Fernando "Ferd" Arreola

Fernando Arreola, aged 95, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family members, at 4:20 pm on 6-4-2020 from natural causes. He was a strong, independent man until he had a series of strokes starting on March 24, 2020.

Fernando was born in San Diego to Arnulfo and Maria Jesus Arreola, the second son; he had two brothers and three sisters. All of who predeceased him. His mother left when he was six years old and he was raised by his father’s sisters, Aunt Maggie Guatelli, and Aunt Carmen Torres. He considered Maggie his mother and her daughter Eva Guatelli, his sister. His cousins, Albert, Robert and Josephine Torres also resided in the home. As he grew older he spent time with his brother Manuel, who was five years younger and always helped him and bought him clothes. They retained a close bond until Manuel passed away in 2015.

Fernando went to Sherman Elementary School and Memorial Junior High School. At age 14 he spent a year in a boarding school in Tijuana.

In 1943 at age 18 he was drafted into the Army, to serve in World War II, he did his basic training at Camp Van Dorn in Mississippi and was then sent to the Pacific. He arrived in Papua, New Guinea and was assigned as a replacement to 24th Infantry Division, 19th Regiment, D company. He was a Heavy Weapons Specialist and was a gunner using an 81 mm mortar. He saw combat in Leyte, Mindoro and Isla Verde in the Philippine Islands. At one point they had to walk 100 miles across an island in combat conditions. At the end of the war he spent several months in Japan as an MP squad leader in the Army of Occupation. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. His time in the service had a great impact on him and throughout his life he told many stories of things he saw and events that happened.

He was a hardworking man from being very young and demonstrated that all his life. He worked for a while as a welder and then became a commercial tuna fisherman out of San Diego, when they fished with bamboo poles; he worked on several different boats and would be gone for weeks or months at a time. After seven years he finally left fishing when the boat he was working on sank, the crew were fortunate to be rescued and no lives lost.

In the mid fifties he joined Laborers Local 89 and worked as an electrician’s laborer for over 20 years, he remained a member of the union for the rest of his life. After he retired from construction he worked for Grossmont Union High School District first as a custodian and then as a grounds man. He also became a part time instructional aide for the Regional Occupation Program for Auto Repair Classes.

Fernando married in 1949 and adopted his wife’s 3-year-old daughter, Yolanda. They went on to have three more children. Fernando R., Christina and Jennifer. The marriage broke down and he was left in 1960 to raise the four children as a single parent. He was a strict disciplinarian, but loving and fair. In 1971 his daughter Yolanda lost her life, leaving four small children under six years of age, Paul, Rita, Darcy and Christine. He married his girl friend, Diane, in 1972 and together they adopted and raised the four children as their own.

He was a long time member of Los Ancianos Motorcycle Club, through which the whole family enjoyed camping in Mexico, beach parties, barbecues and assisting with off road races. He loved fishing, took every opportunity to go on Sport Fishing day trips until that became too much for him, he then enjoyed going to Shelter Island Pier early in the morning.

Fernando was deeply caring, outgoing, gentle, and yet tough as nails. He was loved and respected by his family throughout his life. He derived tremendous joy from family events and watching his children and grandchildren play various sports, including track and field, basketball, roller hockey, little league baseball, softball and soccer. His love permeated our lives and could be felt everywhere. He loved history, reading, fishing, telling stories, telling jokes (some of which were funny), cross word puzzles and watching History and Military TV channels. His greatest joy was being a husband, a dad, and "Papa" to his wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Diane, his sons Fernando (Pattijo), Paul (Brooke), daughters, Christina Warren (Edward), Jennifer Weingarten (George), Rita Horne (Jeffrey) Darcy Lange, Christine Malmberg (Kent). Grandchildren, Yolanda Ramirez (Eric), Anthony Castro, Devin Gallagher Voight (Brandon), Garrett Gallagher, Selina Arreola, Payne Arreola, Jet Arreola, Ryan Horne, Dylan Lange, Dalton Lange, Kayla Malmberg, Cassidy Malmberg. Great Grandchildren, Gabriel Leonguerrero, Tiana Castro, Zachary Gallagher Ruiz, and Charles Voight.

A memorial service and reception are planned on Thursday, July 9th 2020 at 2 p.m. at El Cajon Mortuary, 684 South Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020.

His ashes will be interred at Miramar National Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.elcajonmortuary.com for the ARREOLA family.