ESPARZA, Ruben Nunez

The Arizona Daily Star, 8 June 2008 Ruben Nuñez Esparza re-united with Ophelia Peña Esparza, his deceased wife, on the 5th of June 2008. He is survived by daughter, Rebecca Vidal and her family, Ruben P. Esparza, Esq., Raymond Esparza, M.S. and his family and Adrian X. Esparza, Phd. and his family. Ruben was born in old Morenci, Arizona, served in the U.S. Navy in WWII and retired from Magma Copper. He personified the word "tuff" in every sense. At five foot four inches tall he was known to have backed down men over six feet tall in defense of his children. He survived major cancer surgery for over twenty five years. At 65 he was still able to lay concrete by hand and chop firewood with an axe. The ground shook for yards around him when he chopped mesquite. Tuff as he was, he has peacefully joined his beloved wife, Ophelia. He will be missed. Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 11, 2008 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at CARRILLO'S TUCSON MORTUARY (Center Chapel), 240 S. Stone Ave., with a Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass will be offered Thursday, June 12, 2008, 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine's Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave. Interment to follow at Holy Hope Cemetery. Arrangements by CARRILLO'S TUCSON MORTUARY, INC.