Manuel "Manny" Cruz Jr. was born son July 24th 1937 in Houston, Texas to Manuel Cruz Sr. and Maria Magarita Menchaca Fuentes Cruz. He was baptized on April 5th 1942 at St. Peter's Evangelica Lutheran Church and was the youngest of 6 children.
Manny was raised by his mother and helped run the grocery store she owned. He learned his love for cooking at an early age so when he volunteered for the US Army in 1956, he was made a cook. While stationed in San Pedro, California at Fort McArthur, he attended Christ Lutheran Church where he met Judi Walker. After the army they married in June of 1960 and had 3 children. Manny worked for Van Camp's Chicken of the Sea and the family moved to American Samoa in 1964. They returned to Carson CA in 1967. In 1970 he moved his family back to the American Samoa, only this time with 4 children, where they remained until 1976. At that point they moved to Ponce, Puerto Rico for 3 years.
The family finally returned to the US in 1979 and settled in San Diego. Upon the closure of the canneries in San Diego, Manny worked as a real estate agent for a while, eventually becoming an AAL agent. Manny served as a lay minister for many years and was highly involved in church activities.
He found his true calling when he became the director of Lutheran Border Concerns Ministry. Travelling back and forth across the US/Mexico border spreading God's love and ministry, setting up schools, and providing food and supplies to the people of Tijuana. He retired after 25 years of service. Manny loved to camp (in an RV), fish, golf, and travel and spend time with the people he loved which included family and countless of friends.
Manny is survived by Judi, his wife of 61 years, his children Glenn, Mark, Cheryl, and Teresa, 8 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and his sister Gloria Morales. Manny touched the lives of so many people in his 83 years and will be greatly missed. He is with his Lord now and that gives us all some comfort.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.elcajonmortuary.com for the CRUZ family.
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