Gladys Affonso, 102, passed away on December 6, 2023. She was born in Long Beach, California on September 20, 1921. She spent her childhood on the Bixby Ranch in Mesa, Arizona, and then relocated to Dos Palos in 1947 and then settling in Los Banos for the remainder of her life.

She married her husband John Thomas Blackwood very young and they had nine children together. She lost her husband and raised her children on her own for many years.

Married Frank Affonso in 1965 and their time together was filled with love, laughter and family. He became part of the Blackwood clan and they spent many happy years together until his death in 1987.

Gladys was such an incredible woman. She put herself through Barber college and provided for her eight children and family as a single mother. In 1962 Gladys became the First Lady Barber in Los Banos. When you think of "getting a haircut", you always think of Gladys. Her warm smile and kind heart were always an inviting passage to her barber chair. She was always warm, caring and smart as a whip! She knew everyone in town and greeted you with a kind smile. If ever you knocked on her door, her first steps were to greet you with a hug and then immediately begin cooking. There was always a hot meal for everyone.

Gladys was an inspiration and treasure to her family and friends She was very involved in her community the Soroptimist Club, TOPS, she was a "Pink Lady" volunteering her time at the Los Banos Hospital, and Gladys graciously gave haircuts to the homebound or people in the hospital as a contribution to her old customers and the needy. Gladys happiest times were spent with her family but, she did enjoy going to the casino on the bus with her friends or any time to any casino.

She enjoyed travelling! She went to Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, New York, Arizona, Portugal, Mexico, Canada, and even Rome (where she was blessed by seeing and touching the Pope). Her energy was incredible. She could "outwalk" most of her children on her many travels leaving them behind to seek out her next adventure.

She is Preceded in death by husband John Thomas Blackwood in 1957; Frank Affonso in 1987; Children: Gene Blackwood, Louie Blackwood, Edward Blackwood, Richard Blackwood, Margaret Stavers, Mary Silva, and Lupe McCabe; Grandchildren: Tracy Blackwood, Shane Blackwood, Michael Stavers, and Julie Braun; Great Grandchildren: Sydney Blackwood-Jones, and Daniel Blackwood. Siblings: Mary Rea, Fernando Fuerte, Salvador Fuerte, Ralph Fuerte and Lupe Fernandez.

Gladys is survived by her children: Tom (Christine) Blackwood, Nellie (Eulan) Vandemark, and son-in-law Wayne McCabe. Grandchildren: John Blackwood, Veronica Alexander, Nicole VanDeMark, Donna Ward, Michael McCabe, Ashley Jones, Shelly Estrada, Brook Lopez, Tisha Freitas, Heather Blackwood, Shawn Blackwood, Christian and Nathan Braun, Marc Blackwood, Sandra Terranova, and Tracy Sparks. Great Grandchildren Leslie Manning; Jordan Alexander; Britney, Amber & Nicholas McCabe; Grant and Samantha Jones; Michael Carranza, Sienna and Joseph Freitas; Gavin and Mia Estrada; Ayden and Magdelina Lopez; Bo Blackwood; Tucker Terranova; Hayden and Cameron Sparks; and 11 Great Great Grandchildren.

Funeral Services for Gladys will be held on December 15, 2023 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church beginning with the recitation of the holy rosary at 10:00 a.m. and a funeral mass at 10:30 a.m., burial will follow at the Los Banos District Cemetery.

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