Angel A. Vindiola

Service: Visitation will be on Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 5:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. Rosary from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.at MARTINEZ FUNERAL CHAPEL, 2580 S. 6th Ave. Mass will be held on Friday, January 23, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Santa Cruz Church, SW corner of S. 6th and 22nd St. Burial at Holy Hope Cemetery Angel was born on October 2, 1915, in Tucson, Arizona to Carmen A. Vindiola and Eusebio Vindiola. By the time Angel was born, the youngest of three sons, his father Eusebio had been seriously injured in a ranching accident at the old Vindiola ranch in Vail, Arizona at the Rinconcito, (a box canyon). Eusebio purchased his land with gold coins and started construction of his cattle ranch. Eusebio Vindiola passed away in 1915 and this ultimately put the Vindiola ranch land in danger of being lost as result of an inability to pay the property taxes. His wife, Carmen was approached with an offer to trade out her ranch in exchange for several apartments and a house in the Reforma and Meyer district in the downtown area. Carmen felt she had no choice but to accept this deal from an area ranch owner. Her new home was in downtown Tucson where she moved with her three sons, Eusebio, Jose and Angel. The young widowed mother supported her boys with the rental income from the apartments and with a small salary she earned working at the University of Arizona. Angel and brothers attended school in Tucson. As young adults, Angel's brothers were trained to work painting vehicles and airplanes. Unfortunately, Angel came of age during the depression when jobs were hard to find. In May 1934, Angel was registered to work in the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). Through the CCC, Angel worked at Colossal Cave and various other locations in Tucson. He was assigned to the second group, Company 2851 where he worked specifically on finishing the work inside the cave and the greater park. His contributions included the installation of the lighting, walkways and handrails inside the cave, which involved a fair degree of danger. His work with the CCC ended in October 1935. In 1936 he became employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad as a Supply-man. In 1942, when World War II broke out, Angel joined the Army and the Southern Pacific Railroad guaranteed his job, should he return alive and well. Angel was in the first wave of Infantry soldiers that landed in Normandy on Tuesday, June 6, 1944. the Invasion of Normandy was the invasion by Western Allied Forces in Normandy, during Operation Overlord in 1944 during World War II, the largest amphibious invasion to ever take place. After witnessing many many casualties, he was one of the few that survived the landing. The landing is a subject Angel has never talked about with his family. He tells many stories but the one that stands out in his memory is of arriving at a home somewhere in the middle of Normandy, that had been so badly bombed that only two walls were standing. By a miracle a small table with a wooden crucifix still stood in the corner. He recalls the sun shining on the crucifix. A devout Catholic, Angel stepped up to the crucifix, genuflected and crossed himself, then put the crucifix inside his jacket. He recounts carrying that crucifix inside his jacket throughout the war and in fact brought it home with him where it still stands next to his bed 70 years later. He firmly believes that it was that crucifix that brought him home safe, sound and in one piece on the evening of Christmas Eve, 1945. When he arrived he found his Mother alone, praying the Rosary for his safe return. She was not expecting him that night. He put the crucifix on the home alter and joined her in prayer. That was the first annual rosary of the Angel A. Vindiola family. The Rosary has been recited every Christmas Eve ever since then for the last 69 years by Angel and his family. When Angel returned to Tucson he was welcomed back by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was immediately gainfully employed. As a result of thisemployment he proposed to Anita Amarillas, married her on February 9, 1946 and started his family in the same year. He went on to have six children, three girls and three boys. He returned to his job as Supply-man, driver and derailment responder. He worked at the Railroad Round House at 22nd Street and Cherry for the most part. At that time there was no bridge over the railroad. He was also assigned to the main Depot on Toole Avenue which at the time had a very large lobby with many high back benches and a very large check-in counter with a big board overhead announcing the times of arrivals and departures. Traveling by railroad was a wonderful luxury as there were passenger cars, private cabins and a restaurant car. Meals were served on white linen tablecloths with white linen napkins and lovely silverware. Angel earned traveling privileges and his entire family enjoyed many hours of railroad traveling to California, Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming. Angel worked for the railroad for 36 years and retired in 1976. He was awarded a plaque and his family brought in a cake for a wonderful Retirement Party at the Round House which by then had the 22nd Street bridge built over it. After Angel retired, Southern Pacific became Union Pacific and after that it became Amtrak. He, his wife and family continued to enjoy many wonderful trips on Southern Pacific and Amtrak. Angel retained traveling privileges with his wife until all of his six children turned 18. As of today, his 99th BIRTHDAY, October 2, 2014, Angel is still retired and enjoys the company of his six children, 22 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren which include 3 on the way. Six generations of native born Vindiolas have lived in Tucson and three of those generations currently surround Angel A. Vindiola.