Anthony "Tony" Aguilar

June 27, 1922- December 11, 2015

Tony entered this world on June 27, 1922 in Rocklin California. He was born to Fran Montero Aguilar and Ann Trujillo Aguilar who had immigrated to Rocklin from Malaga Spain.

Tony joined a large and loving family of siblings all of whom lived and worked on a 40 acre fruit ranch in Rocklin.

Tony joined a sister, Josephine who later married Fred Corral and a brother John, who left this world at the age of 16, a sister Mary who would marry Frank Munoz, Frances Aguilar, who married Joe Segarra, Isabel Aguilar would marry Joe Paratore and Frank Aguilar who would eventually marry Bernice Rasmussen.

Siblings that followed Tony were Anne who married Dan Santucci and Dolores who married Marvin Coberly.

This family lived within a large Spanish community in Rocklin where they all worked hard, taught their children to work hard, to obey the rules, both family and civic, to get an education, and to honor their family always.

Within this safe and loving structure Tony learned to become a man and an exceptional human being.

He attended the Rocklin Grammar School along with all the other Spanish (and Finnish) children and then on to Roseville High School.

Tony graduated from high school just as the winds of war were blowing across the European Continent and Hawaiian Islands had been bombed.

Tony joined the Army Air Corp in 1942 and celebrated his 21st birthday on the "E" deck of the Queen Mary headed for England.

Tony spent the next 3 years serving his country in England, France and Germany.

This brief period of time was indelibly imprinted on him and became a major influence in his life in so many ways.

When Tony returned from the war he moved to Penryn and found the place where he would spend the rest of his life. Highland Orchard.

Highland was an established ranch with plum, pear and peach trees.

Tony entered into a new phase of his life in Penryn.

He integrated into the community, joined the fire department and became a member of their bowling team. He joined the American Legion Post, an association that lasted for 67 years.

It was at this time that Tony was introduced to the new school teacher at Penryn School, Noreen Kairn. That introduction led to a union that lasted 61 years.

Tony cared for his trees and watched them grow just as he cared for his son, Tony Jr., who grew along with the trees.

Then, in the decade of the nineties, Highland Orchard became a Mandarin Orchard which was and is run by his son Tony Jr. while Tony Sr. was elevated to Chairman of the Board.

In the decade of the '80's and 90's Tony reunited with many of his WWII friends and Tony and Noreen took some wonderful trips, abroad and in the states. The most notable trip was when they returned to their base in England to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ending of World War II.

As Tony leaves this earth he is remembered with love by his wife, Noreen, his son and daughter in-law Tony Jr. and Mary, adored granddaughters Amanda and Alicia, and his two precious loves Beau and Dallas.

A special note of thanks goes out to Sharon Shelton and Jeanette Sproul for all their help.

A Mass will be held for Tony at STS Peter and Paul church in Rocklin on Friday, December 18th at 10:00am and a Viewing on Thursday, December 17th at Lamberts Funeral Home from 4pm to 7pm.