Paul Alferitz Lindblom
April 15, 1923 - July 30, 2025
On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the remarkable age of 102, Paul Alferitz Lindblom's long and storied life came peacefully to its close.
Born in Oakland to Olof Henry and Yvonne "Cherie" Alferitz Lindblom, Paul was raised in the Berkeley Hills as the eldest of their three children. He graduated from University High School and attended the College of Agriculture at Davis (later becoming the University of California, Davis) before answering the call of the Los Banos area in 1945, where he managed the family's sheep ranch business and later developed his own herd of beef cattle.
In 1943, he married the love of his life, Jeanne Marie Parle. Together they built a life in the Los Banos foothills above what is now Interstate 5, raising their sons Craig and Richard amid wide skies and open land--until the persistent presence of rattlesnakes prompted a move into town. Before the birth of their third child, Christine, they settled in the city of Los Banos, only to return in 1960 to the foothills above the future California Aqueduct. There Paul farmed peaches, apricots, prunes, barley, cotton and cantaloupes.
A founding director of the San Luis Water District in 1951, Paul served as director or vice president until 1993. For more than four decades, he worked tirelessly to secure water for farmers, leaving an indelible mark on the region's agricultural future. As well, Paul was honored as "Outstanding Farmer of the Year" for 1988 by the Los Banos Resource Conservation District. Paul was also a founding member of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, which became the St. Alban's Anglican Church, in Los Banos, attending services there until he was no longer able.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Jeanne, and his sister, Phyllis Lindblom DuBois. He is survived by his sons Craig (Earlene) Lindblom and Richard (Bonnie) Lindblom, daughter Christine (Bob) MacKichan, and brother Robert (Jean) Lindblom, along with seven grandchildren--Erik (Robin), Christopher, Paul (Amy), Kevin (Helen), Laura, Elise (Stephen), and Robert (Catherine)--and 12 great-grandchildren.
Paul's life was rooted in the values of hard work, faith, devotion to family, and a profound connection to the land. His legacy lives on in the fertile fields he tended, the community he served, and the generations of family who carry his spirit forward.
The Lindblom family would like to extend their thanks to Angie Dicochea and Angelica Foreman for providing long-term, in-home care for Paul before his move to Assisted Living. Additionally, the Lindblom family thanks the Sisters, Nurses, Caregivers, and Staff at New Bethany Assisted Living/Skilled Nursing and Covenant Care Hospice of Turlock for providing such compassionate care.
Funeral services will be held at the Whitehurst Funeral Chapel on Monday, September 15, at 10:30 AM, to be followed by the committal service at the Los Banos Cemetery pavilion. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to New Bethany in memory of Paul Lindblom, 1441 Berkeley Dr., Los Banos CA 93635 or the Milliken Museum, 905 E. Pacheco Blvd., Los Banos CA 93635.

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