Rudolph Cardenas, Sr.

Rudolph (Rudy) Cardenas, Sr., MSgt. (retired), a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force, passed away September 25, 2022, in Tucson, AZ. The son of Guadalupe Cardenas and Maria de Jesus Torralba, Rudy, Sr. was born February 18,1934 in Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Ball High School. Rudy Sr. enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and became an Accounting Specialist. His first assignment was in Tokyo, Japan where he met and married the love of his life, Yoshiko Furukawa. Together, they had three children: Rudy, Jr., Roberto and Mary Ann. MSgt Rudolph Cardenas Sr spent the majority of his enlistment at various air bases in Japan before he retired in 1979, at the Office of the Comptroller for Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ. After retiring, Rudy Sr. earned Associates degrees in Accounting and Hospitality Management from Pima Community College, while also working as an accountant at the Wilmot Prison. Rudy, Sr. returned to Davis-Monthan AFB as a Civil Service employee for the 309th AMARC, aka "The Boneyard". He enjoyed working as a Manager at the D-M Officers Club as well. In 2007, Rudy (finally) retired from the Civil Service after many years at the finance office of the 71st Special Operations Squadron. Rudy Sr. is survived by his wife Yoshiko, sons Rudy, Jr. (Anne) and Roberto, daughter Mary Ann and his three grandchildren Anthony (Katy), Keegan and Mary (Aidan), his brothers, Michael Torralba and Jose Guadalupe Cardenas, Juan Cardenas and sisters Mary Dolores Perez, Angelina Sanchez, Esther Cardenas, Elia Jimenez, Virginia Mejia and Hilda Yolanda de la Garza; preceded in death by Juana Maria del Carmen Cardenas. A service honoring the life and military service of Rudy, Sr. will be held at Angel Valley Funeral Home, 2545 North Tucson Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85716 on Monday, October 17, 2022 at 3 p.m. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m., prior to services.