PATINA,
Florentino (D) 1918-1978 & Elvira Garza
Year that Family first migrated to the Pacific Northwest. 1963
Texas Hometown Hargill, Texas
Settled in, Sunnyside, WA
Other members of the Original Family,
Tino Patina [Martha] Grandview,WA
Janie P. Lopez Sunnyside, WA
Trudy P. Carbajal Sunnyside, WA
Mia P. Rios [Juan] Sunnyside, WA
Felipa P. Pina [Juan] Sunnyside, WA/Donna, TX (winter Texan)
Ruben Patina Sunnyside, WA
Ji Patina Sunnyside, WA
Emilia P. McMillan [Rick] Sunnyside, WA
Joe Patina [Irene] Sunnyside, WA
Information submitted by Trudy Carbajal
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
When our family came to Sunnyside in March 1963, we came along with 3 other families. It was Don Lupe Esqueda that brought us in his
truck. Memories of having a child's recollection of a long trip and the awe of crossing the Continental Divide peering through a hole in the
canvas that covered the box of that flatbed truck. We left a very large extended family in Texas, though Dad had family here, all of our
Mom's family including our only surviving grandparents stayed behind in Hargill. Our family had migrated all over Texas and other
states especially the Mid-West, but always returning back home for the Winter, we didn't know that as a family we would never again return
to live in Hargill.
We arrived at the Johnson farm on South Emerald Road, and we were cutting asparagus within a week. There we were greeted by
Salvador and Hortencia Betancourt and their family, our first friends of many that we were to make in the years to come. By the end of
that year we were living at Newhouse Farms where it became our homebase until 1968. With our parents we worked in and harvested all
types of crops in the Yakima Valley. During the Summers we would travel to "The coast" to pick berries, then down to the Willemette Valley
in Oregon for snap beans, and back to Sunnyside.
Though farmwork was a way of life for our parents, and for generations before, they saw that occupation as, low paying, physically
demanding and working conditions that can be dangerous. In 1968 both our parents decided that they would try to set an example by
seeking employment outside of farmwork, where they were to remain until their retirement. Our father with a third-grade education went to
work for the Sunnyside School District with the Maintenance Department, and our mother who had a seventh grade education went back
to school, and worked as a Nurse Assistant for 23 years at our local hospital. We have the most admiration and respect for our parents,
Dad was functionally illiterate but went ahead with his plans, and Mom with 9 kids and not knowing how to drive (still doesn't), and going
back to school. Their example must of worked because none of their offspring has had to worked as field labor for more than 25 years.
Our parents instilled in us a sense of pride for our heritage and a love of our Tejano Music, as Dad was a vocalist and had even recorded
with Los Donenos back in Texas. He was always singing. They also taught us not to forget our background, where we came from, and to
serve others. Three of us have worked most of our lives with the underprivileged. Tino is a case manager with the Early Headstart
Program with Washington State Migrant Council in Sunnyside. Mia is a Dental Assistant at Yakima Valley Farmworkers' Clinic in
Toppenish. Trudy is a Physician Assistant and has worked with the underserved most of her life.
Tino is a Vietnam Era Veteran, ex-paratrooper with the 101st Airborne, and is President of PNTMA.
Trudy is Secretary and Resource Coordinator for PNTMA.
Mom, Mia, Felipa and Ruben have volunteered many hours for PNTMA.
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