My Uncle Richie Zubiate, 93 just died. As a member of The Greatest Generation, he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Signal Corps and was trained as a High Speed Manual Radio Operator. Afterwards, he developed an intrigue with ham radios. This hobby continued as a member of the El Paso Ham Radio Club. He must have been one of the first techies in America.
Having a great sense of humor, a little bit on the dry side, he had an easy smile and laugh. He was known amongst us kids as a really smart man, with interesting stuff to share. I was impressed to find out he had studied architecture at Texas Western. He went to school at Bowie High with my Dad and Joe Vargas, and grew up around Segundo Barrio where he met my mom's sister, Evagelina, and later married her.
Having a great sense of humor, a little bit on the dry side, he had an easy smile and laugh. He was known amongst us kids as a really smart man, with interesting stuff to share. I was impressed to find out he had studied architecture at Texas Western. He went to school at Bowie High with my Dad and Joe Vargas, and grew up around Segundo Barrio where he met my mom's sister, Evagelina, and later married her.
Joe Vargas, my best friend's father also passed away recently, at 97. The Greatest Generation had more than it's fair share of heroes. After landing at Utah Beach on D-Day, he marched through France with the liberation forces led by General Patton.
It's no wonder he came back from the war with a distaste for camping. He worked his way through life, making himself useful anyway he could. He was a pillar of our society: a good neighbor, good son, good father, and good husband. Soft spoken, yet passionate. For 35 years, Mr. Vargas worked as a civil servant at White Sands Missile Range, then after retirement 20 more at Job Corp. Joe was married to Bertha for 70 years.
It's no wonder he came back from the war with a distaste for camping. He worked his way through life, making himself useful anyway he could. He was a pillar of our society: a good neighbor, good son, good father, and good husband. Soft spoken, yet passionate. For 35 years, Mr. Vargas worked as a civil servant at White Sands Missile Range, then after retirement 20 more at Job Corp. Joe was married to Bertha for 70 years.
Rogelio Rios, another vet father of a good friend of mine died at 95, on June 24, 2015. He was born in Fabens, NM and attended the Boeing School of Aeronautics. He went on to become a World War II flying ace and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After a long career in the printing industry, Rogelio retired from Guynes Printing Company in 1985. He was married to Emma for 60 years.
I've linked Joe, Richie, and Rogelio's obituaries below. Of the 16,112,566 U.S. service members in World War II, there were 405,399 deaths, 291,557 in battle. As of September 2017, there were an estimated 550,000 living vets. (DVA) American Veterans Aide estimates that in 20 years, they will all be gone.
We must all thank them, now, in our hearts for their duty and sacrifice.
Richie's (obit) Joe's (obit) Rogelio's (obit)
We must all thank them, now, in our hearts for their duty and sacrifice.
Richie's (obit) Joe's (obit) Rogelio's (obit)
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