Robert Mendoza

Robert Salgado Mendoza was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He went to be with the Lord peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of October 6, 2018 at the age of 94. Robert was born in San Diego, California on July 4, 1924 to Rosalio and Hortense Mendoza (Salgado). Robert had four brothers, Michael, Peter, Clifford and Macario and four sisters Mary, Adela, Adeline and Irene. Robert attended Sweetwater Union High School. He was first employed at the Sunkist Lemon Packing Company, where he earned .25 cents an hour.

Robert became an American hero by answering his Country’s “Call to Arms” by enlisting in the US Army in March of 1943. He went through basic training in Boise, Idaho, he continued his military training in Riverside and Barstow, CA. He was then transferred to Fort Chaffee in Arkansas to further his preparation. He trained as a demolition technician, learning to make and use explosives and detect and diffuse anti-tank mines. In 1944, he shipped out from Orange Town, New York to Liverpool, England.

While serving in England, he was stationed in central London, to help family’s piece together theirs lives and return to normalcy, by repairing areas of the city that had been bombed by German forces. From England, Robert and his unit went on to France, arriving in Normandy in the months following the D-Day landings, once again to help piece together damage done. While serving in France he had fond memories as a courier, driving officers, communications and supplies throughout the region in US Army “Willys” Jeeps. From France, his unit continued through Belgium and into Germany where they were serving when the war came to an end.

Following the end of the war, Robert returned to the states by ship from Bremerhaven to Fort Dix, NJ and on to Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX where he was honorably discharged from service and boarded a bus to return home to San Diego.

After Robert left the Army he did construction work by creating new homes for our boys returning from the war to safely raise their families in, and erecting new business buildings for those needing to find new avenues of work. He even helped build the freeway bridges, so they had convenient and safe ways to arrive at their new jobs. Robert then started another career at General Dynamics, Convair Division. He built some amazing machines including the Convair B-36 Peacemaker, the Convair XFY Pogo tail-sitter, the Convair F2Y Sea Dart, the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, the F-106 Delta Dart, the Convair 880 which was an American narrow-body jet airliner, the Convair 990 Coronado which was an American narrow-body four-engined jet airliner, the Atlas-Centaur which was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas D missile, the Tomahawk which was a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile, and other experimental prototype projects. He also worked on the North American XB-70 Valkyrie, which was a nuclear-armed, deep-penetration strategic bomber for the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command. He was with General Dynamics Convair Division for over 47 years.

Robert met and fell in love with his bride Valentine Guerra in San Diego, California in July 1946. They married on August 10, 1949 at Eden Gardens in Solana Beach, California. They had four children, two girls and two boys, Roberta, Stella, Matthew, and Marcus. They had five grandchildren, Micheline, Christine, Melissa, Kristie and Katherine. 9 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren.

Robert loved to read in his free time and was a big fan of all types of sports. Robert was an amazing man, and very humble. His love for people, his kindness, his hard work and devotion to his family stood out clearly in the minds and hearts of those who knew him. Being one of the greatest generations he learned the true meaning of love, which is sacrificial giving for a greater cause. He was married to his beautiful wife Valentine for over 65 years before she went home to be with Jesus. What a great comfort it is to know that they are holding hands in heaven now. Robert is survived by his sister Irene, his brother Macario, his 4 adult children, their spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. To a wonderful man, we love you and already miss you. We will join you some day.