Sabas Escamilla Rodriguez

Sal was born in Paintrock, Texas and raised in Sweetwater, Texas where he went back as often as he could for the annual Rattlesnake Round-up. He was a resident of Livingston for over 60 years and a World War II Navy veteran who served on the USS Custer APA-40 attaining Seaman First Class from 1944 to 1946 in the Pacific theater of operations. Sal was a member of the American Legion Merced Post 83 and VFW Winton Post 7792.

At age 9 he joined his father's sheep shearing crew and sheared sheep into his 60's. He worked for Sunland Poultry in Livingston, was a truck driver, auto mechanic, managed a Hancock gas station in Merced, retired as a Millwright and then continued to work as a handyman who took pride in the work he did for others. He was known for his hard work ethic and for helping others regularly.

Mr. Rodriguez is survived by his sons, Marcos of Atwater, Salvador of Palmdale, stepson Robert Gonzalez of Modesto; daughters, Mercedes Rodriguez of Merced, Martha Rodriguez and her husband Jess of Fresno, Janie Newsom and her husband Nicky of Oceanside, stepdaughter Ruby Toro of Modesto, sister, Gregoria Gonzalez and her husband, Eugenio of Hamlin, Texas; 8 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents Marcos and Epifania and his brother Julio.

A Rosary/Funeral Mass will be held at 11 am, Thursday, July 31st at Saint Jude Catholic church in Livingston. Interment to follow at Winton Cemetery in Winton, California. A celebration of life will be held from 4 to 8 pm on August 1st at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, California