Artist and Beautician Guadalupe Olivia Munoz, 1942-2011

Guadalupe Olivia Munoz’s life was a piece of art, much like the Japanese water colors she used for her personal art projects and hand painted Christmas cards.

Art has always been part of Munoz’s life, said her longtime friend Mary Purvis.

“I know her as a friend and I know her to be a very energetic, positive person,” Purvis said. “She was also very artistic. She could draw and paint and basically create anything."

A class of 1960 Mar Vista High School graduate, Munoz was part of the high school band. More recently Munoz learned to play the ukulele and was part of a group that played in Chula Vista.

As a beautician Munoz owned her own business called “The Shop,” which was located on Third Avenue in Chula Vista.

Though her business was in Chula Vista, Imperial Beach "was her home."

“I don’t know how to explain it. It was just something that she would have never left. She felt like she belonged and it is where her family had established their roots,” Purvis said.

Although she never officially ran for a political position, Munoz was part of the campaign team of several mayoral candidates. She also enjoyed planning class of 1960 class reunions and parties.

Munoz was born on June 6, 1942 in Mexico City. As a teenager, her family moved to Imperial Beach where her father worked as a private jet pilot making trips from Southern California to Mexico.

Aside from art and running her business, Munoz enjoyed riding her bicycle around Imperial Beach and taking long walks on the beach with her dog. She also enjoyed the company of her grand children.

On Oct. 10 Munoz suffered a heart attack and died. She was 70-years-old.

“It was total shock because Olivia has always been vibrant, very healthy, very energetic. She exercised. She ate properly. It was a total 'I can’t believe it,' that’s what that was,” Purvis said.

 Munoz is survived by a sister and two children.