We are saddened to share with you the passing of Retired Brother Vince Mendoza.
Vince had hired on with us here at AA in 1990 and retired in January of 2009.
Please keep the Mendoza family in your thoughts and prayers.
Obituary
Vincent Leon Mendoza was born to Concepcion Mendoza and Martha Mae McIntosh Mendoza on September 5, 1947 in Tulsa.
When Vince turned 11 he became a member of his uncle’s band “Claude Mendoza and His Mariachis” and he played the bongo drums. In high school Vince played tenor sax in his cousin Ray’s band, “The Jalapeños”. He graduated from Tulsa Central High school in 1966. Upon graduation he joined the United States Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam from June 1966 to February 1970. Vince married Deborah Hazel Chelf in May of 1970 in Sand Springs OK. They had two beautiful daughters, Felicia Ann and Micaela. Debbie died in 1992. Vince married Alice Marie Gwin in April 1994. Alice died June 6, 2010. Vince married Shirley Irene Duffield (Steinburg) in May of 2011. She was his blessing and a wonderful woman. Vince worked for 15 years at Shell Oil Company in Tulsa, OK and then later worked 18 years at American Airlines in Tulsa. He began an “on the job training program” for their aircraft mechanic division. They only tested 400 at a time and only accepted the top 10% of the class. Vince was in that top 10% and he became a licensed aircraft mechanic.
He coached fast pitch soft ball for six years and loved deer hunting, fishing, being out in the woods and the fighting Irish football team from South bend Indiana, good ole Notre Dame. Vince also penned his autobiography titled “Son of Two Bloods”, which won the North American Indian Prose Award in 1995 from the University of Nebraska Press.
Vince is survived by His wife Shirley of the home; 2 daughters, Felicia Breedlove of Longtown, OK, Mica Corbin and husband Dustin of Burnsflat, OK; 1 sister, Linda Dellinger and husband Ron of Tulsa, OK; 2 sons, Brandon Steinburg, of the home, and Donny Steinburg and wife Jayce of Locust Grove, OK; 1 niece Midge Dellinger of Tulsa, OK, 1 nephew, Kevin Dellinger and wife Lisa of Okmulgee, OK; 4 granddaughters, Teresa Mortensen and husband Jamon of Longtown, OK, Bradie Breedlove, Elizabeth Breedlove and Gracie Breedlove all of Longtown, OK; 2 great granddaughters, McKenna and McKenzie Mortenson; 6 grandsons, Dawson, Daylon, Dane and Danny Corbin, Bryson Ball, and Kason Steinburg.
He was preceded in death by His parents, Concepcion (Concho) and Martha; , two brothers, Concho Jr. and Frank; his first wife, Deborah Chelf Mendoza, second wife, Alice Gwin Mendoza, and his precious godson, Lance Anthony DeGraw.
“Try not to cry because I had a wonderful life. Each of you made that possible. I was your husband, your brother, your pappy, your uncle, your friend, and I love you all. Now I’m with my other loved ones; oh, how I have missed them. It’s time to close, my love to all. It’s been a great Earth walk. Till we meet again. Love, Vince”