Jose Salamanca's Obituary
Jose "Pepe" Cruz Salamanca was born May 20, 1942, in Penaranda,
Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Pepe was the third child of seven children to
Carlos and Raquel Salamanca. After a stroke in November 2018, Pepe
was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He died peacefully in his
home in Lakewood, Washington, on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, around 2
p.m. while taking a nap.
Pepe grew up in Nueva Ecija and graduated secondary school from
Nueva Ecija Trade School in 1958. In 1965, Pepe graduated from Mapua
Institute of Technology in Manila with a bachelor's degree in electrical
engineering. After working a year in the Philippines, he took a job as an
engineer with the Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington in 1966.
Pepe's 42-year career as a professional electrical engineer would bring
him and his family to live in other states and around the world,
working in California, Texas, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, and then
back to Washington State in 1990, where he would retire with the
General Services Administration (GSA) in 2007 after 22 years of service
in the federal government.
Pepe married his elementary school love Zenaida "Zeny" Beltran in
December 1966. Pepe and Zeny were in the same combined fifth and
sixth grade class. The first time Pepe saw Zeny, he pulled up a chair
next to her in class and said, "I want to marry you." Zeny was shocked
and spent the rest of the year pushing Pepe away from his bonecrushing hugs and kisses. It wasn't until March 1966 would Pepe see a
flicker of hope for Zeny's hand in marriage. Pepe's sister Dori and Zeny
were teachers at the same elementary school when Dori invited Zeny
to a party at Carlos and Raquel's house. Zeny said that when she saw
Pepe through the living room window, her heart was throbbing so
hard she knew right away that Pepe would be her husband. Pepe and
Zeny were married for 53 years and had four children: Jilbert, Jyron,
Zhela and Zherina.
Pepe lived a full life. He was an avid golfer and tennis player and
enjoyed watching football and baseball games. He loved to dance,
sing karaoke ("My Way" and "Only You" were favorite standards), play
chess and travel. He was active in his local community, including
serving two terms as the president of the Filipino American
Community of Puget Sound and serving on the Clover Park School
District Board of Directors.
Pepe was a member of the Filipino International Christian
Fellowship (FICF). In the last months of his life, he was glued to his
beloved wife and surrounded by family, friends and church
community
What’s your fondest memory of Jose?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jose?
Share a story where Jose's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jose you’ll never forget.
How did Jose make you smile?