Arthur Espejo

Arthur Fimbres Espejo, 79, was born on November 04, 1945, in Los Angeles, CA to the late Salvador and Jesusita 'Jessie' Espejo. He went home to be with his loved ones on October 19, 2025, which would have been his own father's 104th birthday. At the time of his passing he resided at a beautiful board & care facility in Claremont, CA. But he spent most of his life living in San Dimas, CA, which truly was his home.

The son of a naval seaman, Arthur, was named for a first cousin of Jessie’s, Arthur Araiza, of whom both Salvador and Jessie dearly loved for his kindness and generosity. Salvador, having endured several severe wounds from the war, was released from the Naval Hospital in Corona, Ca and from active duty in 1946. Shortly after returning home, Salvador, Jessie and Arthur moved to Indio, CA where he assumed the position of Farm Manager for a large date palm, grape, citrus and poultry farming operation owned by his family. Salvador’s older sister, Mary Espejo, and her husband Peter Palazzo of Indio, Ca stood as sponsors to Arthur’s christening. Upon seeing Arthur for the first time, Mary with excitement said, “Oh my Little Turi”, a diminutive of the name Arturo, the Spanish and Italian form of Arthur. The nickname that stayed with Arthur for the rest of his life. (Though it has been said that his Aunt Emily, Jessie’s sister, also nicknamed him Turi.)

In 1948 Salvador, Jessie and Arthur returned to Los Angeles and in 1952 bought their one and only home in Pico Rivera, Ca. A very rural part of the Los Angeles county, Arthur, his cousins and younger brothers grew up among the cows of Mr. Culp’s dairy farm directly across the street. The entire family woke up daily at 5 am to the sounds of cows mooing for their morning milking. Arthur only knowing to speak in Spanish, was enrolled in the local school system where he learned English and other academics.

Since childhood, Arthur was fascinated with the Marine Corps and war stories. Whenever he received money for his birthday and/or completing chores, his father would take him to the local Army/Navy surplus store where he bought helmets, canteens, backpacks, utility belts, and other military paraphernalia. He would spend hours with friends playing war, spent hours drawing pictures of war scenes and never missed watching war movies on T.V. His favorites were the movies about the Marines.

Aside from his family and pride in his children, he took pride in his brother, Sal, also a Marine, especially when he left for Viet Nam. On the day Sal was to report for deployment, Arthur went with him along with their parents and younger brother, Frank. He helped his younger brother carry his equipment into the staging barracks, walked back with him to say good-bye to their parents and brother. He gave Sal a huge, tight hug and said, “Remember we’re Marines. And I will be here waiting for you when you return.” A promise Arthur always kept.

While in high school Arthur enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He graduated from El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, CA in 1964. In the summer of '64, immediately after graduation he was off to San Diego for boot camp, and training at Camp Pendleton. His dream of becoming a Marine came true. After completing bootcamp and infantry training, he transferred into the Marine Corps Reserves where he honorably served for the next ten years achieving the rank of Sergeant. (As a Reservist he would serve two weeks a year at base in Twenty-Nine Palms.) Shortly after completing boot camp he began working for the Los Angeles County Parks system as a Park Maintenance Worker in Arcadia.

In February of 1966 Arthur married his high school sweetheart, Rosemarie Murillo, and in November of that year their first daughter, Christine, was born. About sometime in 1968 Arthur began working at San Dimas Canyon Park, and the small Espejo family moved to the Caretaker's cottage at San Dimas Canyon Park. In April of 1970 their second daughter, Michelle, was born. Last but not least, their youngest daughter, Lisa, was born in February of 1973. Soon after, Arthur graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy and become a LA County Park Ranger where he patrolled Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park on horseback. No longer the care taker at San Dimas Canyon Park, the family then moved to their first home in LaVerne. He was a Park Ranger until he joined the force in Pomona Police Department in 1977. Among the many hats he wore while there he was a patrol officer, a Helicopter Observer, a K-9 Handler, and he worked with the Major Crimes Unit. He also participated as a Power Lifter in the Police Olympics. He retired from the police force in 1990.

Unfortunately, in 1987 Arthur and Rosemarie divorced. Arthur remarried shortly after. He and his new wife moved back to San Dimas. He helped raise two step-daughters, Dominique and Jessica Garcia. He and his second wife later divorced. Arthur eventually moved to a senior citizen apartment complex, still in San Dimas, where he lived happily and peacefully with his beloved West Highland Terrier, best friend, and faithful companion, Lucy till she passed away. He remained there until January 20, 2024 when he was found unresponsive and taken by ambulance to a hospital. Arthur would not see his apartment again.

He was, in no particular order, a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather, a son, a brother, a husband, a Godfather, an uncle, a nephew, a cousin, a friend and good neighbor, a Marine, a Park Maintenance worker, a Park Ranger, a police officer, a police K-9 Handler, a police Helicopter Observer, a coach, a landscaper, a football player, a mechanical bull rider, a clown, a power lifter, a dancer, a historian, a guitar student, a student of a foreign language, a pilgrim, a Catechism class teacher, and above all, a human being.

Arthur's memory will live on with his daughters and their husbands, Christine and Mike Cusick, Michelle and Dan Rainwater, and Lisa and Tom Davison; his grand children Christopher Joel Griffin, Carolyn Sutherland, Jesse Cusick, Lacey and Brandon Nolen, Trevor and Brianna Rainwater, and Alex and Shaun Schroepfer; his great grandchildren, Ethan and Everett Andrian, Addelyn Rainwater, and Landon, Bella, Aria, and Reagan Schroepfer; his brothers, Eric Fimbres and his husband David James, and Frank and his wife Yolanda Espejo; His lady friend, Amparo Olivas, her son Paul Gary Olivas and her daughter Dolores Olivas Nevarez; and many other family members and friends who will sadly miss him.

Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, CA.