Josephine Sanchez, who moved to Malibu nearly 58 years ago, died on Saturday of Alzheimer’s disease. She was 89.
She was born Nov. 19, 1917 in a small town in Montague, Calif. She met Tony Sanchez when she was 26, while working as the secretary for the mayor of Fresno. They married in 1944 and moved to Los Angeles in 1945 to start their family. They had two children, Margaret and Robert Sanchez.
Together, the couple bought many properties on the Westside and Malibu. They eventually moved to Malibu in July 1949 to build their dream home. They lost their home to the 1967 wildfire, and took what they had and moved back to Santa Monica.
Sanchez worked as a bookkeeper for their multiple enterprises, as well as for the Assistance League. She volunteered her time at the University Bible Church as well as the B.B.
Tony Sanchez died in 1983. Josephine Sanchez spent her remaining years in Malibu with her family, including the past two and a half at Sunrise Assisted Living in Westlake Village.
Sanchez is survived by her children, Margaret Herron and Robert Sanchez; grandchildren, Dale Herron, Barbie Herron-Rae, Jon Moak and Steven Moak; and her great grandchildren, Lyon and Bella Herron, Ashley Corrodi, Cami and Sofi Herron and Harper Rae.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Gates Kingsley and Gates on 20th and Arizona in Santa Monica.