Mario Barajas of Lompoc died Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at the age of 69.

Mario was born March 10, 1939 in West Los Angeles to Mariano and Magdalena Barajas. After graduating from University High School he joined the United States Navy. He trained at Woodby Island, Washington as a Machinist's mate. He served in the Great Lakes and in the Pacific on the USS Tulare. His tour included stops in Japan, Hawaii and Hong Kong.

Mario and his family settled in Lompoc in 1961. He worked in construction with Paul Hardiman, and owned his own lawn service. In 1970 he went to work for Johns Manville retiring as a general foreman in 1991. He later became the assistant manager for Rancho Santa Ynez Mobile Estates in Solvang retiring a second time in 2001. His last job was with the Chumash Casino where he worked for less than a year before his recent illness.

Mario enjoyed fishing, gardening, woodworking and refinishing furniture. He was a member of La Purisima Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years Martha Barajas of Lompoc, his daughter and son-in-law Connie and Chris Kauppinen of Lompoc, his son and daughter-in-law Marc and Diane Barajas of Tucson, Arizona, son Alex Barajas of Lompoc, sisters Magdalena Boothe of West Los Angeles and Anita Valencia of Simi Valley, and his grandchildren Danielle, Kyle, Meliton, Casey and Haley.

The visitation will be on Thursday, November 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. with the recitation of the rosary at 5 pm in the chapel of the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. Monsignor John Fitzgerald will celebrate the mass of Christian burial on Friday at 10 a.m. at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Interment with military honors will follow in the Lompoc Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 3495 Rucker Road in Lompoc. Arrangements are under the direction of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.