Emma Morelos Alvarez

 

Date of Birth: November 30th, 1930 in Whittier, Ca

Parents: Julian & Francisca “Mama Quica” Morelos(decd.).

Siblings: Delia(decd.), Lucita(decd.), Emma(decd.), Linda, and Olga.

Children: Yolanda, Arthur, Robert, and Richard.

 

The Morelos family lived on Forth St. in Santa Ana, California. Emma attended Santa Ana public schools which included Willard Junior High School. One of her many jobs was working at the Box Office at the Yost Theatre as a Ticket Girl. Here she would meet the love of her life, Carlos Alvarez. They were married on August 27th, 1950. Carlos had saved enough money from his job at West Coast Traders, also known as “Santa Ana Surplus,” to buy a home that he could take his bride to on Sixth St. in Santa Ana. They began growing their family with their first born Yolanda in 1951, Arthur in 1952, Robert in 1956, and Richard in 1967. 

 

Emma and Carlos opened the original Army Navy Surplus located at 149 S. Glassell St. in July of 1956 in Orange. In time, Emma and Carlos partnered with Carlos’ older brother Tony. In the wake of the changes in their business plan, they relocated to 131 S. Glassell St. in Orange and renamed the business to Army Navy Store, which remains a staple in the Orange Downtown Plaza. The family later relocated to the city of Tustin and saw their four children graduate from Mater Dei High School. Emma loved Mater Dei HS and USC football. Through the years Emma enjoyed dancing to traditional Mexican music with family and friends, especially at the Mexican American Golf Association Banquets.

 

In the 1980s, Emma and Carlos moved to Temecula to start a new chapter in their family, which included a new retail business while continuing to expand their real estate holdings. They spent nearly 30+ years in Temecula, where they lived at their dream home, which included three acres with sheep and cats and a place where the entire family could retreat. Their final move brought them back to Tustin to be closer to family and friends. 

 

Emma now has 9 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and is survived by her two sisters, Linda Gruber and Olga Morales, her sister-in-law Alice Morales, and her brother-in-law Jorge Alvarez.