Bien Venido Cortez Torres Obituary (1927 - 2017)

Bienvenido Cortez Torres, born August 4, 1927 in Salvador, Condon, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Bienvenido was known to his friends and co-workers as Ben and his family as " Benning". As a teenager he survived, with his family, the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. With his father already in America, his hopes were to join him and start a new life. Ben made his way to America and joined the United States Army. He fought in the 7th Infantry Division in the Korean War and awarded 5 medals including a Purple Heart Medal. Ben left the Army and married his wife Florentina and this coming December 23rd would have been their 64th Wedding Anniversary. Ben braved a new world as a Filipino immigrant leaving the war ravaged Philippines to enter a war for America to help pave a way for himself and future generations. He became a migrate worker in lettuce fields and apple orchards. The fertile rich soil provided much needed work to provide for his family. He literally took a page out of a John Steinbeck novel in the Salinas Valley. Eventually he settled in Watsonville, California and became a strawberry share cropper for the world renowned Dricsoll Strawberries. He also owned and operated a Gardening Service for many years and eventually retired as a Groundskeeper for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District in Watsonville, California. In his spare time he loved to fish. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 8, 2017, at 2:00 PM at Kingdom Hall of Jehovia's Witnesses in Spring Lake, NC. He is survived by his wife Florentina, his daughter Stephanie Ruppert and husband Rick, son Timothy Torres and his wife Taylor, daughter Sylvia Torres and his beloved son Terrance Anthony Torres who passed on May 20, 1978. He leaves 8 grandchildren, Ocea Lei, Artis Jr, Tiara, Tim Jr, Joshua, Caitlin, Ricky and Stephan, 4 Great Grandchildren: Cyrus, Jahari, Avery and Emory. He also leaves a family in Hawaii which he cared for deeply. Brothers and Sisters, Natividad Torres Lagaso, Pacita Torres Delos Reyes, Tracila Torres Harp, Ignicia Torres Craddock, Mariano Torres and Samuel Torres who passed on 12-13-14. Ben was a pioneer, leaving his home country to protect a new country, his struggles are our struggles, our families have continued, and have kept his dreams alive for many generations to come, as he would have wanted. Rest in Peace Dad. Condolences may be made at adcockfuneralandcrematory.com