Jesus "Chu" Tudela Salas

Jesus "Chu" Tudela Salas, age 77, of Piti, Guam, passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born on September 27,1947 to Magdalena Borja Tudela and Vicente Celis Salas, in Chalan Kanoa, Saipan, CNMI. In 1948, his parents relocated to Guam. Growing up in Piti, Chu, was once recognized as "academically gifted" and processed to skip two grade levels in elementary school. In his teens; he was a standout baseball player, well known for his super-fastball pitches and long distance homers; and was a basketball star for his high school. Chu graduated as salutatorian at George Washington High School in 1965.

After graduation, Chu received an appointment to become the first person of Chamorro descent to study and graduate at the US Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He often appeared on the Dean's List for academic excellence and also excelled as an athlete once earning the Wing Open Boxing Champion title. He graduated in 1969 with a degree in civil engineering paving the way for a long and distinguished career in the US Air Force.

On June 14, 1969, Chu married his high school sweetheart, Maria (Babyta) Quenga Scharff, just weeks after he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Air Force. Together they went on to have four children, and as their families grew, they were blessed with 6 grandchildren.

To support his growing family and now a commissioned officer in the US Air Force, Chu went on to fulfill his aspiration to "fly jets", completing the training necessary to become a back-seater pilot/navigator weapons systems officer for a F-4 Phantom jet fighter/bomber. His first and second duty assignments were deployments to Vietnam, where he flew a total of 247 air combat missions, earning 17 Air Medals and the coveted Distinguished Flying Cross.

Following the war in Vietnam and while continuing his service, Chu elected to further his education earning a Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering in 1977 at the University of California, Berkeley (USB). Chu's duty assignments and stations throughout his career included the Canada Air Staff College; Thailand, West Germany, Philippines, Columbia, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. He also served in various positions as an executive officer, manpower management staff officer, air operations officer, instructor navigator, drug interdiction officer, and tactical operations officer while in support of Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He was also qualified and awarded the US Parachutist (jump) Wings and the Canadian Parachutist Wings. Chu retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1992, and as a pioneer Chamorro military officer.

Chu moved to Guam in the mid-1990's and worked for a local engineering firm,"Tenorio and Associates", until appointed by the Governor, as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, for the Government of Guam. He later moved to Columbia, Missouri to be near his sons, Chris and Jeremy; then later settled in Las Vegas, Nevada with Babyta. Chu's final move was to San Antonio, Texas in July 2022, after his wife's passing in April 2022.

Chu's retirement allowed for him to spend time with his family enjoying their passion of traveling to new places and indulging the finest cuisine a place can offer. It is well known that if Chu had lived in a place longer than six months, he can remember the best dishes of the restaurants and their specialties. Chu's greatest passion was reading and writing, and at the time of his death, he nearly completed his finance book that he wanted to have published. Chu was a highly decorated war hero, a loving husband, father, and grandfather who lived his life for his family and his country; he will truly be missed.

Jesus is survived by his children: Erica-Michelle Salas (Misty), Chris Salas, Cary Salas (Cinda), and Jeremy Salas (Nichole); his siblings: Leo Tudela (Leimomi), John Salas, Ben Salas (Lovey), Maria Calvo, Roque Salas (Mary), Edward Salas (Nona), Ann Case (Karl), and Frank Salas (Leticia); his brothers-in-law: Erig Scharff and Tony Scharff; his grandchildren: Keani, Cai'lene, Camia, Canoa, Maddox, and Genevieve; and numerous nephews and nieces, grand and great nephews and nieces.

Jesus was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Maria (Babyta) Quenga Scharff; father, Vicente Celis Salas; mother, Magdalena Borja Tudela Salas; mother-in-law, Isabel Santos Quenga; father-in-law, Erig Ferdinand Scharff; sisters-in-law: May Salas; Terisita Quenga Fejarang, and Benita Salas Palacios Scharff; brothers-in- law: George Scharff and Donald Calvo; and his niece-in-law, Carmen (Jennifer) Scharff.

A visitation for Chu will be held Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Palm Mortuary Henderson, A rosary will follow at 6:00 PM. Funeral services will be Friday, March 7, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, all at Palm Henderson Mortuary, 800 South Boulder Highway, Henderson, NV 89015. Chu will be laid to rest with full military honors at 12:00 PM at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Mem, Boulder City, NV 89005.