Fernando Anastasio de la Cruz

May 30, 1927--Dec. 7, 2005

KEARNEY -- Fernando Anastasio de la Cruz, 78, died Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2005) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

He was born May 30, 1925, to Francisco and Delmacio (Obrero) Cruz in San Marcelino, Zambalis, Philippine Islands.

He married Edith Sheppard on June 5, 1955, in Boston, Mass. The couple made their home in Pensacola, Fla. Edith preceded him in death in 2003, he then moved to McCook and Kearney.

He served in the Western Luzon Guerrilla Forces for four years before serving in the U.S. Navy from 1946 until 1968.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a sister, Juanita; and two brothers, Bernadino and Pedro.

Survivors include his daughter, Andrea and husband, Greg Vaughn of Fremont; sons, Robert de la Cruz and wife, Sue and John de la Cruz and wife, Cindy, all of Pensacola; brothers, Antonio and wife, Gloria Cruz of Burbank, Calif., Reden and wife, Esperanza Cruz of Oakland, Calif., and Victor Cruz of Olongapo, Philippine Islands; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services were Dec. 13 at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola with full military honors.