Eduardo R. De La Fuente

Eduardo de la Fuente went home to be with the Lord on Oct. 13, 2021, capping a nearly 79-year journey in which he visited many corners of the world and made an impression on those he met with his wit, wisdom and kindness.


He is survived by his loving wife Pilar, daughter Kimberly, son Edward, daughter-in-law Jennifer and granddaughter Mariana.


He was known as Eddie to friends, or "Ding," a nickname used affectionately by family members.


Eddie was born in Manila, Philippines, the third of nine siblings. After graduating from De La Salle School and the University of Santo Tomas, Eddie made his way to the United States, settling in Chicago. It was there that he met Pilar Agudera, a fellow Philippine immigrant, and on Dec. 5, 1969, they began a marriage that would last more than 50 years.


Eddie and his family eventually moved to Southern California, where he worked for 20 years in chemical engineering while pursuing the passions that came to define his life: ballroom dancing, indulging in classical music and arts, playing the ukulele and especially traveling.


Together with Pilar, and sometimes with his children, Eddie stepped foot in more than 50 countries on six continents over a 30-year span. From China and Australia to Eastern Europe, from Israel and Egypt to South America, and countless other destinations in between, he relished visiting the world's great sites.


Eddie's charm helped him make great friends everywhere he went. His sometimes raunchy, always dry sense of humor made him the life of any party. But ultimately, he was a devoted family man who served as a beacon of wisdom and a steadying presence whenever needed.


While that presence will be missed, his family takes comfort in knowing how much he meant to so many.


A memorial service will be held Friday, Nov. 5, at Forest Lawn in Cypress, California. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Eddie's memory to either the American Heart Association or Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles.