Erastro "Eddie" Elias Estrada

Erastro E. Estrada, (95 years old), of Carson, California, passed away on January 1, 2023, after suffering from declining health for several months, while being visited by two of his sons and two of his grandsons at the Nursing Facility where he was being treated.

Erastro was known as “Ed or Eddie” to most of his friends and was born to Francisco Dominguez Estrada and Otila “Blanca” Estrada (nee Elias), on July 18, 1927, in Douglas, Arizona. Erastro was educated through the secondary level in both US and Mexican public schools thus was bilingual in Spanish and English. He had various jobs as a ranch hand, agricultural worker, store clerk, and warehouseman in and around Nogales, Arizona, until his entrance into the US Army in December 1948. He served in Japan as part of the Occupational Forces and in the Korean War as a US Army 90mm Antitank Artillery team member rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was later stationed stateside at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California, as the first Army personnel to deploy the Nike Ajax antiaircraft missile system. After leaving the Army in 1955, Erastro began his long career as a defense and space systems test technician for North American Aircraft (later Rockwell International) rising to become a lead test engineer. He retired from Rockwell International after 27 years of service.

Erastro is survived by his wife of 70 years Gloria Bertha Estrada and 6 children, Albert and his wife Yolanda, Edward and his wife Debra, Jenni Stepp, Victor, Richard and Frank. He is also survived by his three grandsons Beto, David, Frank, and his granddaughter Sarah.

Memorial Services for Erastro will be held Monday, February 27, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel Wilmington, 1640 North Avalon Blvd, Wilmington, CA 90744.

His Burial will be a Military Veteran Burial Service with Honor Guard to be conducted at the Riverside National Cemetery (22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside CA 92518) on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 10:00 AM PST.

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