David C. Gurrola was born in Merced, California on June 6, 1927. He was a lifelong resident of Ventura County and passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2015.
As a young man he grew up farming and working in the county for local ranchers Pop Johnson and Leroy Goodenough.
It was during this time that he met his sweetheart Esther Alcocer from Piru and they were married on October 14, 1950.
Shortly after his marriage and while working for Leroy Goodenough he was offered a job at Mountain View School in Fillmore in the Maintenance Department. After working for the school for a few years he served our country during the Korean War and was stationed in Alaska. After returning from military service he came back to work for the school eventually having a successful 36 year career as Supervisor of Facilities, Grounds and Transportation for the Fillmore Unified School District.
He had a lifetime love for working outdoors which led him to having his own citrus orchards in Santa Paula and Piru, and also a successful landscaping business which included landscaping numerous residential, industrial and commercial properties. He was also the landscape architect for Sheills Park in Fillmore.
He and his wife Esther were very active in the local Catholic Church St. Francis of Assisi in Fillmore and the churches service clubs. His service continued into the community. He was instrumental in the foundation of the Fillmore Athletic Boosters and Fillmore Youth Football. He also served on the Fillmore Planning Commission. While working for the Fillmore Unified School District he was instrumental in creating a strong cooperative working relationship between the City of Fillmore and the Fillmore Unified School District.
David and his wife Esther had 3 children Tim Gurrola (wife Amy) Keith Gurrola(wife Sandy) and Nancy Vargas(husband Carlos) 10 grandchildren, 21 great- grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.
David enjoyed frequent trips to Las Vegas with friends and family as well as spending time with his children and grandchildren camping and attending their sporting events and school activities.
After the passing of his beloved Esther in 1977 David met Virginia Marquez Montañez and was married for 17 years. Her family from a previous marriage includes her children Steven, Denise, Joey, Danny and 3 grandchildren.
David spent the remaining 19 years of his life living and working on his citrus ranch in Piru, tending to his many animals that brought him so much happiness, attending the grandchildren’s games and school activities.
In lieu of flowers the family is asking to please make donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, www.alzfdn.org in the name of David C. Gurrola.
A Rosary will be recited at 7:45pm, Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1048 West Ventura Street, Fillmore, CA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am, Wednesday, November 4, 2015 also at Saint Francis Of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Jim Stehly officiating. Committal and Interment will follow at Bardsdale Cemetery.
For map and directions to ceremony locations and to sign the family’s online guestbook, share stories and post pictures please visit our website: www.santapaulafuneralhome.com and click on David's name located below "Recent Obituaries".
Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the Family Owned and Operated ROBERT REY GARCIA JR FUNERAL SERVICES, Santa Paula, CA 805.229.7054