Cruz Flores Corona

Cruz was preceded in death by his parents Marcos Lara Corona and Dolores Flores Corona, and his granddaughter, Linda Sue Becerra. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Natividad Palafox Corona, his sister Elaine Ruiz, his brother Lino Corona and wife Kathy, his children, Alice Corona, Adeline Corona Garcia, Jackie Corona Gonzales and husband Ray, Mark Corona and wife Heather, nine grandchildren; Susan, Steven, Stephanie, Krystal, Brandi, Raymond, Tamara,and Robert, seven great-grandchildren; Stephanie, Samantha, Sergio, Jayleine, Shaelyn, Robert, and baby Martinez, three Goddaughters, Virginia, Elizabeth and Elizabeth an extensive family of loved ones.

Cruz was born on May 3, 1937 in Ventura, California and was baptized at the San Buenaventura Mission. As a young boy, his family moved to Oxnard, California, where he grew up, and with the exception of a few years when he lived in Norco, California, he lived out his remaining years in Oxnard.

Cruz attended Ramona Elementary, Wilson Jr. High and graduated from Oxnard High School. While in high school, he began his service in the U.S. Army Reserve. Later he transferred to the California National Guard and attended specialized artillery training at Fort Smith in Arkansas.

At the age of 20, he met his lifelong love, Natividad, on el rancho de Gabriel Lopez, Zacatecas, Mexico and they were married a year later in 1959. Cruz was employed by the City of Oxnard as a Water System Operator and after 33 years of service, retired in 1997.

Cruz will be remembered as a deeply devoted husband, a giving and unselfish father, a kind and funny “Papa” and a loving and generous man to all who knew him.