Cynthia "Cindy" Ann "Riegel" Espinosa passed away on May 25, 2021 in her home. She was the third of five children born to Lt. Col Pete Riegel and Melva "Hoelscher" Riegel. She was born in Washington Missouri, and from there she followed her family to Harmon AFB, Newfoundland to Vandenberg AFB, California where she began her life as a student, a mother, and a wonderful long-time dispatcher.

Cindy had an unforgettable laugh and a lust for life that inspired everyone around her. If you were lucky enough to know her, you knew she was always up to something when it came to pulling pranks on her friends and family. She would go to any lengths to see and hear her loved ones laugh and smile.

She spent many years working for the Lompoc Police Department, a place that grew to be her second home, with her second family. Cindy was a party decorating genius. She became the officially-unofficial Lompoc PD decorator and hand-lettering-calligrapher for any party, banquet, weddings - you name it.  She did all of it on her own time and sometimes with her own money. She knew how to round up a crew and cracked that whip like a pro. She didn't do it because she had to but because that's what she loved to do. She wanted people to have fun and have beautiful decor to make it that much more memorable. And of course, she loved hearing people sing her praises, Let's not forget that! (Amen to that!)

Cindy was regularly involved with keeping contact and planning reunions with her friends that she grew up and attended school with in Newfoundland. She attended reunions, and mini-reunions almost every year. If she wasn't planning a party, or attending one- she was probably getting into some mischief with her HTTN  (HELL TO THE NO) girls, or close family members.  If you were out and about in Lompoc, chances are you saw Cindy, her mother Melva, and her sister Patty out at one of their favorite places to eat enjoying the afternoon together. Cindy was an avid traveler, an excellent photographer, a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution, an extremely talented stained glass artist, and the best grandma in the whole world.

Cindy had the ability to light up a room with her warmth and smile. She made everyone feel like family and we can only hope that her love for life will continue on inspiring those who knew her, and those who only knew of her. She is a legend and her memory will live on forever.

Cindy is survived by her mother Melva Riegel, Sisters Marsha Meyering, Patty Eads, Brother Mickey Riegel, Children: Troy Espinosa, Tracy Espinosa, Trisha Espinosa, Grandchildren: Troy James Espinosa, Julian Vineyard, Wife Michelle Vineyard, Sarandon Vickery, Jaydon Powers, Joseph Powers, Great-Grandchildren: Deegan Vineyard and Darren Vineyard.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021, at 11 am at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. The celebration of life will be on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Feel free to reach out to Cindy's family or friends for more details sarandonrose@gmail.com