RODRIGUEZ, Marcelo Jose *

Lozano's Flagstaff Mortuary, Flagstaff, Arizona Marcelo Jose Rodriguez, 109, was born in Chiquilistlan, Jalisco, Mexico on April 24, 1903 to Maria Suarez and Pablo Moreno Rodriguez and was one of eight children. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Antonia Figueroa Rodriguez on June 16, 1992. He is survived by his sons Frank G. Rodriguez and wife Emma, and his son Paul J. Rodriguez of Santa Maria, CA. Marcelo has three adult grandchildren, Paul Rodriguez and wife Becky, of Santa Maria and Marc Rodriguez and wife Sherrie, of Grover Beach and Francine Bailey and husband Mark of Clovis, CA. He has six great grandchildren, Kelsey, Katie and Taylor J. Rodriguez and Braeden Marcelo, Jamison Francisco and Ryland Antonio Bailey. He is also survived by three nephews that he raised when they came to the United States, Alvino Arias and Family, of Union City, Pedro Suarez and Family of Hayward, CA. and Nicholas Hernandez and Family of Oxnard, CA. Marcelo is also survived by 30 additional nephews and nieces, 45 great nephews and nieces and 30 great-great nephews and nieces. Marcelo lost his father at the young age of 7. His father was assassinated at his ranch about 1910. Marcelo picked corn and took care of horses to support his family. He attended a week of primary school before his mother asked him to leave school to assist her to earn a living for his sisters and three younger brothers. He had occasion to meet Pancho Villa who came to the ranch where he was working. Pancho Villa asked him to water his horses. Pancho Villa paid him with a side of beef. On the return trip, Marcelo again took care of his horses. At age 24, he arrived in Williams, AZ., looking for a job. He worked with the Civilian Conservation Corp for three years after World War I. In 1927, he went to work at the Saginaw Lumber Mill as a lumberjack. He worked on the “chain gang” for the Santa Fe Railroad. He was promoted to Baggage Handler until 1968. He taught himself to read enough to recognize the state abbreviations. He retired after 30 years of service. After retirement, he started his golfing hobby. Marcelo golfed daily at Elephant Rock Country Club in Williams, AZ and won 11 trophies in city and state tournaments. He was granted a honorary lifetime golf pass in 1995 due to the fact that he had maintained the grounds and the greens on a part-time basis. He was golfing at Sunset Ridge Golf in Santa Maria until he fractured his knee in 2006. A month before his accident, he shot a “birdie” on the first hole to an audience of about 12 employees who came out and watched him and gave him a standing ovation. He turned to his son Frank and said, “why are they making a fuss, haven’t they seen a 106 year old man golf before?” Marcelo’s community service in Williams was to cut down the annual Christmas tree for the Governor’s Mansion. Ben Miranda, Gil Corona and Marcelo would go out to the surrounding Coconino National Forest and cut down the official Christmas tree for the Governor to use. He was given a proclamation for 25 years of devoted service to his community and to the state Governor’s Mansion in Arizona. Marcelo was awarded a special proclamation in Santa Maria on April 24, 2012 on his 109th birthday. This day was proclaimed Marcelo J. Rodriguez Day for the city of Santa Maria by Mayor Lavonigno. He enjoyed going to mass everyday whenever possible in his home town and also all the time he was at the Marian Residence. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and spent much time in adoration. His favorite reading pastime was the Bible in both Spanish and English and he would read the whole Bible twice a year. Marcelo was a 12 year parishioner of St. Louis de Montfort Parish and the oldest member of his congregation. Marian Extended Care has been his home for the past three years. Marcelo decided to join his sons in Santa Maria in 1999 and had been a Santa Maria resident until his passing. The activities’ directors at both Marian Residence and at the Extended Care stated that “Marcelo was a joy to be around. He was very special to them and to all the nurses. He flirted continuously and called all the nursing staff, his special love or “mi amor”. He was “Resident of the Month” in 2007 at Marian Residence. He felt very privileged that the staff at Marian Residence and Marian Extended Care gave him so much attention and love during the years that he called these places home. He loved his fellow residents and had many stories to share with them and always brightened their day by wheeling around so fast that he earned the nickname,“Wheelchair Harley”. Marcelo’s dedication to God, to his family and to his adopted country were his greatest achievements. Like all great grandfathers, he delighted in his great grandchildren and young people in general. He loved talking to teenagers in particular from Delta High School who went to the center often to listen to his stories and to get advice. Students were always interested in his tales when he was in the Mexican American War at the ripe age of 17. Marcelo kept up with the times and was amazed that he could “skype” and see his great grandchildren on an IPAD. He thought that whoever invented the IPAD was a genius. His sons and their families will miss his wisdom, his kindness and his great sense of humor that they were blessed to have for 109 years. In lieu of flowers, please make all donations to the American Cancer Society. A memorial mass will held on Monday, October 8, 2012 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in William s, AZ. Burial will be at Williams Cemetery and a luncheon at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Hall will follow. Local arrangements are by Lozano’s Flagstaff Mortuary, www.FlagstaffMortuary.com