Ricardo De La Fuente

He was born on April 19, 1928 in Nadadores, Coahuila, Mexico the son of Juan Antonio and Rachael (Bruff) De La Fuente. He arrived in the USA in 1944 at the age of 16. His first job was sitting pins at a bowling alley in Joplin, MO. He came to Kansas City in July of 1946 and worked for Chrome Fixture, making furniture. He worked for Bentsen Manufacturing Company, learning to weld aluminum doing government contracts. He worked for the Government building wings for the B52 Bomber. In 1955 he went to work for TWA Trans World Airlines as a sheet metal mechanic.

He belonged to IAM and St Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. His hobbies were bowling, camping, dancing, and spending winters in Texas Rio Grand Valley.

Survivors include his wife, Joann of 36 years; children, Ricardo, Sharron, Edward (Jennifer) De La Fuente; his step children; Michael (Linda) Tift, and Marilyn (James) Maxwell; three grandchildren; five great grandchildren; brother, Ed (Peggy) Fountain; and sister, Susanne (Jerry) Kerr.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step father, Carl Hahn; and brothers, David De La Fuente and Juan Antonio De La Fuente.

Ricardo will be dearly missed by his family and friends.