Felecisimo Febre Fernandez

Felecisimo Febre Fernandez, 79, "Felix" to his dear friends, sadly passed away Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006.

He was born Aug. 26, 1926, in San Narciso, Zambales, Luzon, Philippines, the eldest son of five children, from the marriage of Raymundo Fernandez and Francisca Febre. On April 11, 1945, at the tender age of 18, Felix made the hard decision of leaving his widowed mother and siblings to help fight in the great war of the Pacific by enlisting in the United States Navy.

In August 1969, after receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy, Felix went to work for Philco Ford Corp. as a project supervisor in Vietnam and later as a power plant operator in the oil fields of Iran.

In 1975, Felix went on to work with Lear Siegler Inc.. until the fall of South Vietnam. Felix's last job before retirement was with McCormick Schilling.

During his assignment in Vietnam, Felix met and married Thanh Thuy Nguyen. They had their only son and first daughter born in the city of Saigon, Vietnam. Shortly after the birth of their first daughter in 1975, the family was evacuated from the fallen Republic of Vietnam and temporarily relocated in Seaside. Around the time their last daughter was born in 1976, the family permanently set roots in Salinas.

Military service:Felix served 24 distinguished years with the U.S. Navy as a submariner on the USS Greenfish (SS-351), USS Greyback (SS-574), USS Growler (SSG-577), and USS Blackfin (SS-322)

Survivors:Son, Don Febre Fernandez; daughters, Linda Thanh Fernandez and Teryln Thanh Fernandez; and siblings, Domingo Fernandez and Philipines Fernandez Peterson.

Visitation: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, March 3, at Struve and Laporte Funeral Chapel, 41 W. San Luis St., Salinas.

Rosary: 7 p.m., Friday, March 3, in the mortuary chapel.

Service: 11 a.m., Saturday, March 4, in the mortuary chapel.

Burial: Shortly after Saturday's services, family and friends will lay Felix to rest beside his late wife, Thanh Thuy Nguyen Fernandez, at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 758 Abbott Street, Salinas.

Arrangements: Struve and Laporte Funeral Chapel