Domitila Ybarra Rios

Domitila Rios passed away peacefully with family by her side at Eagle Springs Memory Care facility in College Place, Washington, on July 16, 2024.

Domitila was born on December 5, 1931, in Edinburg, Texas to Concepcion Ybarra and Ysidra Ybarra Luna.

Domitila married Carlos Rios on January 9, 1954. Carlos was her childhood friend. They were migrant farmworkers traveling from Texas to Washington to Michigan for various crops. Eventually, around 1957, they settled in the Walla Walla Valley. Domitila helped her husband support the family.

She worked in the fields in the northwest. She was a teacher aide and cafeteria assistant at Paine Elementary School. She worked at the Northwest Rural Opportunities/Washington State Migrant Council child care center for years in various positions - infant care room, kitchen aide, bus driver, and for the Women, Infant, Children program when it started at the facility. She worked as an office assistant at the Children’s Home Society for a while. She worked at the Senior Center, helping serve meals. She cared for her parents, family, grandchildren, and many pets.

She has been a parishioner of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, where she served for many years as a eucharistic minister, cursiesta, and member of the Hispanic Council. She was also a member of the Latin American Club, which helped organize community events for Hispanic families.

Carlos and Domitila had six children: Martina Rios Cruz, Gilberto Rios, Teresa Rios (Gutierrez), Maria L. Rios(Sandoval), Rosanna Rios (Lugo) and Angelica Rios.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carlos; her parents, Concepcion and Ysidra; siblings: Paula, Maria, Concepcion, and Juan; and one great-granddaughter, Carmyne Luna Cruz.

She is survived by her oldest brother, Jose Concepcion Ybarra of Texas and youngest brother, Juan Jose Ybarra of Walla Walla; all her children;  sons-in-law: Jose Santos Gutierrez (Teresa), Ramon Sandoval (Lucy) and Salvador Lugo (Rosanna), all her grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

We love you, Mom, and thank you for all your love and care.

Visitation will be on Monday, July 22, 2024, from 10:00 am until the Rosary at 6:00 pm, at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 10:00 am, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Walla Walla with Father Kevin Oiland Celebrating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Alzheimer's Association or charity of choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. Friends and family are also invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.