Ruben F. Ortiz

Ruben is preceded in death by his parents Natividad Bustamante and Ruben Ortiz, daughter, Lupita Ortiz, brothers Antonio Bustamante (Lola), Jose Luis Bustamante (Ana), and Arturo Bustamante (Hilda), parents-in-law, Frank and Lupe Moreno. He is survived by his wife Helen Ortiz, daughters, Mary Fox, Suzie Dittman (Jay), Cecilia Ortiz-Stock (David), and Celia Ortiz di Sigona (Walter), 8 grandchildren Katrina Dropik (Mike), Andrew Fox (Anna), Jessica Trittler (Paul), Sofia Dittman, Dusti Hunter, Ariana Ortiz-Stock, and Sarina Ortiz-Stock, 3 great-grandchildren, Westyn & Kinzly Trittler, Elena Dropik, and another great grandchild on the way, Santiago Fox.

Ruben is also survived by his brothers Victor (Anna), Armando (Rosa Maria), and Oscar (Amanda), sisters Josie, Carmen, Belen, and Maria Carmen, dozens of cousins, nieces, and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. His extended family is also tight-knit which includes his sisters-in-law Irene (Jimmy), & Betty (Joe), brother-in-law, Frank Moreno Jr., and again, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Ruben immigrated to Arizona from Sonora, Mexico in the early 1960s to provide for his very large family in Mexico and to make a life for himself. It was in El Mirage, Arizona that he met his wife Helen Moreno, and married on January 7, 1963, and were married for 60 years. They started their life together on the “rancho” with a very large extended family until they made their move to the “city” (Phoenix) where they lived for 50+ years and raised their five girls.

Ruben was a hard-working father and husband who took great care of his family by getting up at 3 AM to work in construction for over 40 years. His hard work ethic and passion for life never stopped him from enjoying his family by taking them camping on their summer breaks and making numerous trips to Mexico so that his girls could keep their family ties with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and their dozens of cousins. Early on, he enjoyed his poker games with his father-in-law, brothers, brothers-in-law, and cousins, and loved his hunting trips with his friends and family Alex, Larry, Arnold, Jaime, Lewis, Art, and all of their sons. After viewing numerous “hunting” photos it always appeared that they had more fun playing and goofing off than actually hunting.

Ruben was an incredible storyteller and had everyone laughing with his constant jokes and folklore stories. He was the one that entertained at campfires and family parties. He was a great dancer who enjoyed being the life of the party. Ruben wasn’t only the life of a party he was also the greatest giver. He was known to take friends, family, and even people he didn’t know under his wing, often providing those with an opportunity to make their lives better. Abel, Andres, Alex, and Ricardo come to mind, as young men that came to Arizona seeking an opportunity to provide for their families in Mexico. Ruben would take them with him to his job sites and he got them started in construction. He would open the doors to our home, and invite them to family dinners & barbeques, essentially extending our family to make it a part of theirs.

Ruben was a giving person and many looked up to him. His family, friends, and his pets (all of which were never in short supply) were his primary loves. Seeing him hold and play with his grandchildren is a memory very close and dear to his daughters. Most recently, seeing him hold his great-grandchildren with such love is proof that he has lived a full life that has come to a full circle. May his memory live on by those that will remember his laugh, his stories, pranks, and his giving nature. He will be deeply missed by everyone.

Services will be held at West Resthaven Cemetery on Wednesday, July 26th from 11:00-12:00; interment to follow, 12:00-1:00.