Born Viola Lillie Louis on August 27, 1915 to Joseph and Virgie Louis (Lewis) in Turlock, CA.  She graduated from Livingston High School in 1933, Married to Leslie Anthony Baptista on June 1, 1936 in Turlock, CA . Together they raised their 4 children in Stevinson, CA. Viola was a full time homemaker and later on she worked with her good friend, Ruby Willoughby at the Post Office in Stevinson, CA, where she later became the Post Mistress for many years, from which she retired. From Stevinson they moved to the Country Living Park in Hilmar in 1989. From 2006 she has been a resident of Teresa’s Loving Care in Hilmar. She is preceded in death by her husband, Leslie Anthony Baptista, Sr., in 1995, She is survived by her Children- Leslie A. Baptista, Jr and his wife Alice of Atwater, CA, Lewis Baptista and his wife Dolores of Turlock, Lorraine Frontells of Watsonville and Linda Oliveira and her husband Fred of Dos Palos, her Sister- Marie Freitas of Gustine, she has 12-Grandchildren, 24-Great-Grandchildren and 3-Great-Great-Grandchildren.
Viola will be dearly missed by her family and friends; she was a friend to everyone caring, loyal and trusting, a great cook and the best mother.Viola was a member of St. Mary/ Holy Rosary Catholic Church. A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2013 from 2PM-5PM at Whitehurst, Norton & Dias Funeral Chapel, 286 W. Main St, Turlock, CA Combined Rosary and Mass- 10AM, Friday, September 6, 2013 at St Mary’s Catholic Church, 2809 Railroad Ave , Stevinson, CA A Private Family Interment Following Funeral Mass at Sunnyside Cemetery, Stevinson, CA  Service under direction of Whitehurst, Norton & Dias Funeral Service www.whitehurstnortondiasfuneral.com