Bertha Rita Melendez, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home in Gustine, California, on January 1, 2025, at the age of 89.
Born on June 6, 1935, in Artesia, California, Bertha grew up in San Jose, where she attended local schools. She married the love of her life, Victor Melendez Sr., at Holy Family Church in San Jose. Together they built a life filled with love and family, eventually relocating to Gustine, California.
Bertha had a remarkable career in microelectronics research and development. She worked for 19 years at Lockheed Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale, California, where she contributed to groundbreaking projects. Among her many accomplishments was the creation of sun sensors for the Hubble Space Telescope, a legacy that continues to orbit above us…