Arsenio E. Ayson

Arsenio, or “Seniong” to his relatives or “Art” to his friends, was born the youngest of seven brothers and sisters and grew up in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. Seniong's parents died when he was quite young, so his older sisters took charge of his upbringing. Upon becoming an adult, he sought to pursue an agricultural degree, but while he was attending university, the U.S. Navy announced a recruitment drive to enlist Filipino nationals into service. Seniong saw this as his opportunity to vastly improve his life’s trajectory (he often remarked how he “came from the poorest among the poor”) and join the long line of potential enlistees. Despite his gaunt stature - one recruiter even expressed his doubts about Seniong passing the physical - he successfully joined the U.S. Navy in 1954.

After his first tour with the Navy, he returned to the Philippines to marry his San Esteban town-mate Wilhelmina (Elmie) in 1960, who was at that time an elementary school teacher in Baguio City. They quickly started a new family with the birth of their first son Eglin. They soon moved to the U.S. and eventually became U.S. citizens after several years of naturalization.

Seniong’s young family moved up and down the West Coast to follow his home port, in the meanwhile, adding another son, Allen, to their family tree. They eventually settled in the South Bay Area, and finally in Milpitas, California. While Seniong was often away at sea, Elmie helped to support their family by working in the growing electronics industry of the time, at Fairchild Semiconductor. Seniong and Elmie were also active officers of the San Esteban Circle of California. After 20 years with the U.S. Navy, Seniong retired as a Chief Petty Officer. He continued to work at NASA Ames Research Center and again retired after 16 years of civil service. Seniong and Elmie were proud to see both their sons graduate from college, Eglin from Cal Berkeley and Allen from San Jose State, and become successful in their individual endeavors. The couple was deeply heartbroken by the loss of their daughter-in-law, Eglin's wife Janice, 14 years ago, whom they considered “the daughter they never had.” They continued to find, however, great joy in their grandchildren as Janice’s memory lives on through them, though they resided on the opposite coast in Florida. Seniong enjoyed being “lolo” to his many grandnephews and grandnieces, as well, many of whom reside in the Bay Area.

After a full life of 91 years, Seniong was called home to be with our Lord on Friday, May 15, 2020. Seniong is survived by his second wife Emelita, his two sons Eglin and Allen, and grandchildren Travis and Meredith. His wife of 54 years Wilhelmina, his six brothers and sisters, as well as his daughter-in-law Janice, are previously deceased.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.limafamilycedarlawn.com for the Ayson family.