Val Ribota

Val Ribota, a Lab retiree, died Feb. 23 at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital. He was 72.

Born Feb. 14, 1940, in Nogales, Mexico, he lived in Tracy 63 years. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1967 and then worked as a maintenance engineer at the Lab's Site 300 before retiring.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Lodge 4041 and the Dad's Club at St. Bernard's Catholic Church. He also volunteered at Tracy Interfaith Ministries.

Ribota is survived by his wife of 46 years, Maggie Ribota of Tracy; five children, Tom Ribota and his wife, Tracy of Manteca; Tim Ribota and his wife, Rachelle, of Granite Bay; Gilbert Ribota and his wife, Lesley of Merced; Brian Ribota and his wife, Jenni of Lakeland, Tenn.; Chris Ribota and his partner, Jill of Elk Grove; mother, Angela Diaz of Tracy; and six siblings, Margo Quiroga of Stockton, Lalo Ibarra of Pico Rivera, Christina Herrera of Tracy, Mary Lou Rios of Stockton, Jessica Diaz of Tracy and Frank Diaz, also of Tracy.

He also is survived by his 12 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Burial took place at the Tracy Cemetery, 600 E. Schulte Road, following a mass at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Tracy.