Jess “Walking Horse” Palomino

Birth: Dec. 17, 1937
East Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
California, USA
Death: Sep. 20, 2009

Jess “Walking Horse” Palomino, born Dec. 17, 1937 in East Los Angeles, passed away Sept. 20, 2009, due to complications of diabetes.

He was a resident of Apple Valley since 1990.
Jess was a respected Native American elder in the United States. His paternal grandparents were White Mountain Apaches from the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lupe; sons Jess Michael and Richard Nieves Palomino of Apple Valley; adopted son Kalan Palomino of Ayesbury, England; daughters Rose Vega of Lemoore, Calif., Irene Palomino of Adelanto, Lupe Palomino Jr. of Apple Valley, Esther Patterson of Vancouver, Wash., Debra Palomino of Hesperia, Rebecca Palomino of Vancouver, Wash., Mrs. Victoria Morningstar Burkart, and husband Joe, of the City of Bell, Calif.; 24 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Christina Palomino of Fontana, and Diana Palomino of South Dakota; and brother John Palomino of Hesperia.

Jess joined the National Guard at age 16, and transferred to the United States Navy at age 17. During his military service, Jess married Lupe Gaxiola on Feb. 19, 1956. After an honorable discharge, Jess and Lupe started to raise their family in the Alhambra and Covina areas.
Jess worked with inmate ministries, donating a worship drum to Native American inmates at the Adelanto Correctional Center.
Jess was a renowned Native American storyteller, presenting indigenous oral traditions at museums, schools, and colleges in the High Desert and California. Every Christmas season since 1994, he would present Native American storytelling at the Roy Rogers Museum. He was also a noted Native American artisan, producing intricate beadwork and personalized bracelets. One of his crafts is on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
Jess was featured in the movie “Contact,” starring Jodie Foster. A devout Christian, he was a member of the Native American Living Way Chapel Church of Apple Valley, and a drummer for the Native American Christian musical group “Rainshadow.”

Jess’s passion was his family and his love of dancing. He was most happy around his children, and the children he told stories to. According to his daughters, he wore his heart on his sleeve and was a generous and compassionate man. He instructed his children, “Never walk with your head down and be proud of who you are.”