Vicente E. Espitia, 81, Cobblers Shop Owner

He was born January 31, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. Was raised in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, living there until he was sixteen. He came to Lorain in 1949. He had also lived in San Diego for a brief while. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Espitia and his late wife owned and operated the Cobblers Shop on Broadway for seven years. He also retired from the Nordson Corporation R. B. X. Plant of Elyria. He worked there for 17 years. He had also worked for Boeing Aircraft in San Diego, California, Thew Shovel and American Shipyard both of Lorain, Fruehauf Trailer Corp of Avon Lake, American Standard of Elyria and he was the first Hispanic Brakeman for the Lake Terminal Rail Road, Lorain.

He was a member of the Sacred Heart Chapel, Lorain he was also a member of the Mexican American Citizens Club and the Mexican Mutual Society both of Lorain he was a master of ceremonies a their fiestas. Mr. Espitia was a Third Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed doing all kinds of mechanical, electrical projects and was a 1st Class welder, he also enjoyed his cats and his bird, reading, solving difficult crossword puzzles, watching classic movies and traveling to Mexico.

Among the survivors are his sons Vincent, Jr., Robert and Victor Espitia all of Lorain; daughters Vivian Rutherford and Laura Espitia both of Lorain and Suzanna Fuentes (nee Luna) of Guanajuato, Mexico; brothers Antonio Espitia of Hammond, Indiana, Joel Espitia of Valparaiso, Indiana; sisters Soledad Ruiz of Hammond, Indiana, Martha Seay of East Chicago, Eloisa Rocha and Virginia Aguilar both of Mexico; sixteen grandchildren, twenty seven great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years Laura Espita (nee Dominguez) in 1995; his parents Vicente E. and Faustina (nee Carranza) Espitia; sisters Jovita, Liduvina, Sofia and Leonor; brothers Marcello and Josafat Espitia.

Friends may call Friday, March 24, 2006 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 East 31st Street, South Lorain. Friends may also call Saturday, March 25, 2006 in the Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue, South Lorain 8:30 until time of mass of the Resurrection at 9:00 AM in the chapel, where the Disabled American Veterans, Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20 will conduct military honors.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue, Lorain, Ohio 44055.