Ascension Calderon

 With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Ascension Calderon on November 24, 2024, at the age of 101. Surrounded by his loving family, he peacefully left our arms to go immediately into the arms of his wife of 56 years, Delia Gomez Calderon. He had been waiting to join her for 22 years. He was also preceded in death by his twin brother, Alfredo O. Calderon and siblings, Conrado and Susana.

 Ascension is survived by four children: Toni Clavin (John), Connie Burtz (Chris), Patricia Stover, and Chon Calderon; five grandchildren: Denise LeBoeuf, Chris Burtz, John Burtz, Lisa Hernandez, and Lori Cochran; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren, as well as many family members and friends who will miss him dearly. He was the best role model, mentor, supporter, teacher, and absolutely the best father anyone could have.

 Special thanks to the VA, Dr. Rodriguez-Noble, LiveWell Home Care, Estela Reyes, and Rosie Lopez who gave him such excellent and loving care.

 Visitation will begin at 5 pm followed by Vigil/Rosary 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Monday, December 9, 2024, at Sunset Funeral Homes Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass Dr.

 A mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, December 10th at Blessed Sacrament Church, 9025 Diana Dr., followed by a Committal Service at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Ave., at 11:00 AM. Military honors will be rendered at the graveside.

 Ascension Calderon’s legacy of service, love, and dedication will forever be cherished by his family and friends. He was a beloved father to Toni Clavin, Connie Burtz, Patricia Stover, and Chon Calderon. He was an extraordinary and cherished grandfather to Denise LeBoeuf, Chris Burtz, John Burtz, Lisa Hernandez, and Lori Cochran. He was a great-grandfather to Heather Ponce, Isabel Hernandez, Hayley Limas, Charles LeBoeuf, Taylor Solet, Richard Hernandez, Ryan Limas, Kayla Cochran, and Mason Cochran. He was a great-great-grandfather to Ryland Hernandez, Liam Toups, Grayson Solet, August Solet, Penelope Solet, Onyx Solet, Aaliyah Boyer, baby Solet, and Baby LeBoeuf.

 Dad, we will miss you immensely. You were our “go-to” when life got rough, you were our moral compass in this crazy world, and our comfort when we needed it. We all knew that we could always count on you for anything. To your children you were, “The greatest man we ever knew; the first man we ever loved.”

 Dad's interests and his work ethic helped define who he was. He enjoyed astronomy, cooking, winemaking, and keeping up with world events and the weather. He loved animals and always had one or several loving dogs around him. He kept his mind sharp by doing income taxes and bookkeeping at his company, Bookkeeping Services, until he was 95 years old. After he retired, people still kept begging him to continue for just a few more years.

He was a WWII and Korean Conflict veteran. During WWII, he was stationed in Dum Dum, India as part of the China Burma India Theater of the war. Much information about that part of his life can be found in his 2023 interview in the Veterans History Project found in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

In 2015, he was taken to Washington, D.C., on an Honor Flight. He was able to visit the WWII pavilion, Arlington and the Tomb of the of the Unknown Soldier, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and many other sites. He had not really wanted to go, but when he returned, he said it was the best trip he had ever taken. To honor other veterans who went on other Honor Flights, he started going to the airport to welcome Honor Flight veterans home. He would hold up a sign that said, “WWII Vet Welcomes You Home.” His welcome was very touching to many of the men, especially to Vietnam veterans. On his last trip to the airport in September, we changed his sign to read, “101-Year-Old WWII Vet Welcomes You Home.”

 When he turned 100 years old, he was given a grandiose party by his children and grandchildren. Over 125 family members and friends attended as well as many visiting dignitaries who gave wonderful speeches to honor him. These dignitaries included Mayor Oscar Leeser who presented him with an absolutely beautiful letter, an El Paso pin, and a challenge coin, Linda Mais-County of El Paso Hidden Heroes, Paul Albright-Chief Military Officer of El Paso who read the mayor’s letter and presented the flag, Carl Dwyer-Veteran’s Affairs Advocate who presented him with a large photograph of the house in which he and his twin brother were born, a resolution from Sen. Cesar Blanco, and a letter delivered by Benjamin Shipkey-Regional Director from the office of Congressman Gonzalez. He received an American flag that flew over the United States Capitol from Veronica Escobar and commendations from many people including President Biden. He also received pins, Honor Coins, donations for Honor Flight, and many other wonderful gifts. He appreciated everything so much.

 He had an exceptional long-term memory, regaling friends and family with tales about growing up in El Paso during the Depression, his days at Austin High School, his World War II and Korean War service, and his many wonderful El Paso memories.

 Knowing how much he saw in 101 years, the family was sure to chronicle as much of it as possible, and in doing so told an inspirational story about an extraordinary person. He was interviewed and videoed last year by a high school student named Gwen Rodriguez about his memories of WWII for the Veterans History Project, and that interview has now been entered in the Library of Congress. You may find the full interview at https://www/loc.gov/item/afc2001001.126932/

 We find comfort in knowing that Dad's legacy lives on through the lessons he taught us, the love he shared, and the memories we and many others will cherish forever.