Sandy resident, Arthur Camacho, died in Gresham with his family by his side on Friday, May 8, 2009. He was 85.
A funeral service will be held 2:00PM, Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at Sandy Funeral Home. Cremation will follow the service.
Arthur Camacho was born February 20, 1924 in Los Angeles, California to Arturo and Helen (Espinoza) Camacho. He was raised in the San Fernando Valley where he attended school. On July 6, 1942 he married Stella Gonzales in Los Angeles. He entered the US Army Air Force on February 16, 1943 during WWII. Sergeant Camacho served in the 8th Air Force, 466th Bomber Group. He flew 35 missions over France and Germany and received the Victorious Flying Cross Award. D-Day was his first mission. He painted the “Glad To See Ya” emblem on the nose of the bomber which was a B-24 Liberator. Sergeant Camacho was a right Waist Gunner. His unit would often fly two missions a day. August 11, 1944 was his last mission which was over Strausburg. After his discharge the family settled in North Hollywood. He worked as a brick mason for most of his working career retiring in 1979.
Arthur enjoyed helping his friends and family, wood crafts, his dog Chula and his 3 cats, WWII history, ice cream and funny hats.
Survivors include his wife Stella of Sandy; daughter, Elaine Dries of Sandy; sons, Ron P. Camacho of Gresham, John Gonzales of Camarillo, California; sister Vera Allen of Indiana; grandchildren, Desire’e Lowes of Eagle Creek, Dennis Dries of Burbank, California, Ron Camacho of Fairview, Cindy Layman of Vancouver, Washington, Sommer White of Seattle, Washington; great grandchildren, Dustyn, Austyn and Summer Dries of Burbank, California, Shawna Lebechuck of Welches, Kayla Lebechuck of Clackamas, Cody Lowes of Eagle Creek, Jadasynn and Aunaya White of Seattle. He was preceded in death by his son Dean Camacho in 1978.