Edwardo "Ed" Mendoza's Obituary
Our father, Edwardo (Ed) Mendoza, passed away on July 31st, 2022 at Beehive Homes assisted living in American Fork, Utah. Ed was born July 23rd, 1942 to Eduardo Lalo and Romelia Haro Aguilar, later adopted by Bernie Mendoza. Ed attended “Cal-Hi” (California High School) in Whittier, CA before enlisting in the United States Air Force. Ed was a veteran of the Vietnam War. As a Staff Sergeant in Intelligent Communications, Ed spent time stateside, stationed in Texas, Mississippi and Colorado; and also assigned abroad to the Philippines, Thailand, England, Germany, Italy, and Africa.
Ed married Bobette Mills in 1964. The couple were blessed with 6 children; 5 girls and 1 boy. He loved to fish and enthusiastically taught his girls to bait a hook. His daughters grew up having a weekly night out with their Dad, even if it was just an ice cream cone or a park visit. His children loved him dearly.
After serving 10 years in the military, Ed settled his family in New Mexico, where he attended the University of New Mexico and obtained a double-major Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics. Ed then began his long-serving teaching career and passion for computers.
Ed moved his family back to his hometown, Whittier, California, and worked for Lockheed Martin and eventually taught their program to service members at Ft. Sill Air Force Base in Lawton, Oklahoma. Ed moved his family to Missouri where he became a professor for MIT, building and teaching computers. After his divorce, he moved back to California, where he built a successful construction company.
Ed was an expert in computers, a love he carried his entire life. He was a Corvette enthusiast and showed great mastery when working on cars. Ed loved attending sporting events, especially football, and enjoyed watching his grandchildren play the game. In addition to Corvettes and MOPAR, he enjoyed beach time, picnics in the park, camping, Halloween parties and eating out. Ed had beautiful handwriting, was adept at writing letters and could build just about anything.
Ed was preceded in death by his daughter Michelle Beers, granddaughter Emilia Wilson, parents Romelia Haro (Fred) Silva, father Eduardo Lalo Aguilar, adopted father Bernie Mendoza, and his brother Kenny Mendoza. He's survived by his daughters Monique (David) Leeder, Laura (Randy) Naviaux, Allison Pemberton, Rachel Wilson, his son Landon (Emily) Wilson as well as 13 grandchildren (Brett, Brandon, Ashley, Samantha, Rachel, Boston, Quinton, Aundrea, Taylor, Scott II, Isabella, Jacob, Preston, Abraham, Elora) and 12 great grandchildren. His family has organized a celebration of life to honor Ed and his military service at a later date.
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