Resident of Concord

Millie Lopez (née Walls) passed peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on September 25, 2025, a few weeks after celebrating her 96th birthday.

Millie will be remembered as a devoted wife &partner, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a cherished friend. She lived a life marked by intelligence, generosity, and curiosity. In ways both large and small, she extended love and encouragement to her family, relatives, friends, and to all those who crossed her path.

Millie was born in Floydada, Texas around the time of the collapse of the U.S. stock market. She spent her formative years in Southern California and graduated from Whittier High School. She attended San José State University.

During her college years, Millie supported herself by working as ashill (look it up) at the blackjack tables in the casinos of Lake Tahoe—an early testament to her confidence, quick wit, and independence.

She graduated with a degree in education and moved to Concord to begin her teaching career as an elementary school educator during which she corresponded with Albert Einstein on the subject of helping children grow into good community members. There she met the love of her life, Rafael “Ralph” Lopez. They married in 1953 and shared more than forty years of marriage, building a life grounded in partnership, devotion, and family. Ralph preceded Millie in death in 1998, aloss she carried with grace and enduring love.

Millie devoted herself fully to her family, stepping away from teaching while raising her children. When she returned to the classroom, she embraced new challenges with characteristic determination, mastering advanced mathematics so she could teach Advanced Placement math courses in middle school. She retired after a long and impactful career in education, having inspired countless students with her discipline, clarity, and unwavering belief in their potential.

Beyond the classroom, Millie was an accomplished tennis player and an engaged member of the Concord community.

She was especially devoted to the arts, dedicating significant time and energy to supporting and promoting the Concord Pavilion and enriching the cultural life of her community.

Millie is survived by her four children, Grant (Diane), Matt (Aida), Anne (Sherrie), and Claire (Michael); ten grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren, all of whom carry forward her legacy of love, learning, and generosity.

A private Celebration of Life will be held on January 17.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to organizations that reflect Millie’s lifelong commitments to education, the arts, and community life.