Daniel Jose Montoya

Daniel Montoya, 93, born on July 23, 1929, in Tucson, AZ, United States, passed away April 08, 2023. He resided in Moreno Valley, CA at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, CA.

At the age of 13, his parents Sara and Juan Jose Montoya moved to Los Angeles, where he attended Hollenbeck Middle School and Roosevelt High School and formed many lifelong friendships.

In his early twenties, he started a career with the Western Electric Company. He met and married Lupe Savedra in September 1950, and four months later he was drafted into the United States Army.

PFC Daniel J. Montoya was trained as a rifleman and was quickly sent to serve in the Korean War. Within a few short months, he was awarded the Combat Infantrymen Badge, Purple Heart, and the Korean Service Medal with two service stars. The wounds he suffered in combat would have a lasting effect on his life.

Daniel returned to work for Western Electric and used the GI Bill to take night classes at East Los Angeles College. After 14 years with Western Electric and a family that included three small children, he abruptly left to pursue a trade as locksmith. He took pride as a skilled locksmith providing more than 30 years of service to the Los Angeles Unified School District.

His Catholic upbringing remained strong throughout his life and shaped how he lived and treated others. He often worked two jobs to support his family. He enjoyed working with his hands and had an artistic eye and mechanical mind for restoring antique telephones, fire alarms, furniture and small electric motors.

He is survived by one son, 4 daughters, 9 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.