José Dias, age 96, of Turlock, California passed away at his home on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. He was born January 16, 1924 in Norte Grande, São Jorge, Azores, Portugal to João Dias Bettencourt and Maria dos Anjos Oliveira Silveira Azevedo.
José was raised in São Jorge and drafted by the Portuguese military in 1945. Upon completion of boot camp, he voluntarily enlisted to serve with the first military battalion sent to Angola, África from the Azores. Following his required two years of service in Nova Lisboa, he opted to remain in Angola and start a dairy business in Catófe, Quanza Sul. He married Natália da Costa Vieira from Santo Amaro, São Jorge, Azores in October of 1951. She traveled by ship and joined him in Angola two months later. Four children followed. In 1960 he traveled with the family to the Azores and subsequently immigrated to the United Sates in 1961. He returned to Angola in 1971 and continued with the dairy business he had left in operation. As a result of the political strife /civil war in Angola, he was forced to abandon the business and return with the family to the United States in 1975 to restart a new life. He established residency in Napa, California where he worked in a dairy, a tannery and a golf course.
José retired and moved with his wife to Turlock in 1990. He was a passionate gardener and took much pleasure in distributing the fruits of his labor to family members, neighbors and friends.
José is survived by his wife, Natália Dias; son John Dias (Teresa) of Turlock; daughters Mary Bettencourt Horvitz (Eric) of Kirkland, Washington; Natália Moore (Jim) of Atwater; grandchildren Carlo Dias, Nicholas Dias, Carla Francisco, Andrea de Francisco, Zachary Horvitz, Lana Moore, and Leah Bartolome; great grandchildren Taylor Dias, John Daniel Dias, Ava Dias, Ana Maria Wintroub and Herbie Wintroub.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock, California.
José was preceded in death by: father João Dias Bettencourt; mother Maria dos Anjos Oliveira Silveira Azevedo; daughter Ana Maria Dias; son-in-law Robert Howard; grandchildren Samantha Howard and Veronica Howard; sisters Maria dos Anjos Bettencourt Silveira, Rosa Dias Bettencourt Matos, and Delfina dos Anjos Bettencourt Oliveira.
A visitation for José will be held from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Home, 286 West Main Street, Turlock, California.
A Recitation of the Rosary followed by Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, June 11, 2020, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1200 Lyons Avenue, Turlock, California. A graveside service will follow*.
*Regretfully, due to COVID-19 State and County orders restricting the size of gatherings, church services for Jose are limited to immediate family.
Services for José Dias are in the care of Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service (FD 504) in Turlock, California.
