Dolores Jean DalPorto Feliz of Lompoc, CA, took the Lord's hand and that of his angels on September 19, 2023, at the age of 86.  Dolores was born to Paul & Gertrude DalPorto in Santa Barbara. CA on December 31, 1936.  Dolores was a devoted wife, beloved mother, sister, aunt, friend, grandma and great-grandma.  She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.

Dolores and her family moved to Santa Maria, CA where she attended school until she met and married her great-love, Benjamin J. Feliz, Sr., at the tender age of 16 years old.  They had a joint marriage celebration with Ben's brother, Chuck, and Chuck's bride, Betty Feliz, in 1952.  Once married, they moved to Lompoc, CA where they grew their family and developed many dear friendships.

Dolores worked in retail (Rasco's) but thrived raising her children.  She loved baking, every Christmas making lots of sweet treats for her friends and her family.  She loved to make clothing for her granddaughters' dolls.  She particularly enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to bake cookies. She also found a deep passion in making her beaded earrings.  Most of her friends can be seen wearing her festive Santa earrings along with other beautiful creations she created.  It made her proud that she could earn enough money to take "Pop" on vacation each year.  It was in the late-80's that Dolores and Ben volunteered to work at the annual Lompoc Flower Festival where they acted as the "camp hosts", seeing that all of the volunteers were fed and keeping others in line.  Mom and Pop moved to Bodfish, CA in 1991.  There, they developed some great lifelong friendships and traveled often with them to many destinations.  They lived in Bodfish until 2012, after the passing of Ben. Dolores then moved back to her hometown of Lompoc where she had many long-life friendships she had acquired over the years. She was able to reconnect and socialize regularly with her coffee "club" ladies and her Bunco club of ladies.   As Dolores' 60th class reunion approached, she made contact with her 8th-grade boyfriend, Frank Frietas, to inquire as to whether he would be attending their class reunion.  After meeting up at the reunion, they rekindled their romance.  Frank and Dolores had so much fun together attending car shows, dances in the park, church gatherings, family gatherings, and just being together.  This led to their engagement and Dolores' move to Frank's home where they lived together until she got too sick. They lived together very happily and enjoyed each other for eight years.  Dolores' health began to decline, and she had to be moved into an assisted living facility, Fountain Square, where she lived for two years before her passing.  She passed away peacefully at the Convalescent Care Center in Lompoc on September 19, 2023.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, Paul, and Gertrude DalPorto; her husband, Ben; her son, Frank; Frank's son, her grandson, Joshua Ragsdale; and her very dear sister, Vickie Tharp. She is survived by her daughter, Tina Oakes (Steve); her son, Ben Feliz, Jr. (Sandra); her brother, Dick (Judy) DalPorto; grandchildren Keri McOmber (Ross); Steven Oakes, Jr. (Sam); Rebecca Pohlman (Brandon); Daniel Feliz (Jill); Frankie Feliz; and Jacob Feliz. She has 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  She is also survived by her dear, and loving fiancé Frank Frietas; his sons, Eric and Andy; and his loving daughter Melissa.  Special thanks go out to Melissa for her very special weekly visits to mom, and for tending to mom's nails and hair, which mom considered her spa day.

A private service will be held at a later date at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.