Armando Meza Ruiz

Armando Meza Ruiz, born January 10, 1931 in Brawley, California passed away privately in his home on November 7, 2010. He was 79 years old.

Armando was a Korean War Veteran, drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952. He served with company K, 130th Infantry Regiment. He was a light weapons infantryman who performed the duties of Squad Leader and was awarded the Korean Service Medal, 2 Bronze Stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. Upon his honorable discharge with the rank of Corporal, Armando returned home to his friends and family in Hanford. Shortly afterwards he married Rosie Ramirez and eventually settled in Armona to raise their 3 sons, Armand Jr., Robert and Samuel.

In 1962 Armando was hired with Pirelli/Armstrong tire plant and retired after 37 years in 1999. For more than 22 years, thought the late 60's to early 90's, Armando shared his passion for baseball by coaching such little league teams as "Cassidys," "Budget Homes" and "Armstrong" in Hanford. He later coached the Babe Ruth Teams "Astros" and Reds."

Armando leaves behind his wife of 53 years, his 3 sons, his sisters; Mary Perez, Sally Torres, Irma Verdugo, Virginia Zamora, Evangelina Delco and a brother, Raul. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rodolfo and Patrocinia Ruiz, his sisters, Hortencia Gomez and Rachel Jenson and his brother, Arturo Ruiz.

The Recitation of the Rosary will be held at Whitehurst-McNamara Funeral Services on Thursday, November 11, at 6:30 p.m. with Mass on Friday at 1 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of March Catholic Church. Burial to follow at Grangeville Cemetery in Armona.
This obituary was originally published in The Hanford Sentinel.