Lucia Aurora (Figueroa) Guptill, Graduate of the Class of 1943 PVHS.

Lucia Aurora Figueroa, Hernandez Guptill, best known as Lucy, passed away quietly at home on Saturday, July 20, 2019. She was 94 years old.

Lucy was born March 12, 1925 in Tempe, Arizona to Lorenzo Flores Figueroa and Adela Matcham Figueroa. She was preceded in death by her parents, her elder brother, Edward L. Figueroa, her elder sister, Dolores L. Chavez and her husband, Robert D. Guptill.

She is survived by her younger sister, Lily Figueroa Scofield Simpson; her children, eldest son Bob Hernandez and his wife Maureen; eldest daughter Sandy (Hernandez) DeFreese and husband Chuck; son, Michael Hernandez; daughter Christy (Guptill) Wenner and husband Jim; nine grandchildren; 23 Great Grandchildren; nine Great Great Grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lucy's children will forever remember her for her dedication to family, her strength and the gift of a strong work ethic. At 10 years of age, she was a dish washing assistant for her grandmother, Josepha Matcham, who ran a boarding house for the workers at the Colorado River Ranch. In high school, she worked at both the Liberty and Rio Theaters here in Blythe, often moving between theaters while movies were playing. She also worked at the High School office till she graduated. The day after she graduated in 1943, she went to work at Morton Air Academy, later moving to Long Beach where she worked for the War Department. She worked for many places in and around the Los Angeles area including Sears Robuck & Co. and May Company. Most notably she was a typist/proof reader for John Steinbeck in Monterey in 1949 -50 when Steinbeck produced Viva Zapata. She then returned to the Palo Verde Valley and began working for Blythe Finance, Ullums Music, the Hub Theater, Security 1st National Bank, Claypool and Co. and then secured a position with Riverside County. She retired in 1988 from the Blythe Municipal Court after 25 years of dedicated service, often remaining in the court room or at her desk till 11:00 pm and returning to her desk by 8:00 in the morning. All this while supporting her husband with his businesses, Bob's Union 76, and later Stockman's Bar. She retired to enjoy travel and made many wonderful memories with her family and friends. Her laughter and love will be greatly missed. Lucy was a 25 year survivor of colon cancer.

You are all invited to join the family to celebrate her life. Services will be held at Frye Chapel & Mortuary, 633 N. 7th St. in Blythe, California on Saturday, July 27, at 11:00 am.
A luncheon in her memory will follow with its location to be determined.