Mario Escobedo

Few people called Mario “Mario.” Just about everybody knew him as “Scooby.” Why “Scooby?” Mario worked at the ASARCO smelting plant in El Paso for many years. He worked with many “gabachos,” as Mario would call them, who had a hard time saying Escobedo. What they said sounded more like “Escoo bee – doo” and eventually the nickname stuck. Everybody knew him as “El Scooby.”

Scooby was born on Monday, January 14, 1946 to Jesús and Martina Escobedo. He graduated from Bel-Air High School in 1965. It was at Bel-Air that he met the love of his life, Catalina Armagnac. Mario and Katy would have to wait to get married, however, as Mario was drafted into the Marine Corps. He fought bravely in the Vietnam War from 1967-1969 and saw combat in the Tet Offensive, one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War. It was during the Tet Offensive that Mario was lifted out of the battle field to return state-side to attend his mother’s funeral.

Scooby and Katy were married on September 6, 1970 and were married for 44 years. They celebrated the birth of their first child, Sylvia, on June 17, 1971. Their son Mario was born 4 years later on June 16, 1975.

Along with his wife Katy, Scooby was involved in ministry at the different local churches they attended. Their primary ministry involvement was with the Royal Rangers. Together, Scooby and Katy established or grew this ministry at each church they attended.

Mario loved to be called Scooby. But there was one name he loved to be called more than Scooby – Guelo. His pride and joy were his two granddaughters Hannah and Ariel. There was nothing Guelo wouldn’t do for his girls.

The sadness we feel at the loss of Scooby is deep. Deeper still is the joy and pride we feel as we remember and reflect on a life well-lived. We’ll miss you, Scooby!