RODRIGUEZ, Conrado M.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 09/26/2003 Conrado M. Rodriguez, 83, a resident of Meadow Lake, N.M., peacefully joined our Lord while surrounded by his loving family on Friday, Sept. 12. He was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. He retired from Southwest Forest Products in 1978 after 27 years of outstanding service. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a true outdoorsman and spent many years hunting and fishing in Arizona and New Mexico. He was a foster grandparent who received the prestigious Foster Grandparent Principle Award for the State of New Mexico. He loved working with handicapped children and, when the Los Lunas High and Training School closed, he stayed with the Foster Grandparents program in the public schools. He was preceded in death by his mother, Josifa Morena Rodriquez; his father, Jose Rodriguez; two sisters, Josephina Rodrigez and Angelita Benavidez; and one brother, Francisco Rodriguez. Conrado is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Jennie; four children, John Joe and his wife, Rosemary, of Belen, N.M., Conrad Vincente Jr. and his wife, Becky, of Springerville, Josie Morgan and her husband, John "Red," of Meadow Lake, and Victor Ray and his wife, Yvonne, of Los Chavez, N.M.; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one niece, Carmen Benavidez and her husband, Pete, of Socorro; as well as several great-nieces and great-nephews. A viewing was held Monday, Sept. 15, at the Romero Funeral Home Chapel of Belen, N.M., followed by a rosary. A funeral Mass was held Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, with Father Stephen Schultz officiating, followed by interment at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were his children and grandchildren.