Bitalio Anaya

Our beloved father, grandfather, husband, and true friend to all, Bitalio "Ty" Anaya, born in Hagerman, New Mexico on September 25, 1938, passed away on January 13, 2023, at Kaweah Health Hospital in Visalia, California at 84 years of age. Ty was born to Jose and Bersabe Anaya in New Mexico, just a few miles from where his sweetheart, Sandy was also born (just a few months later). He moved all over the Western United States until he eventually found himself in the Central Valley of California in time to attend and graduate from Mt. Whitney High School in Visalia in 1958. In spite of being born just a few miles apart, it was hundreds of miles to the west that he eventually met the love of his life, Ynocencia "Sandy" or "Chencha" Sandoval in Goshen, California, when he would walk through the empty lot next door on the way to catch the bus to Mt. Whitney. It was in high school that he purchased his beloved 1928 Model A Roadster for just $12, which sparked a passion for antique cars that fueled his dreams, his imagination, and filled his time. He still has that car. He grew up with a loving, sweet mother, and a whole lot of brothers and sisters: the 7th of 12 children. In 1946-47, he was sent to San Angelo Sanitarium in Texas after being diagnosed with tuberculosis. He spent a total of nine months there, five and a half of which was in isolation, causing a sense of detachment and loneliness, which he never quite forgot. After graduation, Ty joined the Air Force in 1958. He served in Wyoming, Illinois, Alaska, and Texas, where he consistently impressed his superior officers, being offered the position of chauffeur for the Base Commander (which he turned down) and receiving a promotion to Airman First Class two full months before he was eligible. He was given stripes for all of his uniforms except one, but he was told that he could only wear the one uniform for the next two months, until his promotion was official. However, he did enjoy his pay raise immediately! He was surprised to discover that he was a bright and capable student, a talented mechanic, and enjoyed real success throughout his time in the Air Force that boosted his confidence. After Illinois, he was transferred to Elmendorf Air Force Base where Ty fell deeply in love with the newly-admitted 49thState of Alaska. This love would frame much of the rest of his life, a place of great beauty and adventure which nicely suited his own sense of individuality. It was in Alaska that he established dear life-long friends, immersed himself in the community (like joining the Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska), and primarily raised his family. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Ty returned to the central valley and worked making condensers for air conditioners. He started dating the beautiful Sandy. After dating for a while, she told him that his parents would have to ask her parents for permission to marry her. They did, and apparently her parents agreed, because they were married on July 6, 1963, at St. Thomas Catholic Parish in Goshen, California. They would have been married for 60 years in July of 2023. After the wedding they moved to Castro Valley, California. Their first son, Manuel was born there. But Ty felt the call of the Last Frontier, and he moved his young family to Anchorage, Alaska, where their second son, Eugene, (named after his High School best friend) was born. While there, he worked as a Liquid Oxygen Plant Operator on base. Eventually, his independent spirit caused him to strike out on his own as a mechanic, opening a repair shop, (where he repaired pretty much anything), and general jack of all trades. He wasn't afraid to do anything. After purchasing his first home on McCain Loop in Anchorage, he dug out his own basement bucket by bucket, extending and flattening the usable lot of the home that he would own all his life. And although when their younger son started school, they moved back to California for a time to be near family, Alaska called them back again in 1980. Over the next more than 40 years, Ty and Sandy would call Alaska, California, and Utah home. Anyone who knew Ty knows that he fiercely loved his family, shamelessly spoiled his dogs (we are sure he is now surrounded by Bubbles, Pudgy, Doggie, Wilber, Bouncer, Sammy and Lucky), proudly tinkered on and showcased his vintage cars, and not only lent a hand but became fast friends with almost everyone he ever met. He was good to his core, honest and incredibly hardworking. He will be greatly missed by his children and grandchildren, friends, neighbors, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, and pretty much anyone who was lucky enough to have known him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Bersabe Anaya, his brothers Timmy, Richard, and Toby and his sister Mary Helen. He is survived by his wife Ynocencia Anaya, his older son Manuel (Lisa) Anaya and their children Matthew (Shantell) Anaya, Michael Anaya, Krissy Anaya, and Stephanie (Shawn) McKenna. He is also survived by his younger son Eugene (Andrea) Anaya and their children Shirsten (Keith) Shirts, Kailea Anaya, Kaelys Anaya, and Daniel Bitalio Anaya and his great-grandchildren Olivia Anaya, Andres Anaya, Klarissa Anaya, Taiven Anaya, Sofia Anaya, Grayson Ty Anaya, Princeton Anaya, Lucy Shirts, Stella Shirts, and Vivian Shirts. There will be a viewing on Sunday, January 22, 2023 from 4-6 pm, Rosary from 6-7 at Salser & Dillard Funeral Home, 127 E Caldwell Ave in Visalia, California. Mass in his honor will be at St Mary's Catholic Church, 608 N Church Street, Visalia at 9:00 am Monday, January 23, 2023, following which will be interment at Visalia Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Bitalio Anaya

September 25, 1938 - January 13, 2023