Naomi Salas Pineda; Longtime Resident

Longtime Santa Paula resident Naomi Salas Pineda died Thursday after a lengthy illness. She was 76.

Pineda was born Dec. 11, 1923, on a small ranch in San Pedro, Coahuila, Mexico, to Juan and Concepcion Salas. She grew up with 11 brothers and sisters on a ranch in Bardsdale and moved to Santa Paula in 1928.

Pineda graduated from Santa Paula Union High School in 1943, and during her youth worked at her father’s grocery store, El Brillante. Later, she attended cosmetology school in Los Angeles.

Pineda, described as a loving wife, mother and grandmother, worked as a teacher’s aide for the Santa Paula Union High School District for many years.

She enjoyed traveling and spent time in South America, Europe and Mexico.

She also enjoyed reading the Bible, and served as a Sunday school teacher and treasurer at El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church in Santa Paula.

Pineda is survived by her husband of 55 years, Al Pineda; two sons, John Al Pineda of Albuquerque and Paul Pineda of Pleasant Hill; a daughter, Patricia Pineda of Lafayette; four sisters, Toni Kennedy, Estella Russell, Lydia Taylor and Alice Guevara; five brothers, Sam, Victor, David, Robert and Florentino Salas; five grandchildren; and a cousin.

A visitation will be held today from noon to 5 p.m. at Pierce Bros. Stetler Mortuary in Santa Paula, followed by a wake at 7 p.m. at El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church. A funeral is planned Monday at 10 a.m. at the church, with burial to follow at Santa Paula Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Naomi Salas Pineda Scholarship Fund for Latina students at Mills College in Oakland or the Santa Clara Valley Hospice program.

Pierce Bros. Stetler Mortuary is handling the arrangements.