Alfredo R. Cruz

ALFREDO RUBEN CRUZ (TED) AGE 81, OF LITTLETON/ENGLEWOOD, CO

TED WAS A 'NEVER MET A STRANGER' KIND OF GUY ENJOYED BY ALL THOSE WHO CAME TO KNOW HIM ........... RAISED IN WASHINGTON, DC AMONG AMBASSADORS, SENATORS AND DIPLOMATS,HE ENTERED THE MILITARY AT AGE 16 UNTIL CAUGHT AND SENT HOME, HE THEN ENLISTED AGAIN AT AGE 18 FOR A CAREER IN THE U.S. ARMY WHICH INCLUDED TWO VIETNAM COMBAT TOURS. HIS TWO EUROPEAN TOURS INCLUDED HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS WHO THOROUGHLY ENJOYED TRAVELING THROUGHOUT EUROPE AS A FAMILY. THE FAMILY ALSO HAD DUTY ASSIGNMENTS IN FT. BENNING, GA, FAYETTEVILLE, NC AND DENVER,CO.

DURING HIS MILITARY CAREER TED EARNED THE NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, PARACHUTIST BADGE, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 60DEVICE , VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, OCCUPATION MEDAL, FOUR OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL WITH 5TH AWARD.

HE WAS A GREAT STORY TELLER OF ALL HIS EXPERIENCES AND WORLD TRAVELS. TED WAS AN AVID EXPLORER SEARCHING FOR TREASURES AT GARAGE/ESTATE SALES AND ROAMING FIELDS AND DESERTS FOR ARTIFACTS IN EUROPE AND THE USA. IN 1958 WHILE ON HIATUS FROM THE MILITARY, HE WAS A HOSPITAL ORDERLY IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, WHEN HE MET AND MARRIED AUDREY SUTHERLAND... THEIR DAUGHTERS ARE ADRIENNE GAGE (LARRY), LINDA CRUZ, ELIZABETH CRUZ & TULLY JENSEN ALL WHOM SURVIVE HIM AND WILL MISS HIM IMMENSELY; HE IS ALSO SURVIVED BY SON ALFREDO(FREDDIE) AND DAUGHTER ANGELA CRUZ, 3 GRANDCHILDREN (ADAM, DANNY, MAX), 2 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN (ANDREW, EVELYN,) AND A NIECE JANN AS WELL AS HIS BELOVED DOG PI.

TED RETIRED TO ENGLEWOOD/LITTLETON BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, CAMPING AND EXPLORING. HE DROVE ALMOST DAILY TO BUCKLEY AFB TO SEE MILITARY COMRADES AND LUNCHED OFTEN AT THE BAGEL DELI; AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE OF 30 YEARS, BETTY, HE ENJOYED SPENDING TIME WITH ELIZABETH & ADAM (ERICA) WHO LIVE IN DENVER AND OTHER FAMILY WHO CAME AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE TO VISIT. ALL ENJOYED HIS MILITARY STORIES, SONGS, AND TALES OF HIS LIFE ADVENTURES. WHETHER ON THE TELEPHONE OR IN PERSON, HE REFUSED TO EVER SAY 'GOODBYE', ALWAYS SIGNING OFF WITH "LOVE YOU....... LATER".

TEDS UNTIMELY DEATH WAS THE RESULT OF A FALL AND HEAD INJURY. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS AT IFCJ.ORG.

MEMORIAL AND BURIAL WILL BE HELD AT FT. LOGAN MILITARY CEMETERY ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, AT 1:30 PM.

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