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66 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | AUGUST 2017 | Ronald L. Cox, 74, a seven year resident of Sun Lakes Country Club joined his Mother and Father in heaven on April 11, 2017, after a three-year battle with lung cancer. He passed away at the VA Community Living Center in Loma Linda. Ron was born at home in Des Moines, Iowa, on February 28, 1943. He joined the United States Navy shortly after he graduated high school, receiving basic training in San Diego. Ron served on the USS Washburn during the Vietnam War. Upon leaving the military he returned to California and built a successful career in sales and management. He is survived by his wife, Annette Cox, daughter, Kimberley, step-daughter, Tiffany, four grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, one sister, one sister-in-law, and two brothers. Our world is a smaller place without him! Frances Santa Cruz A competitor in life; a fighter in spirit. Frances was born on Monday, May 13, 1940 to Ramon Montes and Guadalupe Moreno. Born as Francisca Montes in Los Angeles, California. Frances is survived by Oscar Santa Cruz from Chihuahua, Mexico - her husband of 55 years. She was blessed to raise her four children: Oscar Jr., Carolina, Mark and Esteban. Frances loved life – she greatly loved family and friends. Her father, Ramon, was a big influence on her life; especially in how a real man should be in raising and providing for his family. She greatly loved and respected her father, and was going to look for the same attributes in the man she would marry; and which she found in her husband. Her step-mother, Maria Casillas – in whom she drew close to, was also an influence in how a woman should be in providing for the house and being the strength for her husband – and that the heart, not blood, is what makes the ties that bind that make a family. The same attributes she would pursue to emulate for her family in her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a God-fearing woman who instilled in her children in their early ages the importance in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and the work of the cross. And if her children became lax in the fear of God, they came in to the full knowledge of what mom's wrath was. She was a true Latina from East LA in the way she would discipline – with anything within reach! Even her husband was afraid of her at times! She vested in the lives of her children; she was their biggest cheerleader (and the loudest) in whatever sport they participated or hobby they took interest in. Family was important to her, first and foremost. If you exchanged personal information with her, you were more than friends – you were family. Since family was important to her, she greatly embraced her roots and wanted to know who she was and where she came from. In the process of her research she met new family she didn't realize she had; and with others became reacquainted. Frances had a servants' heart and greatly desired to be utilized in the church to do the tasks some had difficulties with: take care of the elderly, feed the homeless and poor, and tend to the needs of the invalid. When first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985 – her hearts' desire was to see her youngest child grow up and not be without a mother. Esteban was eight years old at the time. She fought and stretched out her time. She was able to witness the marriages of her children: Oscar Jr. to Rebeca Gregg; Carolina to Patrick Hopkins, and Mark to Tina Gabrielson. In 1993, she continued to battle cancer. Her hearts' desire was to see her grandchildren. In that time she got to see and meet her grandchildren: Laura and her spouse Wayne, Bill and his spouse Jenna, Angelica, Jesse and his spouse Hayley, Spencer, Sylvana, Anyssa and Marquie. In 1999, once again she continued to battle cancer – it was her hearts' desire to see her great-grandchildren. She saw and met: Luke, Xavier, Noah, Jakob and Naomi. She wouldn't attempt to lead on or present herself in pain or discomfort; she relied on her love of life, people and sense of humor to allow her to carry on and present herself to family and friends. Very rarely would she admit to being in pain or discomfort. After a long and tumultuous war with cancer; she stepped in to eternity on the afternoon of December 31, 2016; and in to the arms of her Savior and God, Jesus Christ. Cancer claimed the body, but not the life of Frances Santa Cruz. Where she is, death has no reach. She is reunited with her loved ones gone before her; and united with her children and grandchildren she never knew. She was a fighter. A strong woman. A strong person. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend… Frances Santa Cruz. Friends we will miss

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