Mr. Jesus Quintana Arispe

1918 - 2007

JESUS QUINTANA ARISPE, 89, of Las Cruces entered eternal life Monday, June 25, 2007 in Las Cruces. He was born March 6, 1918 in Hurley, the eldest child born to Tomas Arispe and Inez Quintana. His mother died at a young age and the family was raised by their father and paternal grandmother, Refugio Castillo. The family moved from Hurley to Fusciles, Chihuahua and then back to Santa Rita where mining was the principle employment for many of the extended members of the family.
In the late 1930's, the majority of the family moved to Southern California. Jesus joined the Army in October 1940 to make the Army his career. He became a Staff Sergeant for Company "B", 30th Infantry, 3rd Division. He was trained as a cook and his tour of duty was from 1940 to 1945. Jesus was in the French, European African Middle Eastern German and American Campaigns. He was decorated with the Good Conduct Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Arrowhead, the Purple Heart for bravery while wounded in the battle of Anzio, Italy.
After his discharge from the service, Jesus married Socorro Calderon and raised their family of five children. He became a cook for the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California and soon after bought a series of homes moving from Los Angeles, California to Escondido, California, eventually moving back to his birth state of New Mexico in 1995.
Jesus worked in many varied jobs such as a citrus rancher, and held a job as a granite grinder at the same time. He retired as a mail carrier from the United Postal Service in 1976. In retirement, he owned a paint store and upholstery shop. He loved gardening, reading, music, drawing and storytelling.
Survivors include his loving wife of sixty-one years, Socorro Calderon Arispe of the family home; his children, Joe Ann Garza and husband John; Rosemarie Arispe-Butler and husband Oscar Vasquez-Butler, Sr; Barbara A. Arispe and husband, Jose G. Robles all of Las Cruces; Thomas A. Arispe and wife Judith of Mira Loma, California; John Michael Arispe also of Las Cruces; two sisters, Socorro Acosta of Ontario, California; Carolina Morales of Pico Rivera, California. Other survivors include twenty four grandchildren, Jose Angel, Leah Marie and Sandra Michelle Samoza, Denise Navarro, Brit Leyvas, Oscar Eric Butler, Jr., Vivica, Jessica, Lawren, Julian, Armand and Marco Robles, Nick Arispe and Audrey Reynolds; twenty-four great –grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jose and Manuel Arispe; three sisters, Crispina and Sara Arispe, Mary Gambol.
Visitation for Mr. Arispe will begin at 6 PM Monday, July 2, 2007 in Baca's Chapel of Prayer, 300 E. Boutz Road where the Prayer Vigil is scheduled for 7 PM. Family and Friends will join together to celebrate the Funeral Mass at 10 AM Tuesday, July 3, 2007 in Santa Clara Catholic Church, 207 S. Bayard in Santa Clara with Reverend Dan Porter officiating. The Rite of Committal and Interment will follow in Fort Bayard National Cemetery with military honors accorded by a Fort Bliss Honor Guard and local veterans group.
Serving as casket bearers will be family members.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jesus Arispe's name to the Smile Foundation, HCR 64, Box 2115, Shell Knob, Missouri 65747.
Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels, 300 E. Boutz Road, Las Cruces. 527-2222.