Arnold Chavez Gasca

Arnold Chavez Gasca passed away at home on May 27, 2024 at the age of 96. He was born in

Glendale, California on May 12, 1928. He was the second oldest of seven surviving children

born to Jose and Dolores Gasca. Arnold attended Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los

Angeles, California where he studied Business. He attended East Los Angeles City College

and studied Business and Accounting.

Arnold married Aida Silva, his high school sweetheart, and together they raised their family in

Tujunga, California. Arnold kept busy volunteering with the Boy Scouts, and the Knights of

Columbus. He worked as a sign painter’s helper and climbed billboards all over LA and Orange

County. He took lettering classes to improve his work skills, and this blossomed into a love for

painting. He continued his interest in painting and took classes at LA Trade Tech. Arnold was a

member of the Trade Show and Sign Crafts Local Union 831, and the Painters and Allied

Trades International Union during his career at Pacific Outdoor Advertising(POA)/Gannett. After

35 years, he retired from painting. He had a strong work ethic that he passed along to all his

children. Education was important to him, and he worked two jobs most of his life so that he

could send all his children to private schools.

Arnold and Aida moved to Chandler in ‘95 after retirement. They enjoyed life in their new home,

and made many friends. Both were actively involved in their local church, St. Andrew the

Apostle. Aida fought asthma for many years, and succumbed to cancer five years after the

move to Arizona.

Arnold found company with friends at church. Before long, he developed a friendship with a

widowed friend and that soon developed into a romance. He and Helen Peterson were married

in January of 2005 and enjoyed reading the newspaper which sometimes took all day, traveling,

watching movies, volunteering at church, visiting friends and family, and taking walks together.

After Helen passed in 2015, he lived with family in Tempe.

Arnold was devoted to service to the church throughout his life. He enjoyed drinking Pepsi,

eating dessert, fishing, local car shows, taking walks in the neighborhood, watching the

Diamondbacks, listening to the sounds of the big band era, reading Louis L’Amour novels,

watching westerns and spending time with friends and family.

Arnold is survived by his children Miguel(Susan), Pat, Anthony(Barbara), Veronica(Terry),

Teresa(Gary), Gabriel(Jennifer), his sisters Dolores and Catalina, loving grandchildren,

great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, extended family, and

countless friends.

We will miss his smile, the twinkle in his eyes, his well thought out advice, and sense of humor,

but know that his spirit will always be with us.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at St. Andrew the Apostle in

Chandler. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Mesa. In lieu of flowers donations

can be made to:

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

the Alzheimer’s Association @ https://act.alz.org/site/Donation 

Hospice of the Valley @ https://hov.org/donate/donate-now/ 

St. Andrew the Apostle @ https://membership.faithdirect.net/givenow 

Please include (in memory of Arnold Gasca), in the notes section.