Wilbur (Will) Souza passed away on Friday January 21, 2011, he was 89. Will was born on June 23rd 1921 in Santa Maria, CA to Manuel Souza and Minnie Souza (Freitas). Will was raised on the Souza family farm in the Santa Maria Valley. He attended local schools, and upon graduation from high school attended Cal Poly College in San Dimas, CA. In 1941 Will joined the US Navy and served as a US Naval Aviator during World War II, in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He received several presidential citations for valor while fighting in the Pacific. After the war, Will returned to Santa Maria to raise a family with his wife Marilyn (Lyn) and to work on the Souza family farm. With his partner, Loris Boster he continued to farm in traditional produce, including; broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, celery and other vegetables.
Will and Lyn Souza were avid world travelers. While in Europe in the early 1980’s Will noticed the popularity of delicate salad greens called “mesclun” and mini “baby size” vegetables, a gourmet delight! An innovator by nature, Will returned to the farm to capitalize on the idea of growing the European lettuce varieties and mini “baby” vegetables.
In 1986, Will and his founding partners; Frank & Judy Lundberg and Greg & Cherrie Pedigo established “Babé Farms”, a small innovative company breaking the mold of traditional farming. Babé Farms was one of the first to introduce packaged European salad mixes “mesclun”, hand selected specialty greens and a colorful array of baby vegetables into the United States. Most were skeptical; some growers even scoffed “you’ll never sell those weeds.” Flash forward and look at where we are today, the little company with a vision has now become the leader and the premiere label in specialty vegetables. Many growers emulate Babé Farms and we’re proud to be considered one of the main catalysts for this gourmet revolution in the produce industry.
Over the years Will was recognized for his achievements as a prominent pioneer farmer, in 2000 Will received the “Farmer –of -the-Year” award for Santa Barbara County. In addition to his outstanding work as a farmer he was a proud and devoted family man.
Will is survived by his wife Lyn; his sister DeEtta Boster; daughters Carol Ciavarelli, and her husband Anthony of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Lauren Souza, of Boston, Massachusetts, and three grandchildren, Alanna Herrick Hughes, Brendan Will Souza Hughes, Gina Chandler and her husband Greg, and two great grandchildren Katie Chandler and Jenny Chandler. In addition to the direct Souza family line, Wilbur is survived by a number of beloved members of the Boster and Pedigo families.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at St. Louis de Montfort Church. Memorial Contributions may be made to Marian Medical Center Foundation at 1400 East Church Street, Santa Maria, CA, or the charity of your choice.
Source: Babé Farms
