JOHN FUENTES Obituary

John Richard Fuentes was born February 11, 1934, in Sonora Hospital, the oldest child to John "Babby" Fuentes and Orbie Elizabeth Ryan. He was preceded in death by his sister Faith Fuentes Bond. John was raised in Tuolumne, attending Summerville Elementary School and Summerville High School, graduating in 1952. John played football, basketball and baseball for Summerville High. He hit .322 in his Senior Year in baseball, subsequently earning a place in the Summerville High School Hall of Fame.
While attending Summerville High, he met Doris Parks, and they married. Theirs was the first marriage in the newly constructed Tuolumne Methodist Church. They lived in Tuolumne, Modesto, and Sonora. Doris gave birth to four children and lovingly welcomed each of their spouses into the family. They are Jerry Fuentes & Kim Beeby of Stockton, Ron Fuentes & Bridgette Sooter of East Sonora, Shari Fuentes & the late Tim Gallagher of Sonora, and Jeanine Fuentes & Perry Harmon of Berkeley. Nine grandchildren also survive him: Astyn Wielkie of Reno, NV; Nick Fuentes of Lincoln, NE; Ronnie Fuentes of Sacramento, CA; Melissa Fuentes of Kirkland, WA; Brittany Fuentes Smyth of Sonora, CA; Joseph Harmon of San Diego, CA, Mia Harmon of Arcata, CA, Sean Gallagher and Michael Gallagher of Sonora and three great-grandchildren: Chloe and Jaxson Wielkie of Reno NV and Rylan Smyth of Sonora.
John began working for Westside Lumber in Tuolumne after graduation, before working at the Red & White Grocery store in Tuolumne as a clerk and delivery driver. He spent 30 years in the automobile industry selling cars and serving as sales manager for Kelley Motors and Running Bear Cars. He ended his career working for Paul Oil Company in Jamestown. John briefly served in the Navy in 1953 before being honorably discharged for health reasons.
An avid fan of athletics, He was the only Tuolumne player to play on the Sonora Junior American Legion baseball team in 1950-1952. After graduating from high school, John played semi-pro baseball for teams in Sonora, Calaveras County, and Oakdale. He was also asked to join the Sonora All-Stars, sponsored by the Quarterback Club and the Sonora Inn, in regional fast-pitch softball. John also organized a fast-pitch league in Tuolumne in 1959. He also played slow-pitch softball until the age of 59 in 1993, playing for Tuolumne Transit Mix, Rotelli's, Foster's, U-Save Liquors, and Running Bear. John also coached youth baseball teams in Tuolumne and Sonora in the 1950s.
Proud of his roots and the lumber town of Tuolumne, John was active in ensuring the history of Tuolumne would be remembered. His memory was excellent, and he contributed to the "Tuolumne Sesquicentennial" publication issued in 2004. He also spoke at several roundtables on growing up in Tuolumne and described the downtown businesses of the 1930s and 1940s in connection with the sesquicentennial.
John was a caring father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who loved his family. He influenced many people through his kind advice, his humorous stories, and his honesty. John also loved writing and reading which was taken from him in his later years due to failing eyesight. He really enjoyed music and was always excited to discover something new and great. He appreciated the beauty of nature, whether it was flowers, a blooming plant, or the quick glimpse of animals or birds. In his lifespan, he spent time in the logging camps as a child and worker, lived during the Great Depression, the space race, and the commonality of a home computer used for research, family history, and social networking.
A memorial service will be held at Terzich-Wilson Funeral Home in Sonora on Friday, July 18 at 1:00 p.m.