Pete Flores, 84, Enjoyed Cleveland Sports, Gardening, Being Outdoors and Crafting Toy Boxes for His Grandchildren

He was born on November 3, 1926, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Jose & Antonia Flores.

After being trained as a butcher and employed by the Blue Bonnet Packing House in Ft. Worth, Texas, he enlisted into the United States Army during WW II as Private First Class with the C Troop, 37th Constabulary Squadron. His tour of service included stops at Stuttgart, Germany; Paris, France; and the Philippine Islands. After service to his country, he found work in the Chicago stockyards, before moving to the Gary, Indiana steel mills. After a brief stay, he moved on to Lorain, Ohio, where he met and married Guadalupe Delgado on October 11, 1947 in Lorain, Ohio. Pete went to work at the Lake Terminal Railroad Co. as a laborer on the track gangs before becoming a truck driver. While employed at Lake Terminal, he was active as a union representative until his retirement after 27 years.

Pete was involved in the Mexican community as a member of the Mexican-American Citizens Club, and later the Mexican Mutual Society. He served one term as an original member of the Board of Trustee's of El Centro de Servicios Sociales. He was active in neighborhood clean-ups and was a member of the citizens' committee of the South Lorain Urban Renewal Project.

During his children's school age years, he set an example by serving in leadership positions such as PTA President at Lincoln Elementary School, the Band Booster Club member at Whittier Junior High School, a founding member of the Southview Marching Band Booster Club, and a former Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troup 346 at Sacred Heart Chapel.

He was a member of the Sacred Heart Chapel. He was active in the Holy Name Society and participated in several Cursillos.

Pete enjoyed playing fast pitch softball in his early years in Lorain. He was an avid fan of the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Browns. He took pleasure in gardening, landscaping, and being outdoors. One of his passions included the planting of roses, which included a project where he planted a row of rose bushes for his wife. A lover of mariachi music, he also enjoyed listening to the music of Johnny Cash. In his retirement years, he enjoyed ceramics, leather and beadwork, and crafted toy boxes for his grandchildren.

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Guadalupe Flores (nee Delgado) of ; sons Pedro Jr. (Sharon), Jorge (Gloria), David, Carlos (Lupe), Jaime, Martin (Beth), and Jose; daughters Esperanza Rosalez, (Fermin), Antonia Humphrey (Robert), Maria Luisa, and Ramona Griffin (Patrick); brother Samuel Flores (New Mexico) and sister Mary Helen Bravo (Texas). He had the benefit of loving his 36 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents Jose and Antonia Flores (nee Ramirez); brothers Lupe, Louis, Jose, and sister, Mary Fernandez.

Friends and relatives will be received at the Richard Reidy Funeral Home 1783 East 31st Street, South Lorain (440) 277-8164, Thursday, March 3 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Closing services will start Friday, March 4, at 8:45 am at the funeral home, with the funeral mass following at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue in Lorain. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain. Where the Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard will conduct military honors.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.