Albert Joseph Arreola

Albert Joseph Arreola (“Al”), a 98 year old resident of Oro Valley, Arizona was an American Patriot his entire life. His parents, Pedro & Francesca (Ontiveras) Arreola and his siblings legally immigrated to America in 1921 from Durango, Mexico, escaping with their lives and family “jewels” from the persecution of Pancho Villa and the devastation that occurred during the Mexican Revolution. Upon their arrival, his family embraced America as their own Country. From the time Al was born in San Leandro, California on June 4, 1924, to the date of his passing, February 1, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona, he was passionate about his love of Country, and served her with honor in the European Theater during World War II.

Al was raised along with his siblings in Oakland, California where he also attended High School. After High School he worked repairing machinery in the US Naval Shipyard, San Francisco. During World War II, at age 18, he was drafted on February 23, 1943, and requested to serve in the Army Air Corp. After training in the U.S., he was assigned as a B-17 Ball Turret Gunner for the Dille Crew in the 100th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force and sent to Thorpe Abbots Airfield about 100 miles northeast of London. Al suggested and his crew adopted the name for their Aircraft, “The Latest Rumor”. Al achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and while the average life of a Bomber crew in early 1944 was only 11 or 12 missions, Al luckily survived 35 Bombing Missions over Berlin and Nazi occupied Europe, including “D” Day. Al was returned to the US on September 23, 1944 and stationed at Victorville, California as an instructor at the Officers Gunnery Range. Al was an expert marksman. While stationed there he visited his sister Marie in Los Angeles and met the love of his life, Utahna Mae Lashbrook. He was honorably discharged on September 28, 1945, after having received 12 Medals and Ribbons for his service.

Al married Utahna on July 21, 1946, in Yuma, Arizona. His new family also included a new Stepson, Utahna’s son from a prior Marriage, Lan (“Lani”) Andrew Lester, then age 4. Due to the housing shortage after the War, Al moved his new family to live with Utahna’s uncle Earl Lashbrook on a Chicken Ranch in Agoura, California. Al started work with the California Department of Transportation driving heavy equipment and he continued with that job for his entire 36 year working career. In 1951, with the G.I. Bill, Al and Utahna bought their first home in Reseda, California.

Al and Utahna were very caring and generous people who always helped anyone in need. They took in family members, friends and sometimes strangers including Steve Logue, a 12 year old boy, and Annis Hutton, a 13 year old girl who both needed a home. At one time they had 8 people living in that little 3 bedroom home. Al loved to play fastpitch softball and he was so good he and his AAA team competed for the Los Angeles City Championship Title. He continued to play in softball leagues from time to time into his sixties. He also loved riding motorcycles and would often take day trips and do steep mountain climbing on his motorcycle with Friends. For many years Al and his family would tent camp for 2-1/2 months each summer on a beach near Ventura California, commuting to and from work daily during the week and spending time with family and friends there on weekends.

After the children were grown, Al and Utahna moved to Eagle Rock, California. After Al retired from Cal-Trans in 1983, they moved to Oxnard, California for a few years and then 3 years later to a home in Granada Hills, California so he could go to work for Lani’s Construction Company as an Estimator. Three years later he retired a second time and moved to a home on acreage in Tehachapi, California.

In 2000, Al and Utahna moved to Catalina, Arizona so they could be nearer to Lani and his Wife Judy. Al and Utahna shared many happy years living there, with beautiful mountain views and Birds, Javalina, Coyotes, and other small animals to feed. Al’s beloved wife of nearly 60 years Utahna passed away in 2006.

In 2009, Al moved into a guest house at Lani & Judy’s home so he could be closer to them but remained independent as that was very important to him. Since that time, Al has attended all the Reunions of his revered 100th Bomb Group Foundation that are held in locations all over the U.S. each year or two. Over the last 10 years he met each morning for breakfast at McDonalds with a group of military veterans who served in various Wars. During that time, he also assisted the Collins Foundation with their Wings of Freedom Tour faithfully every year at the Marana Regional Airport, sitting under the wing of a B-17 to answer questions from visitors about the aircraft and the War.

In 2014 he received a Distinguished Citizen Award from the U.S. Border Patrol. In 2016 he was awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal for his distinguished service in France during World War II. In 2018 he traveled with his family and another 100th Bomb Group Member and WWII Historian, Phil Samponaro to England to visit his old Air Base at Thorpe Abbots Airfield near Diss, England, which had since been turned into a museum. He was graciously hosted by the Museum Curator, Ron (and Carol) Batley. On the same trip he was also graciously hosted by the 95th Bomb Group Museum near Horam, England and the 390th Bomb Group Museum in Framlingham, England. He also traveled to the beaches of Normandy where during WWII, his Aircraft bombed the Nazi occupation. It was the first time he saw it from ground level. It was the only time in his life that he had to obtain a U.S. Passport. He said he didn’t need one last time he was there. Al never forgot how fortunate he was to have survived the war when so many did not come home. The rest of his life he generously donated to organizations like Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans Association, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Al revered his Country and flew flags on all patriotic holidays and you could always find him wearing his WWII Hat and thanking active duty military, Veterans and first responders for their service wherever he found them.

Al remained living independently until 2021 and even drove until then at age 97. In 2022 Al moved in with Judy and Lani in their new home in Oro Valley, AZ. and decided to hang up his car keys for the last time.

Al is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Lani, and Judy Lester; His grandson-In-law, Justin (Norma) Behn, grand-daughter-In-Law Tiffany (Mike) Caporusso; and his four grandchildren, Samantha Pascasio (24), Victoria Behn (20), Austin Behn (18), and Jake Behn (13). He was preceded in death by his wife, Utahna Mae, brothers Raoul, and Ruben, half-brother Gilbert, and sisters, Marie, Hope and Norma.

Services will be held at East Lawn Palms Mortuary & Cemetery, 5801 East Grant Road, Tucson, AZ, 85712. On February 18, 2023, Visitation at 9:30, Funeral Service 10AM-Noon in the Chapel. Interment ceremonies with Military Honors from Noon-12:30.

The Family requests that in lieu of Flowers, you make a tax-deductible donation to the 100th Bomb Group Foundation https://100thbg.com/