Louis De La Cruz

Louis De La Cruz Jr of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at the Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale.

He was born May 1, 1937 in Tampa to the late Louis & Irene De La Cruz; and came here from Tampa 17 years ago. He was a retired pipefitter from Union 123 in Tampa, a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church and served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #292 in Tampa and was a Shriner. He enjoyed fishing, his dogs, watching Western movies
and smoking a fine cigar.

Louis was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Gloria Valdez. Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Nancy De La Cruz; daughter, Lisa and husband, Michael Weldrick of Leland, NC; sons, Louis “Buddy” De La Cruz IV of Ann Arbor, MI, David and wife, Kathy De La Cruz of Cape Canaveral and Mark and wife, Renee De La Cruz of Tampa; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 pm Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales.

For those who wish, donations may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Children (12502 USF Pine Drive, Tampa, FL 33612).