Fermin Cruz Luna

Fermin Luna, 93, passed away on May 9, 2011 following a long battle with cancer. Fermin was born in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico on March 30, 1918 against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution. In 1921 at the age of three, Fermin's parents decided to flee the unstable political environment and come to the United States through Arizona seeking a better life. He accompanied his mother, Trinidad Luna, and three older sisters when the family arrived by train to a strange new place called Phoenix. Fermin's father Francisco later followed. Shortly after Francisco's arrival in Phoenix, he took ill and died, leaving a ten-year old Fermin as the only male to support the household. The family lived a humble, unflattering life and traveled throughout the Valley to work with other migrant workers in order to sustain themselves with food, clothing and shelter. Fermin graduated from Cashion Elementary School in 1934 with high marks, but as these were the times of the Great Depression, Fermin chose to work and provide for his mother and younger brother instead of attending high school. In 1943, Fermin joined the U.S. Army and proudly served in World War II for two years overseas. He took part in the Battle of Normandy and was stationed in Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and was presented with the Eamet Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars and a medal for good conduct. One of Fermin's proudest moments during his time in the military was being granted U.S. citizenship in honor of serving his adopted country. Upon his return from service, Fermin gained work as a laborer and journeyman plumber and worked on the countless new home construction development teams that were rising throughout Phoenix. Fermin's family home had always been in the area of south central Phoenix including the Grant Park and later Murphy School Elementary School District neighborhoods. Throughout Fermin's life, he owned his own restaurant "Los Lunas," was a traveling salesman, and helped establish and build the first Mexican-American Legion Post: Tony F. Soza - Ray Martinez Post 41 in Phoenix. He retired in 1983 from Garcia Elementary School in Phoenix after sixteen years of service as a custodian, but soon returned to work for ATSCO Products where he worked well into his 80s. He joins his wife Ernestina Gastelo Luna who precedes him in death and is the last surviving member of the original Luna generation to emigrate from Mexico in 1921, which included siblings Lucinda G. Parra, Catalina G. Leon, Felicitas G. Stark, Isabel Mendez, and Manuel Luna who was born after the family arrived in the U.S. He is survived by his only son Francisco F. Luna, step-daughter Georgianna Brinkley, sons-in-law Darrell Brinkley and Loman B. Clark, Jr., grandchildren Anthony Brinkley and Kristen Kendziorski, and countless nieces and nephews whom he loved all very much. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 15th from 4-7 PM with a Rosary beginning at 6 PM at A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary, 710 W. Bethany Home Rd., Phoenix, AZ. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, May 16th at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, 320 N. 20th Dr. in Phoenix beginning at 9 AM. Interment will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery. Flowers are welcome. Contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Hospice Foundation, 15255 N. 40th St., Ste. 125, Phoenix, AZ 85032. (602) 476-2047.