Ricardo Felix Sanchez

Ricardo Felix Sanchez was born in 1940 on December 1st. Surrounded by loved ones, he passed away on Wednesday, October 6th in his home in Garden Grove, California. He is survived by his devoted family: wife Rosemarie, four children (Meliza, Jay Felix, Vanessa, Michael), four grandchildren (Nicholas, Jacqueline, Dominic, Erin), and his siblings (Erlinda, Milagros, Nenita, Theresa, Elizabeth, Roberto) as well as many nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents (Felix and Librada of Imus, Cavite) and a brother (Jesus).

Ricardo joined the United States Navy in 1961 and retired in 1981. During his service, he enjoyed and excelled at learning all kinds of practical skills, ultimately achieving rank of MS-1 E-6 as Supervisor in the Food Service Mess Hall. As a Vietnam War veteran, he received two Vietnam Service award medals. His navy tour of duty included several ports around the world. During his sea duty, he served on board eight different naval ships, the smallest was the minesweeper USS Whippoorwill with 60 personnel on board; and the largest was the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) comprised of about 6000 personnel on board. One of his many proud accomplishments was being assigned as personal chef to the captain of a guided missile cruiser USS Halsey (CG-23) deployed in the Pacific.

After his military retirement, he worked as a civilian federal employee for the next two decades of his life. He was a Distribution Clerk at the US Post Office in San Juan Capistrano for a few months; and not long after, he accepted a job as Store Supply Clerk at the Commissary Store Marine Corp Air Station, El Toro, CA. During his tenure there, he kept store inventories and ordered store supplies. He received an award for his efficiency in serving troop issues subsistence activity (TISA) to the Army Reserved at Los Alamitos, CA. When the commissary store closed in 2000, a year after the marine base closure in July 1999, Ricardo began his well-earned 2nd retirement.

During these retirement years, he was able to spend time traveling and visiting his relatives and friends in the East Coast and the Philippines as well as continue the pastimes and hobbies that brought him peace and joy through the years. These included: landscaping and gardening which won him four Garden Grove Home Beautification Awards (2004, 2008, 2012, 2015), gourmet cooking for family parties, taking care of his backyard aviary, meeting new friends in the neighborhood and (in his later years) at Modjeska Park--his favorite weekday morning walk that kept him moving forward, bringing inspiration to start each day.

Ricardo Felix will always be remembered for his honorable military service, genuine hospitality, kind generosity to those in need, the quiet inner strength to endure and overcome hardship, his ability to find light in the company of friends and strangers. Dad will remain forever in our hearts with the deep appreciation he had for his wife, children, and grandchildren. . . the mark of love and passionate service for us to carry on by his everyday examples.

VISITATION will be held Tuesday, November 2, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Dimond & Shannon Mortuary, 10630 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840. At 4:00 PM, a Rosary & Novena Prayer will be held, followed by an invitation for guest eulogies.

FUNERAL MASS will be held Wednesday, November 3, 2021 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church, 21682 Lake Forest Drive, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Officiating: Fr Thomas Paul Naval.

BURIAL SERVICE will follow after the Mass Wednesday, November 3, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Miramar Veterans National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122.

[Due to pandemic restrictions and limitations, there will be no formal reception after the burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Santiago de Compostela Church in Lake Forest].

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Ricardo Felix Sanchez, age 80, of Garden Grove, California, left his earthly home on Wednesday, October 6, 2021.

Ricardo Felix Sanchez was born in 1940 on December 1st. Surrounded by loved ones, he passed away on Wednesday, October 6th in his home in Garden Grove, California. He is survived by his devoted family: wife Rosemarie, four children (Meliza, Jay Felix, Vanessa, Michael), four grandchildren (Nicholas, Jacqueline, Dominic, Erin), and his siblings (Erlinda, Milagros, Nenita, Theresa, Elizabeth, Roberto) as well as many nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents (Felix and Librada of Imus, Cavite) and a brother (Jesus).

Ricardo joined the United States Navy in 1961 and retired in 1981. During his service, he enjoyed and excelled at learning all kinds of practical skills, ultimately achieving rank of MS-1 E-6 as Supervisor in the Food Service Mess Hall. As a Vietnam War veteran, he received two Vietnam Service award medals. His navy tour of duty included several ports around the world. During his sea duty, he served on board eight different naval ships, the smallest was the minesweeper USS Whippoorwill with 60 personnel on board; and the largest was the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) comprised of about 6000 personnel on board. One of his many proud accomplishments was being assigned as personal chef to the captain of a guided missile cruiser USS Halsey (CG-23) deployed in the Pacific.

After his military retirement, he worked as a civilian federal employee for the next two decades of his life. He was a Distribution Clerk at the US Post Office in San Juan Capistrano for a few months; and not long after, he accepted a job as Store Supply Clerk at the Commissary Store Marine Corp Air Station, El Toro, CA. During his tenure there, he kept store inventories and ordered store supplies. He received an award for his efficiency in serving troop issues subsistence activity (TISA) to the Army Reserved at Los Alamitos, CA. When the commissary store closed in 2000, a year after the marine base closure in July 1999, Ricardo began his well-earned 2nd retirement.

During these retirement years, he was able to spend time traveling and visiting his relatives and friends in the East Coast and the Philippines as well as continue the pastimes and hobbies that brought him peace and joy through the years. These included: landscaping and gardening which won him four Garden Grove Home Beautification Awards (2004, 2008, 2012, 2015), gourmet cooking for family parties, taking care of his backyard aviary, meeting new friends in the neighborhood and (in his later years) at Modjeska Park--his favorite weekday morning walk that kept him moving forward, bringing inspiration to start each day.

Ricardo Felix will always be remembered for his honorable military service, genuine hospitality, kind generosity to those in need, the quiet inner strength to endure and overcome hardship, his ability to find light in the company of friends and strangers. Dad will remain forever in our hearts with the deep appreciation he had for his wife, children, and grandchildren. . . the mark of love and passionate service for us to carry on by his everyday examples.

VISITATION will be held Tuesday, November 2, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Dimond & Shannon Mortuary, 10630 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840. At 4:00 PM, a Rosary & Novena Prayer will be held, followed by an invitation for guest eulogies.

FUNERAL MASS will be held Wednesday, November 3, 2021 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church, 21682 Lake Forest Drive, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Officiating: Fr Thomas Paul Naval.

BURIAL SERVICE will follow after the Mass Wednesday, November 3, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Miramar Veterans National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122.

[Due to pandemic restrictions and limitations, there will be no formal reception after the burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Santiago de Compostela Church in Lake Forest].