Peter "Pete" Santos Lopez (86) died peacefully May 4 at his home. He was born November 18, 1924 in Phoenix AZ to immigrant parents Florentino Lopez and Carmen Santos. Peter was baptized on April 26, 1925 at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Phoenix. His godparents were Alberto Camijo and Rafaela Giron.
He was the second of five children and all have preceded him in death: Older brother Rosario and younger siblings Josefina, Bertha, and Leonard. Peter and Rosario were raised by his godmother Rafaela who many called Nana Faela.
During his childhood days, he would spend the summers by the fields south of Phoenix, cooling off in the canals. He would recall Nana Faela collecting blood from the butcher and making sausage from it; that explains his love for simple foods, a cold cut sandwich, frijoles or tortillas.
Pete attended Lowell Elementary School and Phoenix Union High School and at the age of 17, before completing high school, he answered his country's call to duty and entered the service on May 5, 1943. He served stateside during World War II in the US Army as a weather observer, compiling data for use by the air force, until his discharge on February 15, 1946.
Upon his return from the service, he joined the American Legion Post 41 in 1946, a post for Spanish speaking veterans, where he was a member for 65 continuous years. Pete also returned to Phoenix Union High School after the service where he graduated on May 30, 1947.
He then attended college on the GI bill, graduating from Phoenix College with an AA on May 23, 1950 and then attended Arizona State College in Tempe pursuing a Bachelors of Science degree. Before completing his BS he started working for the City of Phoenix Police Department in 1951 as a records clerk.
He retired from the City of Phoenix in December 1986, after 35 years of service working in the police records department which he supervised at the time of his retirement. Through his associations at the Legion, he also belonged to a social club, the Sine Femina Club, where he served as the Secretary and Treasurer from 1954 to 1961.
The Sine Femina Club sponsored social events including an annual ball at the Westward Ho Hotel in Phoenix and through this club met his future bride, Anna Christina Peralta.
Peter and Anna Christina were married on June 17, 1961 at St. Marks Catholic Church in Phoenix. They have four children, John Lopez, Theresa Rogers (Mike), David Lopez (Tina) and Jaime Lopez and ten grandchildren, one of which, Matthew Cody Rogers preceded them in death. In 1963, before the birth of their second child, they moved from a small apartment in Phoenix to their home in the Phoenix suburb of Maryvale.
In this home, they raised their family. He lovingly cared for Anna Christina until her passing in 2004 and now joins her in rest.
Peter was an avid stamp and coin collector, having a membership in the American Philatelic Society, hobbies he enjoyed after retiring from the City of Phoenix.
Our father was a simple yet humble man, who practiced his faith through doing and was always willing to help other in need. We ask those who visit this site and read about his life and legacy; please share a story or remembrance.
Viewing 5:00-8:00 p.m. with Rosary at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at Greer-Wilson Funeral Home 5921 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, Mass 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church 3140 N. 51st Avenue, Phoenix with interment to follow with Honors at Holy Cross Cemetery 10045 W. Thomas Rd., Avondale
He was the second of five children and all have preceded him in death: Older brother Rosario and younger siblings Josefina, Bertha, and Leonard. Peter and Rosario were raised by his godmother Rafaela who many called Nana Faela.
During his childhood days, he would spend the summers by the fields south of Phoenix, cooling off in the canals. He would recall Nana Faela collecting blood from the butcher and making sausage from it; that explains his love for simple foods, a cold cut sandwich, frijoles or tortillas.
Pete attended Lowell Elementary School and Phoenix Union High School and at the age of 17, before completing high school, he answered his country's call to duty and entered the service on May 5, 1943. He served stateside during World War II in the US Army as a weather observer, compiling data for use by the air force, until his discharge on February 15, 1946.
Upon his return from the service, he joined the American Legion Post 41 in 1946, a post for Spanish speaking veterans, where he was a member for 65 continuous years. Pete also returned to Phoenix Union High School after the service where he graduated on May 30, 1947.
He then attended college on the GI bill, graduating from Phoenix College with an AA on May 23, 1950 and then attended Arizona State College in Tempe pursuing a Bachelors of Science degree. Before completing his BS he started working for the City of Phoenix Police Department in 1951 as a records clerk.
He retired from the City of Phoenix in December 1986, after 35 years of service working in the police records department which he supervised at the time of his retirement. Through his associations at the Legion, he also belonged to a social club, the Sine Femina Club, where he served as the Secretary and Treasurer from 1954 to 1961.
The Sine Femina Club sponsored social events including an annual ball at the Westward Ho Hotel in Phoenix and through this club met his future bride, Anna Christina Peralta.
Peter and Anna Christina were married on June 17, 1961 at St. Marks Catholic Church in Phoenix. They have four children, John Lopez, Theresa Rogers (Mike), David Lopez (Tina) and Jaime Lopez and ten grandchildren, one of which, Matthew Cody Rogers preceded them in death. In 1963, before the birth of their second child, they moved from a small apartment in Phoenix to their home in the Phoenix suburb of Maryvale.
In this home, they raised their family. He lovingly cared for Anna Christina until her passing in 2004 and now joins her in rest.
Peter was an avid stamp and coin collector, having a membership in the American Philatelic Society, hobbies he enjoyed after retiring from the City of Phoenix.
Our father was a simple yet humble man, who practiced his faith through doing and was always willing to help other in need. We ask those who visit this site and read about his life and legacy; please share a story or remembrance.
Viewing 5:00-8:00 p.m. with Rosary at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at Greer-Wilson Funeral Home 5921 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, Mass 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church 3140 N. 51st Avenue, Phoenix with interment to follow with Honors at Holy Cross Cemetery 10045 W. Thomas Rd., Avondale
Peter "Pete" Santos Lopez (86) died peacefully May 4 at his home. He was born November 18, 1924 in Phoenix AZ to immigrant parents Florentino Lopez and Carmen Santos. Peter was baptized on April 26, 1925 at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Phoenix. His godparents were Alberto Camijo and Rafaela Giron.
He was the second of five children and all have preceded him in death: Older brother Rosario and younger siblings Josefina, Bertha, and Leonard. Peter and Rosario were raised by his godmother Rafaela who many called Nana Faela.
During his childhood days, he would spend the summers by the fields south of Phoenix, cooling off in the canals. He would recall Nana Faela collecting blood from the butcher and making sausage from it; that explains his love for simple foods, a cold cut sandwich, frijoles or tortillas.
Pete attended Lowell Elementary School and Phoenix Union High School and at the age of 17, before completing high school, he answered his country's call to duty and entered the service on May 5, 1943. He served stateside during World War II in the US Army as a weather observer, compiling data for use by the air force, until his discharge on February 15, 1946.
Upon his return from the service, he joined the American Legion Post 41 in 1946, a post for Spanish speaking veterans, where he was a member for 65 continuous years. Pete also returned to Phoenix Union High School after the service where he graduated on May 30, 1947.
He then attended college on the GI bill, graduating from Phoenix College with an AA on May 23, 1950 and then attended Arizona State College in Tempe pursuing a Bachelors of Science degree. Before completing his BS he started working for the City of Phoenix Police Department in 1951 as a records clerk.
He retired from the City of Phoenix in December 1986, after 35 years of service working in the police records department which he supervised at the time of his retirement. Through his associations at the Legion, he also belonged to a social club, the Sine Femina Club, where he served as the Secretary and Treasurer from 1954 to 1961.
The Sine Femina Club sponsored social events including an annual ball at the Westward Ho Hotel in Phoenix and through this club met his future bride, Anna Christina Peralta.
Peter and Anna Christina were married on June 17, 1961 at St. Marks Catholic Church in Phoenix. They have four children, John Lopez, Theresa Rogers (Mike), David Lopez (Tina) and Jaime Lopez and ten grandchildren, one of which, Matthew Cody Rogers preceded them in death. In 1963, before the birth of their second child, they moved from a small apartment in Phoenix to their home in the Phoenix suburb of Maryvale.
In this home, they raised their family. He lovingly cared for Anna Christina until her passing in 2004 and now joins her in rest.
Peter was an avid stamp and coin collector, having a membership in the American Philatelic Society, hobbies he enjoyed after retiring from the City of Phoenix.
Our father was a simple yet humble man, who practiced his faith through doing and was always willing to help other in need. We ask those who visit this site and read about his life and legacy; please share a story or remembrance.
Viewing 5:00-8:00 p.m. with Rosary at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at Greer-Wilson Funeral Home 5921 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, Mass 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church 3140 N. 51st Avenue, Phoenix with interment to follow with Honors at Holy Cross Cemetery 10045 W. Thomas Rd., Avondale
He was the second of five children and all have preceded him in death: Older brother Rosario and younger siblings Josefina, Bertha, and Leonard. Peter and Rosario were raised by his godmother Rafaela who many called Nana Faela.
During his childhood days, he would spend the summers by the fields south of Phoenix, cooling off in the canals. He would recall Nana Faela collecting blood from the butcher and making sausage from it; that explains his love for simple foods, a cold cut sandwich, frijoles or tortillas.
Pete attended Lowell Elementary School and Phoenix Union High School and at the age of 17, before completing high school, he answered his country's call to duty and entered the service on May 5, 1943. He served stateside during World War II in the US Army as a weather observer, compiling data for use by the air force, until his discharge on February 15, 1946.
Upon his return from the service, he joined the American Legion Post 41 in 1946, a post for Spanish speaking veterans, where he was a member for 65 continuous years. Pete also returned to Phoenix Union High School after the service where he graduated on May 30, 1947.
He then attended college on the GI bill, graduating from Phoenix College with an AA on May 23, 1950 and then attended Arizona State College in Tempe pursuing a Bachelors of Science degree. Before completing his BS he started working for the City of Phoenix Police Department in 1951 as a records clerk.
He retired from the City of Phoenix in December 1986, after 35 years of service working in the police records department which he supervised at the time of his retirement. Through his associations at the Legion, he also belonged to a social club, the Sine Femina Club, where he served as the Secretary and Treasurer from 1954 to 1961.
The Sine Femina Club sponsored social events including an annual ball at the Westward Ho Hotel in Phoenix and through this club met his future bride, Anna Christina Peralta.
Peter and Anna Christina were married on June 17, 1961 at St. Marks Catholic Church in Phoenix. They have four children, John Lopez, Theresa Rogers (Mike), David Lopez (Tina) and Jaime Lopez and ten grandchildren, one of which, Matthew Cody Rogers preceded them in death. In 1963, before the birth of their second child, they moved from a small apartment in Phoenix to their home in the Phoenix suburb of Maryvale.
In this home, they raised their family. He lovingly cared for Anna Christina until her passing in 2004 and now joins her in rest.
Peter was an avid stamp and coin collector, having a membership in the American Philatelic Society, hobbies he enjoyed after retiring from the City of Phoenix.
Our father was a simple yet humble man, who practiced his faith through doing and was always willing to help other in need. We ask those who visit this site and read about his life and legacy; please share a story or remembrance.
Viewing 5:00-8:00 p.m. with Rosary at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at Greer-Wilson Funeral Home 5921 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, Mass 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church 3140 N. 51st Avenue, Phoenix with interment to follow with Honors at Holy Cross Cemetery 10045 W. Thomas Rd., Avondale
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