Chief Master Sergeant, USAF-Retired, Domingo Mendiguchía Jr., 89, of Gloucester, Va., died peacefully in the early morning hours of Oct. 19, 2012 at the Gloucester House in Gloucester.
Domingo Jr. was born in New York, N.Y., on June 14, 1923 to the late Maria Dolores Samperío de Mendiguchía and Domingo Mendiguchía LaMadrid, both of Santander, Spain.
He graduated from Andrew Jackson High School, located in Queens, N.Y., in January 1942. After graduation he worked for the Grumman Aircraft Company and then in December 1942 he enlisted in the United States Navy. Domingo left the Navy in April 1946 as a 1st Class Petty Officer (Aviation Mechanic Structures, First Class), remained in the Navy Reserve and began working for the Republic Aircraft Company and Trans World Airlines.
In mid-1947 Domingo met his future wife, Elva, with whom he would be married in July 1949 and spend the next 62 years of his life with, until her passing in August 2011. Domingo was recalled into active naval duty in 1950 and then entered the U.S. Air Force in October 1952. With a very new family he found himself taking them first to Clark Air Base in the Philippine Islands. Eventually he would lead his growing family to Alaska, New York, Panama, Guam, Massachusetts and Virginia where he would retire from the U.S. Air Force after 22 years of service. In addition to these duty stations, he also served in Viet Nam. After retiring in April 1973 he worked for Ball Corporation in Williamsburg, Va., as their Training Specialist and Occupational Safety Officer. After leaving Ball Corporation he ended up working for the Navy again in various areas and eventually at the Naval Communications Directive at Norfolk Naval Base as their safety manager in their Occupational Safety Officer. He finally retired in 1985. After retiring, he volunteered for various organizations including the AARP’s driver safety program as their local assistant state coordinator and he also worked in the AARP Income Tax program. After working with AARP he and Elva volunteered in the local Gloucester Meals on Wheels program before retiring for good due to health problems. Domingo was also a member of the Free Masons and the U.S. Air Force Sergeants Association.
Domingo is survived by his son, Daniel Mendiguchía and wife Peggy Haflinger Mendiguchía of San Diego, Cal.; daughters, Denise Milligan and husband Matt Milligan of San Diego, Cal., and Deanna Burris and husband Mickey Burris of Gloucester; grandchildren, Kyle Mendiguchía, Bryson and Caitlin Milligan, Chandler Burris, and Morgan and husband Daniel Clifford and great-granddaughter Eleanor.
A service of Christian Funeral Liturgy conducted by the Rev. James Cowles will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point. Interment will be at a later date, to be announced, at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, Cal.
Domingo requested that donations in his name be made to the American Heart Association, Mid-Atlantic Affiliate at: American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, Va. 23060 (a downloadable form at http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@tcs/documents/downloadable/ucm_430364.pdf is available) or online at https://donate.americanheart.org