Vicente A. Sanchez, Sr.

Vicente A. Sanchez, Sr. passed away on December 30, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Tolleson, Arizona in 1940. Vince Sanchez enlisted in the US Army Reserves in 1959, and retired in 1991 as Command Sergeant Major and Legion of Merit recipient. He retired from Basha's Food Markets in 2005 after 41 years of service. For 8 years he served as a Veterans Benefit Counselor, Department of Veteran's Services. During the 1970's and 1980's he created and promoted Spanish speaking radio and television shows in Arizona. From 1995 to 2007 he volunteered hundreds of hours with the Mesa Police Department's Volunteers in Police Service program, Gang Unit, where he taught classes and counseled parents and teenagers. In 1996 Vince founded the US Army Reserve Retired Members and Associates (USARRMA) Group which schedules activities for retired veterans and their families, such as Annual Christmas Toy Drive.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rafalita Sanchez, his children Vince Sanchez, Jr. (Margie), Alicia Sanchez, Albert Sanchez (Dan), Louie Sanchez (Sylvia), Leonard Sanchez (Carla), Richard Sanchez (Jennette), Mark Guerra, Daniel Noriega, Lisa Noriega-Grady; 27 grandchildren; and 38 great grandchildren. Rebecca Noriega preceded him in death.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. with service to start at 10:30 A.M. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road in Phoenix.

Vicente will be laid to his final rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road in Phoenix following the service at 1 P.M.