Cora L. Espinoza

Cora Luisa was born to Eusebio and Josefa “Shefa” Cruz on April 8, 1921 in Vernal, Utah. Her family included one brother, Ignacio “Joe”, and three sisters, Ramona, Frances and Carolina. Cora was brought up in Blanca, Colorado by her grandmother, Francisca Lucero. She grew up with her uncles and cousin, Ruth (Lucero) Jaramillo.

On October 2, 1939, she married Carlos “Charlie” Espinoza, son of Federico and Maximiana Espinoza, also from Blanca. In their early years, they lived in Wyoming where Charlie worked on the railroad and Cora cooked for all of the railway employees. Soon after, Charlie joined the Army to serve in World War II. Cora lived in Blanca while he was overseas and she joined him when he was stationed in South Carolina.

Their first child was Eugenio (Isabelle), Gloria was next, then came Wilma (Robert Perez), Margie (Adolpho Lobato), and Betty. Five years after Betty came Rudolph (Cheryl), Carol Lynn and Peggy.

For a while, after Charlie got out of the service, the family moved to Pueblo so that Charlie could take advantage of the G.I. Bill. He enrolled at the State Barber’s College. After graduation, he moved the family back to Blanca. Charlie did take up barbering, but only as a “side job” at home in the evenings. His day job was at the Blanca International Garage as a mechanic on farm equipment and school buses. In addition to being a full-time wife, mother and homemaker, Cora worked in various agricultural jobs.

In 1961, Charlie took a job as a Barber at Ent Air Force Base; then he moved on to Ft. Carson. The family moved to Colorado Springs later that year.

Cora worked at Rocky Mountain Metals and at Western Forge for many years.

In 1971, Gloria Jane passed away in Colorado Springs and then Charlie passed in 1976.

Cora reveled in the birth of each grandchild and great grandchild. Eugenio’s children are Michael Eugene and Gina Marie. Betty’s are Adrienne Leigh and Alejandro “Alex” Esteban Torres Sr. Rudolph‘s daughter is Madeline Marie and Carol’s son is Carlos Adaid Garcia. Great grandchildren include Gina’s son, Claudio Blade Tolvo and Alex’ son, Alejandro Esteban Torres Jr. “A.J.”

After Charlie’s death, Cora traveled with her children to Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Washington, DC, Mexico and Spain. She also took a job as a Deputy County Clerk in the El Paso County Courthouse and retired from there after five years.

More recently, she became an active member of the Fountain Valley Senior Center.

Each evening she selected an outfit and matching necklace that she would wear to “work” the next day. She enjoyed the bus ride to the Center each morning. She deeply appreciated the care and patience that the bus drivers exhibited and the tableside service that she received at “her” table. Her only lament was that she could not attend on the afternoon too. Whenever she had stayed away for a period of time, on her return, she would report back that “they were happy to see me.” We would then ask her if she was happy to see them too. Her reply, with no sense of irony, was always “yes”.

On November 22 she fell at home and suffered a head injury. With family at her side, she passed away at Pikes Peak Hospice Residence on December 14, 2010.

There is no doubt that God was happy to see her.

Rosary recitation, St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Security, Colorado, December 19, 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial, December 20, 11:00 a.m. also at St. Dominic’s. Interment, Memorial Garden, Colorado Springs.

Donations in Cora’s honor may be sent to the Fountain Valley Senior Center, 5725 Southmoor Drive, Fountain, Colorado 80817.