Marcial B. Mota

Marcial Bernard Mota was born April 9, 1923 to Severa Lopez Mota and Marcelino Mota, in Clovis, California. He was the 5th of 8 children. When he was still very young the family moved to Wilmington, California, where he would grow up. He & his siblings attended Logan Street Elementary School & Banning High School, where he was active in Track & Field. Marcial joined the Navy during WWII where he served on the USS California. He used to box during his leisure time. He truly enjoyed serving, but his service was cut short when the USS Tennessee collided with the California in August of 1942. He was trapped below decks when his closest friend, "Mac" McConnell, saved his life by refusing to leave him & holding his head above water while he was cut out of the bunks. Marcial was in a body cast and in & out of Navel hospitals for many months. After the war he had several jobs, including being a milkman, until Mac introduced him to Winchell's Doughnuts in 1959 when he bought his first doughnut shop. He would later become a supervisor / trainer / shop opener, eventually being promoted to Mountain States Division Manager in 1973. He retired from Winchell's in 1995, but continued making doughnuts for independent doughnut shops for sometime. Marcial loved to share his Navel memories & memorabilia with friends and family. He was active in the Veterans Administration. Marcial was very Patriotic and Loved his Country. He was also active in serving in his church. Bird watching was one of Marcials' favorite things. His favorite bird was the Warrior of the Sky, the Eagle. Marcial is survived by his wife Jacqueline, his children Marshall, Marsha and Kathlyn, four Grandchildren, two brothers, many loving nieces and nephews, plus many friends, all of whom will miss him very much.