José Cano

José A Cano, 79, of Litchfield Park passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. His grandparents migrated from Spain to Puerto Rico, where he was born in 1936 to Antonio Cano Gonzalez and Luz Maria Miranda Rodriguez (who predeceased him), in the city of Vega Baja.

From his earliest childhood, José had a love of aircraft. When José turned eighteen, he enrolled in Nebraska Wesleyan University where he began a study of engineering.  While studying he learned of an opportunity to work with aircraft.  And at that time, the only place to get the training necessary was in the military, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he became a jet engine specialist.

While stationed at Luke Air Force Base, José visited a friend’s home where he saw the picture of their cousin Tillie on the wall and exclaimed, “That’s just what the doctor ordered for me.” Unfortunately for José, Tillie never came into the house when she saw his car parked outside; however, a little while later they met at a dance.  Their love blossomed.  On May 22, 1960 José and Tillie were married at St Anthony Catholic Church in Phoenix, AZ.  In their fifty-five years of marriage José remained a loving, devoted and attentive husband, always paying special attention to the comfort and desires of his sweetheart, Tillie.

Upon his discharge, José went to work for Lockheed Martin in Goodyear, AZ, reassembling military aircraft that had been in storage to get them back into commission. A few years later he became a civil service jet engine specialist at Luke Air Force Base, where he remained until he retired in 1999 after forty years of service.

José was meticulous in his work. As a result, his skills were in great demand by the pilots at Luke Air Force Base, particularly when a mission was in peril of being aborted.  He was an expert at identifying and repairing engine problems, especially those that baffled other specialists.  He strove for excellence in all of his work; even when that meant inventing a tool in order to properly repair an area of the engine that was previously unreachable.  His dedication to his work prompted a newspaper article titled, “Cano Saves the Day” which highlighted his remarkable ability and commitment to his work.

As dedicated as José was to his work, his greatest devotion was to his family. Loving and supportive of his wife and children in all that they did, there was nothing that he wouldn’t do to assure their happiness and wellbeing.   He provided his family with the perfect combination of direction as he demonstrated commitment to responsibilities coupled with fun, light hearted memories.

José is survived by his wife Tillie; daughter Sheila Garcia (Rudy); sons Joseph Cano (Brenda) and Daniel Cano (Julie); sisters Nilda Miranda, Ada Miranda, Carmen Miranda, Maritza Cano Villa; brothers Edwin Miranda and Luis Miranda; and nine grandchildren, Rudy, Victoria, Bryce, Marissa, Timothy, Kelby Maria, Alicia, Matthew and Titus.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 13720 W Thomas Rd, Avondale, AZ. The burial service will immediately follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, with a reception back at the church thereafter.