Oscar Sanchez
1977 – 2025
Oscar was born on November 14, 1977, in Merced, California to Refugio Martin Sanchez and Felicitas Sanchez de Sanchez. Oscar came from a very large family, three brothers and four sisters, so there was never a dull moment in their household and with all those moments they built a family filled with love, laughter, and cherished time together. Oscar came from humble beginnings and at a very young age was taught the importance of family, responsibility, and working hard. He was not only driven but achieved anything he set out to do in life which showed during his younger years while working two jobs, keeping his grades up, wrestling and playing football to which he attained a full scholarship to play at Fresno State.
Oscar was a well-rounded person which made it easy for him to connect with people from all different walks of life. His life experiences and his knowledge of knowing a little something about everything opened doors for people to come to him for guidance and direction. His heart was big but the way he lived his life was even bigger. He walked the walk and talked the talk which made him a person of inspiration, but he was always a person of gratitude.
Oscar attended Merced College from 1996 – 1999 where he continued to play football but something else was pulling him towards a career in the United States Air Force. He joined on February 10, 1999, and he served his country until February 21, 2012, which was thirteen years of service. While serving the United States of America Oscar was deployed all over the world doing tours in Iraq and in Afghanistan. In 2009 Oscar was stationed in Kadena, Japan and even though he was so far away one person remained in his heart and that was Lizbeth Casillas. They had been good friends since their young teens, but both of their lives took them in different directions. Fourteen years later after Oscar had gone to college and joined the Air Force, he looked Lizbeth up on social media. Liz was a single mom living in Fresno, California and life brought them back together. Liz and Oscar got married on June 18, 2011, in Carmel, California by the ocean, giving Liz the beach wedding of her dreams. Liz loved his sense of humor, huge heart, sentimental acts of kindness that were so random which made her feel so special, his acts of chivalry, and his genuine love for her. Liz and Oscar loved to travel when they could and they have a dog named Maximus that is a Cane Corso who will deeply miss his presence. Isaiah and Oscar had a special relationship, he loved Isaiah like his own son, and he proudly called him his son. He volunteered to help coach Isaiah's team sports and attended his school activities. Oscar did his best to instill in Isaiah the same core values that he grew up with, they were a blessing in each others lives. Oscar was Liz and Isaiah's protector, he was their family, he was their heart.
Oscar, Liz, and Isaiah lived in Fresno, California after leaving the military but then moved to Oklahoma in 2013 when he was offered a job at Tinker Air Force Base as an engineering technician. He then decided to return to college attending the University of Phoenix and received his Bachelor's on May 31, 2016, and then received his Master's in Business on April 30, 2018. This was quite an accomplishment and an example of just how driven he was. He loved so many things like college and professional football, hunting, fishing, grilling, woodcraft and cars but he truly loved cooking Thanksgiving dinner for his family, it was his way of showing love and gratitude because that was his heart and he will be missed beyond measure.
He is preceded in death by his father Refugio Martin Sanchez of Merced, California.
He is survived by his mother Felicitas Sanchez de Sanchez, his wife Lizbeth Sanchez of Edmond, Oklahoma, Son Isaiah Sylvestris Sanchez of Edmond, Oklahoma and granddaughter Scarlet Sevira Sanchez, brother Quirino Sanchez and his wife Celia and their children Joel, Nancy, and Claudia, sister Leticia Sanchez Rios and her husband Jose Luis and their children Norma, Omar, Jose, and Guadalupe, sister Jovita Sanchez and her husband Charles and their daughter Sammy, brother Jose Sanchez and his wife Rocelia and their children Pepe, and Alejandro, sister Lupe Zarate and her husband Lorenzo and their children Diego, Alejandra, Andrea, and Lorenzo, brother Pedro Sanchez and his wife Elizabeth and their son Adrian, sister Carmen Purnell and her husband Mark and their children Felicity and Phoenix.
A service is scheduled for Friday, February 28, 2025 at 10:00 am., at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel, Edmond, Oklahoma.
To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Click on 'Videos', then 'Live Streams'.