Paul Santos

Paul Santos

Paul Santos passed away Friday, March 11, 2011 in Mesquite, Nevada. He was born in the Philippines on November 30, 1934 to Paulino Santos, Sr. and Baldomera Ismael Santos. He grew up in Negros Island with five sisters and six brothers.

As a teenager, Paul played the trombone in his band, The Sea Scouts. He enjoyed singing, playing the guitar, the ukulele and ballroom dancing in shirts he designed himself. His sister, Melodia, recalls how he would select the perfectly matched material and she would make his shirts according to his designs.

Paul also enjoyed working with wood and electronics. While growing up, his family didn't have a radio. Paul buried two wires in the ground, fed the lines through some bamboo sticks and connected headphones to them to make the family radio.

After high school, Paul became a sales representative. He worked in Mindano for several major corporations such as Eveready, Union Carbide, Radio Wealth and Wrigley's Chewing Gum. Because sales reps traveled everywhere, they had the job of disseminating vital information to the public. He filled his van with media materials and showed movies about social issues to every village he visited.

While on his sales routes in Mindano, he met the love of his life, Josephine Degayo. They married on February 4, 1950. They had one son, Dennis and a daughter, Doris, to whom he taught the cha-cha, tango and the mambo.

Paul and Josie immigrated to the United States in 1983 where they settled in Fairfield, CA. Paul worked in the field that he loved, electronics, installing car stereos. Because of his expertise, he had many repeat customers. Paul studied and took the citizenship test and proudly became an United States citizen in 1988. In 1991, he and Josie moved to Mesquite, NV so that they could be closer to their daughter, Doris, and their new granddaughter. He installed car stereos and was a casino slot technician, but his favorite thing to do was to spend time with his grandchildren. They loved hanging out with their "Lolo."

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Paulino and Baldomera Santos and siblings, Artie Santos Sambo, Henry Santos, Andy Santos, Benilda Santos Matherne, Wilfredo Santos and Antonio Santos. He is survived by his wife, Josephine Degayo Santos; children Dennis (Marilyn) Santos and Doris (Armando) Baeza; sisters Honora Santos Falk, Cielito Santos Narvasa and Melodia Santos Drexler; brother Roderick Santos; four grandchildren, Felisha Baeza, Ryan Baeza, Jessica Baeza and Dondie Santos; and four great grandchildren.

We love you Paul (Lolo). We will miss your laughter, your creativity, and your music, but we know you are entertaining the angels with your Big Band music in heaven.