Obituary for Santos Escobar Chapa

05/13/1943 - 12/23/2025

Santos Escobar Chapa passed away on December 23, 2025, at age 82 peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends. Santos was born to Cecilio Chapa and Victoria Escobar on May 13, 1943.

Santos worked as a mechanic for 40 years and a truck driver in agriculture in the family business in his early life. That's where he met the love of his life Irene Gonzales Chapa in Firebaugh Ca. Santos moved to Firebaugh, Ca. Santos and Irene married in February of 1965. Upon their marriage they had 5 children, Vicky M Chapa, Terri Chapa, Richard J Chapa, Jenny M Chapa, Maria C Chapa. 

Santos Chapa retired in 2009 from Billie Jack's tire shop in Stockton Ca. After his retirement, Santos and Irene stayed home to enjoy life with their 12 Grandchildren David A Echeverria, Jessica R Echeverria, Daniel E Fernandez, Juliana K Fernandez Stephens, Matthew Chapa, Ryan Chapa, Michael Chapa, Krysten M Luchetta, Christopher S Luchetta, Andrew J Gutierrez,  Aiden T Gutierrez,  Emery E Gutierrez. and their Great Grand girls.

Santos took pride working on his house during his retirement, gardening, landscaping and watching his favorite tv shows, WWE Wrestling, Gunsmoke and we can't forget his friend Jonathen From Colonial Penn LOL every time he came on tv he smiled and waved to him.  

Santos lost the love of his life May 17, 2015  where his 5 children stepped in to make sure he was going to be ok. During this time Santos enjoyed the outdoors, regardless whether it was camping, going to restaurants, and numerous bbq's, or even a drive through the city. When we would bbq at the poolhouse Santos was our Lifeguard. Santos found himself busy with life. Just to add, Santos would come help at the Funeral Home and would always stay busy, the staff loved having him around, he was one of us.  After his illness progressed, Santos became more and more disabled but that did not stop the continuous camping trips where we would take him to enjoy the outdoors, numerous restaurants, celebrating his Birthday parties, Halloween family parties, and a host of friends he made throughout his venture after the love of his life passed away. That also included dressing him for Halloween as Freddy Kruger 2023, Grandpa UP 2024, and Where is Waldo 2025. He really left us for a better place. (We will find you again POP!) 

Santos enjoyed having his large plates of food, chicken enchiladas, Chinese food, Pasta, 5 star burgers just to name a few, especially his desserts. His favorite word was "MMMMMM" with a smile on his face. Jose would make his breakfast on weekends playing Mariachi music for him where he would dance by moving his hands, arms and feet to the music. His favorite would be when Jose jr would come bring home Mcdonald's for lunch again his favorite chicken Nuggets with lots of BBQ sauce (MMMMM) with a smile on his face.

Overall Santos E Chapa lived a great life. He will always be loved and remembered by all his family and friends he leaves behind. I have to mention his friend Julio Flores who would always enjoy singing for Santos.              

Santos is survived by his 5 children Vicky M Chapa (Jose Ayala), Terri Chapa, Richard J Chapa (Teri Amouroux Chapa), Jenny M Chapa-Williams (James Williams), Maria C Chapa-Gutierrez (Robert Gutierrez), 12 Grandchildren David A Echeverria, Jessica R Echeverria (Sonya Echeverria), Daniel E Fernandez, Juliana K Fernandez Stephens(David Stephens), Matthew Chapa, Ryan Chapa, Michael Chapa, Krysten M Luchetta (Preston Snow), Christopher S Luchetta, Andrew J Gutierrez,  Aiden T Gutierrez,  Emery E Gutierrez, 5 Great grand girls Autumn D Barnard , Zoey M Echeverria,  Emma J Echeverria, Penelope I Stephens, and Arianna I Snow-Webb and two Step Grandchildren Daniel Williams, Skyler Williams

AS JOSE WOULD ALWAYS TELL YOU TIME TO GO PIN PIN MI VIEJO

WE WILL MISS YOU SANTOS ESCOBAR CHAPA (POP) (POPPA) (MI VIEJO)