Arnulfo "Arnie" Ruiz

Arnulfo "Arnie" Ruiz, 88, Hispanic male, born January 2, 1931 in Tucson, Arizona and passed away on April 12, 2019. One of ten children, three of whom were born blind. Father was a life-time cowboy and mother, a housewife, both American citizens. He was raised in Florence, a lifestyle of poverty, but always ambitious, hard-working, and self-motivated. At fourteen, he went to Theba, a farming community ten miles west of Gila Bend to work two jobs to make an $85 for a down payment towards the family home priced at $8, 500 in Florence, Arizona.
He was an outstanding athlete selected to the Arizona All-Star Teams in basketball and football. He attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. In 1951 the Korean War erupted and he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the 3rd Marine Corps Division, 3rd Battalion Combat Engineering Unit, and was very proud to serve our country.
He returned to Florence after an Honorable Discharge in 1954 and married Edna Youtsey in 1956. Together they raised five children in Florence and Eloy, working numerous jobs; ranching, construction, law enforcement, and mining. The next five years he worked at the San Manuel Mining Corporation and then decided to attend Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
At the state University he earned a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Education. Later, he was the recipient of the Southwest Kellogs Scholarship and earned a second Masters Degree at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona in Counseling and Guidance. He was a certified real estate agent.
Throughout these years he was very community-involved: Scout Master(five Eagle Scouts), Co-founder of Las Juntas Patrioticas (an Eloy annual Mexican Fiesta), Director of Eloy American Red Cross, Elected Eloy City Councilman, Eloy Catholic Church parishioner, Florence-Coolidge Elks Club, Founder of Eloy Boxing Club, and member of the Arizona Moose Club. He participated in the indoctrination of the Atomic Bomb and was Service Manager for Arizona Jobs Colleges. He went to San Antonio, Texas to train for the Southwest Voter Registration. He was very involved in politics. He enjoyed reading, writing, golfing, camping, and most of all being in the company of his children and grandchildren. He officially retired in 1994 but continued to work psycometrist as a consultant to schools in counseling, tutoring, and testing; until our mothers illness he retired once more in 2009. His beautiful partner, friend, and wonderful wife of 53 years was called to Heaven in June 2009. Most importantly, Arnie was known for his kind heart, caring for his family, community and all those that would cross paths with Mr. Ruiz. He truly made a difference in all the lives he touched.
Arnie is survived by his children: Patricia Lyn Ruiz Martin of Surprise, Michael Ruiz of Goodyear, Mitzi Lynett Ruiz Moreno of Phoenix, Kristi Ruiz Perez of Casa Grande and Sabrina Yvette Ruiz Chacon of Casa Grande; 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents; Miguel T. Ruiz and Maria Dolores Carpena; his wife: Edna Youtsey Ruiz; his brothers: Mike, Arnold, Johnny and Freddie Ruiz; his sisters: Nellie Salas, Mercy Paterson , Alice Lopez, Sally Garcia and Norma Robertson.
Visitation will be held at 6pm with Rosary at 7pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at St. Helen of the Cross on 205 W. 8th St. in Eloy. Another visitation will be held at 9am, Eulogy 10am and Mass 10:30 am on Wednesday 24, 2019 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 177 E. 8th St. in Florence. Burial to follow at Florence Cemetery.