Precioso (Pres) Espera Palma was born on December 8, 1933 in Pagadian, Zamboanga Del Sur, Philippines to his parents Elegio and Salvacion. He always wanted a better life for himself and after graduating high school in 1954, he joined the US Navy.

He spent 23 years in the service and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was awarded 2 Vietnam Service Medals, Navy Achievement Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, and an Armed forces Expeditionary Medal for the Korean conflict.  He also earned his U.S. Citizenship by Naturalization in 1965, while in the service. After he retired from the Navy, he went on to work for SDG&E for 12 years before retiring.

Although Pres was proud of his achievements while in the Navy, he had no one to share them with. On an R/R outing, one of his Navy buddies showed him a picture of his cousin (Zeny Bautista at the time) back in the Philippines.  He immediately asked his buddy for her address so they could be pen-pals.  As their friendship grew, he would send her crazy gifts, like a sewing machine, and various gifts for her and her family from his deployments.  Their penmanship blossomed and they were soon married on Dec 20, 1959 in the Philippines.  They had their first of 7 children, Arnold, in the Philippines in 1960. Soon after, they moved to the US to where Pres was stationed in Port Hueneme, CA in 1962 and eventually ended up in San Diego. And over the next decade, Pres and Zeny's family grew with Jeffrey, Bruce, Rex and Susan, followed by Ann and Pres Jr; the last of their legacy.

Pres was a dedicated and devoted father/husband to his family and wife, taking the kids to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm and out fishing, something that has been carried down to his grandchildren (one of whom is an award winning fisherman). He always made sure there was a roof over his family's head and clothes on their backs. And Zeny always made sure there was food on the table for as large a family they were. He was heartbroken when Zeny passed away in 2014.  They were married for 55 years.

Pres passed away at Scripps Memorial Hospital on January 19, 2020 surrounded by family.  He is survived by his children, along with 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

He was laid to rest alongside his beloved wife at Miramar National Cemetery.