Ralph Chavez Rodriguez October 24, 1914 – February 12, 2019 Share this obituary View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences Ralph Chavez Rodriguez, a long-time Lompoc resident and a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, passed away at the age of 104 on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. Ralph was born on October 24, 1914, in Chihuahua, Mexico, immigrating to the United States with his father as a young child. Ralph was drafted into the U. S. Army at the age of 32 and was assigned to the 96th Infantry, Division 382 Regiment, in Okinawa, Japan, during World War II.
While there, he volunteered to be a combat medic and was ultimately awarded a Bronze Star for valor in combat. He received an honorable discharge as well as U. S. citizenship and a GED during his time in the service. He went on to work as a brick inspector and forklift operator for Johns Manville Corporation in Lompoc and then worked for 27 years as an electrician on missile silos at Camp Cooke, now Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Ralph and his bride Petra bought a house in Lompoc in 1952, raised their four children there, and remained in that house until their deaths. They loved Lompoc and never wanted to live anywhere else. Ralph was very patriotic.
He was proud to be a citizen of the United States and raised our flag in front of his house when appropriate. He was a fan of John Wayne and enjoyed watching John Wayne and other “cowboy” movies. Ralph was known as a “fix-it” man.
Friends and neighbors called on him to do electrical work and general repairs, which he happily did at no charge. Following his retirement, Ralph remained active. He was an avid cyclist, who rode with groups to Oregon as late as his 70’s.
After his beloved wife, Petra, passed away, his daughter Susan and her husband David Hudspeth moved from Washington State to live with Ralph, allowing him to remain in his long-time home. They cared for him for five years until his passing, assisted by his daughter Teresa. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents Miguel and Soledad Rodriguez, his brother Philip Baca, and his wife of 64 years, Petra Ida (Villalobos) Rodriguez.
He is survived by his four children, Teresa (Philip Gallanders), Ralph Jr. (Donna), Ronald (Maria), and Susan (David Hudspeth), 15 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. A funeral mass will be held at La Purisima Catholic Church in Lompoc on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at 10 am, with a reception immediately following in the church parish hall. Viewing will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary on Friday, March 1, 2019, from 3 to 7 pm, with a vigil service at the mortuary at 7 pm.
The interment will take place on Monday, March 4, 2019, at 10 am, at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.
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