Arthur (Art) G. Lopez passed away peacefully on October 6, 2021, with family by his side. Art was a native Californian, born in Santa Monica to John and Madeline Lopez. He grew up in Venice and graduated from Venice High School in 1962. In his senior year of high school, Art received the Bank of America Achievement Award in the field of Trades and Industrial for distinguished achievement and promise of future success and service to society. In high school, Art was a catcher for the Venice Varsity Baseball team. He enjoyed baseball in his early years and was a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Following high school Art moved to San Jose where he was employed by IBM. He later married Martha Holly, his first love from southern California, in 1964. They had two sons, Tim, and Matthew Lopez. Art and Martha were married 24 years when Martha passed away in 1989. Art loved his wife and family with all his heart. During his married life, he actively participated in his son’s school activities, playing, coaching, and refereeing soccer games. He was a member of the Blossom Valley Soccer Club. He also traveled to Hawaii and England to referee soccer games. He had fond memories of the time when the entire family went to England with his son’s soccer team.
In December 1994, Art retired from IBM after 30 years of distinguished service. During his retirement, Art continued to referee high school sports, including soccer, field hockey and girls’ slow-pitch softball, as well as collegiate soccer in the Bay Area. He also worked for Fermar and PSI. In 1993, Art was named the Outstanding Official for Girls Soccer by the National Federation Interscholastic Officials Association (NFIOA). He was also a member of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA). In August 2012, Art suffered a severe injury in an unfortunate fall that ended his sports officiating. Art also enjoyed target shooting and participated in many shooting events and competitions in northern California and was a lifetime member of the NRA.
Surprised to find love again after having met on a blind date in 1994, Art married Deanna Iverson in December 1995 in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. During their 25+ years together, they enjoyed spending time with family, their grandchildren, and friends. Art enjoyed traveling with Deanna to numerous cytology conferences where he often helped set up microscopes for workshops. They also enjoyed trips and cruises with family to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and Branson, MO, as well as international travels to Great Britain, Norway, Brazil, and Israel. In 2019, Art and Deanna moved to Little Elm, Texas. Those who knew Art, knew him as a truly kind and caring man, very giving and always ready to lend a hand if needed. He persevered through many adversities throughout his life, while managing through it all to keep his sense of humor. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who loved and cared for him.
Art is survived by his wife, Deanna Iverson of Little Elm, TX; his sons Tim Lopez of San Jose, CA, and Matthew Lopez (Kim) of Frisco, TX; grandchildren, Mark Lopez of Garland, TX, Christine Lopez of Bryan, TX, Brittany and Ashley Lopez of San Jose, CA; sister, Julie Brantley of Tacoma, WA; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Holly Lopez, infant son Lopez, his parents, sister Delores Littlejohn, brothers John and Robert (Bob) Lopez.