Our Mother, Ferne Dorothy (Springsteen) Loya

March 28, 1919 to October 1, 2016

Our mother was born next to the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa, on March 28, 1919. She was the third child born in her family, but not the last! Her mother, Lydia, had seventeen children, only fourteen of them survived. There were so many children in the home that her mother solved the enormous childcare duties by using the three oldest kids as helpers! Therefore, Ellen, Roy, and Ferne were chosen to become involved. Consequently, our mother did not attend high school. She said sometimes that in spite of being responsible for helping to rear so many of her siblings, "We had a pretty good life in the way it turned out. But, when you're not educated you wait on the Lord to show you the way."

Mother met her future husband, Joseph Loya, when she was 25 years old while working at Walgreen's in Davenport. At the time they met, Joe was 36 years old. Mother remembered that she was washing windows at Walgreens when Joe noticed her. She also remembered saying to herself that "I must have been showing a little too much leg" because she saw that Joe was immediately attracted and made it known! They soon fell in love. Dad moved to San Pedro, California in April 1942, to work in the Civil Service for the War Department at Fort McArthur. He sent for his Sweetheart and they were married after her arrival. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy on March 28, 1944.

Their relationship was a wonderful merging of two lives that developed into what might be described best as soul mates joined by God. Together they had many exciting and adventurous experiences! While Anne and I were growing up the family took many camping vacations, for example, to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. Our father was sent to the Naval Shipyards in Brooklyn, NY, in 1960-the family followed. After about three years at sea mother and Anne accompanied dad who was transferred to Sigonella, Sicily. After Dad's tour of duty, the family was transferred back stateside to Fallon, Nevada. Dad suffered from Lou Gehrig's Disease for about two years before his death on August 17, 1982. Mother and Dad were married for about 32 years when he passed. To be honest I do not ever remember hearing them arguing with one another! Their marriage was very special especially after beginning to serve the Lord.

Mother came to know the Lord when she was six years old. She began taking Anne and me to church at the Lakewood Christian Reformed Church when we were young. Dad was not a Christian at the time, but soon joined us and became a member of the church. Our parents settled in Castro Valley after Dad retired from the Navy in 1969. They joined the Neighborhood Church in Castro Valley. After moving into an assisted living home in the summer of 2011 mother really missed her friends at church. She really enjoyed singing hymns at church services and her fellowship with other Christians. Although our mother was devastated after the loss of her true love, Joe, she eventually married Jack Salvador on May 31, 1985. Jack was a Christian man who mother met at the Neighborhood Church. He died on September 16, 2003. Mother and Jack were married for 18 years.

Our mother is remembered saying often that she prayed about all of her life's troubles and the Lord gave her peace. "The Lord is good when you have problems you can't handle yourself." She was a wonderful, compassionate, caring woman who will be missed by loved ones forever-she is certainly now with God in Heaven . . . and Joe!

Bio written by her son, Gary Loya.