Otilia Vasquez Salazar January 5, 1935 – January 22, 2012 Otilia Salazar was born January 5, 1935 in Panuco, Vera Cruz, Mexico to Leonor (Vasquez) and Emeterio Gomez. She married Catarino Salazar in 1950 in Texas and soon the babies started arriving; she was kept busy raising 17 children. Together the family followed the crops as migrant farm workers in Texas, Arizona and California; settling in Earlimart in 1962. She was very proud of the work she did and in 1994 she attended the National Migrant Conference in Texas with her daughter. Otilia enjoyed crocheting and gave blankets and bonnets to the grandchildren and great grandchildren as each new baby came along. On Sunday she had just finished the bonnet for her daughter's grandchildren. She also loved spending time in her garden growing beautiful flowers. Otilia enjoyed listening to Christian Radio and the greatest love of her life was God followed by her love for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Otilia was preceded in death by her husband Catarino in 1984 and her sons, Paul, Carlos and Jesus. She is survived by her sons, John Salazar and wife Frances of Porterville, Catarino Salazar, Jr. of Earlimart, Emmet Salazar of South Dakota, Carlos Salazar and wife Tanya of Bakersfield; daughters, Augustina Salazar Hena of Bakersfield, Elenor and husband Tom Wattenbarger of Bakersfield, Mary Chavira and husband Frank Avendano of Wasco, Lupe Salazar and husband Barry Bolding of Seattle, Washington, Virginia and husband Joe Hernandez of Bakersfield, Stella Salazar of Bakersfield, Debra Salazar and husband Heriberto Perez of Bakersfield; Ofelia Salazar of Delano, Esther Salazar of Bakersfield and Susanna and husband Victor Noriega of Bakersfield; brothers, Juan, Federico, Sostenes, Tino; and sisters, Maria and Viviana, all of Mexico; 46 (and one on the way) grandchildren and 59 great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held Thursday, January 26 at 11am at Peters Funeral Home for Otilia V. Salazar, age 77, of Earlimart who passed away January 22, 2012 in Delano. An evening service will be held Wednesday, January 25 at 6pm. Pastor Ruben Guerra of the First Assembly of God Church in Earlimart will officiate the services and interment will follow at North Kern Cemetery, Delano. Visitations will be held Wednesday from 2pm to 8pm and Thursday starting at 9am through the 11am service. Please sign Otilia's guest book at www.GoldenValleyMemorialCare.com