Patricia Cruz

Pat was born to the late David and Mary Carver, September 17, 1957, in Mt. Airy, NC. She spent her childhood in Spartanburg, SC, where she graduated from Boiling Springs High School in 1975. She joined the US Air Force Reserves right out of high school, before attending The University of Southern Mississippi where she received a degree in Accounting and Finance. While stationed at Hellenikon AB, in Athens, Greece, she met the love of her life, Alexis Cruz. They married in 1984 before starting their family with the birth of their first son, Alexis Cruz, Jr, in October of 1985. In December 1987, the Cruz family expanded by one, with the birth of their second son, Nicholas David Cruz.

Pat earned her Master's degree in Software Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1994. She retired from the Air Force in 2001 while stationed at Ramstein AB, Germany. After 24 years of services, she left as a decorated Lieutenant Colonel. She earned the Air Force Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Defense Meritorious Service Medal among other awards. With so much accomplished in her professional career, she wanted nothing more than to be a grandmother, which happened on March 5, 2010, when she welcomed her granddaughter, Stella Patrice Cruz.

Pat is survived by her husband, Alexis Cruz; her two sons, Alexis Cruz, Jr. and his wife Sally; and Nicholas Cruz; her granddaughter, Stella Patrice Cruz; her brothers, Bill Carver and Jon Carver; and her step-mother, Barbara Carver.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Sunday, August 26, 2012 at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

9:30 A.M.

FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

1520 HARRY WURZBACH