Richard M. Torres

Richard M. Torres, age 102, beloved father to Vince (Kathy) Torres, peacefully passed away the morning of May 4, 2016 at Rehab and Nursing Center of the Rockies. Rich was born in Tercio, CO to Marcos and Leonor Duran Torres. He grew up living in the Torres Valley west of Trinidad, CO while his father worked as a timber man and railroad switchyard boss. As a young adult he worked as a timber man providing “props” for underground coal mines, a clerk at the CF&I company store and as a wrangler. Rich built roads for the Civilian Construction Corps and worked as a farmhand and railroad worker during the depression. After entering the U.S. Marines during WWII he married Lucy Trujillo in San Diego, CA. During the war he saw action in the Marshall Islands, Saipan and was awarded the Purple Heart at Iwo Jima. After the war Rich moved to Valdez, CO as an underground coal miner. When the mine closed in 1962 he moved his family to Colorado Springs starting over at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He retired from there as a supervisor of the ground crew for the two golf courses. He was an excellent deer hunter, a superb trout fisherman and an avid golfer. Rich was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jose, his wife, Lucy, daughter Rachael Virginia Mestas, daughter Julie Leonor Reyna, and son-in-law Max Mestas. He is survived by one son Vincent R. (Kathy) Torres, three grandsons, Tony Torres, Mark (Michelle) Torres and Mike (Gina) Reyna, two great-granddaughters, Katie and Emily Torres, and son-in-law John (Lilli) Reyna. A Rosary will be held at Swan-Law Funeral Home, Colorado Springs, CO at 7:00 PM, May 24, 2016. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:00 PM on May 25, 2016, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Colorado Springs, CO. Inurnment at Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Veterans of Foreign Wars.