoblich; and many loving nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.
Clarence is preceded in death by his wife of 74 years, Edna Lopez; parents, Joseph and Palmeda Lopez; son, Glenn Lopez; and sister, Dorothy Dean.
Services to be held 11 a.m. April 27, 2024, at Terzich and Wilson Cremation-Funeral Home, 225 E. Rose St. at Lyons St., Sonora.