Sylvester Ralph Granillo Jr.'s Obituary
Sylvester Ralph Granillo Jr, who also went by Ralph or Junior, passed away at the Loma Linda University Medical Center, on August 19th, 2023. Many of his immediate family were present to say their goodbyes to a good husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and cousin.
He was born on June 15th, 1928, and raised in Redlands, attended Sacred Heart School, Redlands Junior High School, and Redlands High School. He left high school after his junior year in July of 1945 to join the US Marine Corp during WW II. After discharged from Marines, he returned home to Redlands, where he attended automotive classes at San Bernardino Valley College, and worked for a short time at Universal Rundle and Santa Fe Railroad before starting a Civil Service career as a jet mechanic at Norton Air Force Base. In this role he was sent to Thailand twice before the official start of the Viet Nam War. In 1966, during the time Norton was being shut down, he sought out employment with the Navy at the Naval Air Station at North Island. He was offered a job immediately and worked with maintaining stock of aircraft instruments. He lived in Coronado, CA, for 19 years before retiring and returning to Redlands.
Ralph enjoyed sports and played football for Redlands High School. Always staying fit he lifted weights with his uncle Manuel Villegas. As a hobby in the 1950’s he decided to become a professional wrestler going by the moniker “Local Boy”. He wrestled locally at the G St arena in San Bernardino, and travelled to numerous matches around California, Arizona, and New Mexico. He was a 68-year member of the Redlands Masons No. 300 and a 65-year member of Scottish Rite - Valley of San Bernardino. He was also a past member of American Legion Post 650 and a long-life member of the YMCA where he received his swimming certificate, was in the Y circus, and continued working out there 3 days a week, until COVID closed many businesses down. He attended Sacred Heart Church until Saint Mary’s Church was founded in 1937. Along with his dad and many other Mexican families a new church was constructed and opened in 1941, at 1005 Columbia St., in Redlands.
Ralph is survived by his wife Maria (Vera) Cervantez Granillo, who he married on July 24th, 1948, at Saint Mary’s Church. They had just celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary prior to his becoming ill. He is also survived by two sons and three daughters, Sylvester R Granillo III (Marilyn) of Redlands, Genevieve Duncanson (Frank – dec.) of Whittier, Josephine Lish (Jim – dec.) of La Mesa, Virginia Hernandez (Smiley – dec.) of Highland, and Manny Granillo (Courtney) of Coronado. He is survived by fourteen grandchildren, Sylvester Granillo IV, Dr. Nathan Granillo, Kevin Granillo, Frank Duncanson V, Edward Duncanson, Valerie Mora, Judy Duncanson, Cynthia Martinez, Jeania Lish Byrne, Julia Willich, Teri Montgomery, Martin Hernandez, Hana Granillo, Kelly Granillo, and 23 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents Sylvester and Guadalupe Granillo, his brother Richard (Dick) Granillo, his sisters Delores Shelton, and Margaret Vasquez.
The family would also like to thank Nita Manurip, Moody Zebedeus, and their staff at Kwik Elderly Estates for the love and care they provided to Ralph over the past year and half. Ralph loved them and enjoyed discussing his world travels, teaching them Spanish and introducing them to several Mexican foods, including menudo.
SEMPER FI
Visitation will be on September 24th, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 8:00pm at
Bobbitt Memorial Chapel, 1209 E. Highland Ave, San Bernardino, CA
with Rosary Service from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Funeral Mass will be on September 25th, 2023, at 11:00 am at
St Adelaide Church, 27457 Baseline Rd, Highland, CA
Committal Service will follow Mass at 1:00 pm at
Our Lady Queen of Peace, 3510 E. Washington St, Colton, CA
Reception will follow Committal Service back at St Adelaide Church in the Parish Hall.
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