Raul M. Rodriguez

We are heartbroken to announce the death of our father, Raul M. Rodriguez.  He passed away peacefully at the age of 96 years old surrounded by family members.  He passed away on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Visitation will be 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home, followed by a Vigil scheduled for 7:15 PM. Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10:00 AM Friday, December 9, 2022, at San Jose Catholic Church with Fr. Juan Carlos Ramirez officiating. Interment will follow in Santa Catarina Cemetery in Carlsbad, NM.

Raul was preceded in death by his wife, Cleofas (Canano); father, Vensurlado and his mother, Josepha Rodriguez; three children: Imelda Rodriguez, Earnest Rodriguez and Daniel Rodriguez; three sisters and four brothers: Irene Ruiz, Belen Hernandez, Josephina Armendariz, Lino Rodriguez, David Rodriguez, Ben Rodriguez and Roy Rodriguez.  Raul is survived by his seven children, all of Carlsbad, NM: Raul Rodriguez, Jr. and Nena, Yolanda Anaya and Salvador, Rosaline Madrid and Robert, Arnold Rodriguez and Kathlyn, Benny Rodriguez, Alonzo Rodriguez, and Alvin Rodriguez and Brenda; twenty-five grandchildren; forty-five great grandchildren; thirteen great-great grandchildren; and numerous cousins and extended family.

Raul met Cleofas at a dance where he was playing with the band on stage.  He came over and introduced himself and that is when the romance began.  They married in Ojinaga, Mexico and the celebration lasted several days.  When Cleofas was 24 years old, they had their first child, and a year later had their second child, and by the third and fourth child, they stopped counting! Cleofas was a woman that had a heart and eyes for only one man and that was our dad, Raul.  They came to be together for 59 years.

Raul, his father and his siblings worked on his father’s farm from early morning to late at night, and sometimes throughout the entire night. Being a farmer was not his desire, so he joined the U.S. Army and shortly after bootcamp was honorably discharged due to a disability with his sight.

Despite the fact that he had an 8^th grade education, Raul became a very successful business man.  He might not have owned a business per say, but he ran his household like one.  Raul was a very meticulous dresser, along with his home and landscape.  He was a great organizer and kept all his equipment in the best of shape.  Raul was a good provider…we never lacked for anything.

Raul loved working on his equipment by painting and making them look like new.  He loved painting everything in two-tone colors.  He was a very hard worker in those years he was employed, and even his vacation days turned into work days.  Raul pretty much fixed everything himself or had someone fix it, but would very seldomly leave anything broken. 

Raul completed 37 years of service at the potash mines.  He started very early as the excavation was taking place before a shaft was built.  He helped dig and build the mine from the ground up - a site where mineral ores are extracted from the ground by excavating surface pits and subterranean passages.  He was an elevator Hoistman.

Raul was blessed with a very strong gene that helped him live a long and healthy life.  He was an old-fashioned, traditional man.  Raul loved music and he would sing his heart out when he played his guitar.  Not only did he play guitar but also the harmonica, accordion piano and organ.  Raul taught himself how to play all these instruments without any help or instruction from anyone.  Everyone knew that he played and sang and he would not hesitate to bring out the guitar to entertain.  His family loved listening to him at family gatherings, especially holidays.

Dad, we will miss you dearly. It will not be the same going over to the house you built, but there are a lot of memories left behind and we will cherish those in our hearts.  We will keep the family close and will always remember you and mom saying, “Hurry back!”  Hasta luego mi family! “Til we meet again!”

Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com