Vigil services for John G. De Lira, 89, of Lompoc, will be 5 p.m. Sunday, January 25, 2009 at the chapel of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Monday at La Purisima Catholic Church with Rev. Tom Cook officiating. Burial will follow at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

Mr. De Lira was born February 8, 1919 in Smeltertown, Texas to Irineo and Carmen Guevara De Lira. He moved to the Lompoc Valley before the age of one, and was raised and educated in the local schools. John was inducted into the U.S. Navy in 1945 and served in the Asiatic-Pacific area during WW II. After returning to Lompoc, he started a 30 year career at the Denholm Seed Company where he worked in seed production for 30 years and retired as production manager. John was especially fond of his grand and great-grandchildren, and his family was important to him. He was an avid gardener who enjoyed a good walk, liked to read western novels, and was a loyal Dodger fan.

He died Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at the Convalescent Care Center.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Jessie De Lira of Lompoc; daughters, Jessie Hager of La Pine, Oregon and Rita Adams of Lompoc; son, Robert De Lira of San Diego; sisters, Estefana Gutierrez of Lompoc and Mary Lira of Chino, Calif.; brothers, Cipriano De Lira of Calexico, Calif., Aurelio De Lira of Demming, New Mexico, and Ladislado De Lira of Lompoc; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Visitation hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Catholic Charities, 903 East Chestnut Ave., Lompoc 93436.