Rick, 

You're on my mind a lot these days.  I always thought that you'd be the one to help me pick my Corvette, but you left us a little too soon for that to be the case, at least in person.  My wife found a Corvette on September 16th last year, and when we went to look at it, I can assure you that you were with me in spirit.  How I wish I had you with me now to know the right things to do in getting her all up to par.  I can see the cosmetic things pretty well, but I'd sure appreciate some angelic guidance on the workings.  

Anyway, it's hard to believe you've been gone for two years, but you are really never gone when you make the kind of impact on people's lives that you have.  That old Corvette song "Riding with Private Malone" rings for me, so if you'll ride along with me in Red Vel-Vette, it would be greatly appreciated.  

See you on the road again one day.

I knew Richard who I lost contact with many years ago. He and I were fraternity brothers at the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, Gamma Gamma chapter at UTEP back in the late 70's.  A group of us fraternity brothers have been trying to locate Richard for sometime now. I have just now learned of his passing and am informing other fraternity brothers in our alumni group of Richards passing. I remember that Richard was a 'car' man back then and I remember him having a hopped up little station wagon that was a 'runner' back in those days! On behalf of our TKE Alumni group, our heartfelt condolences to the family. Farewell my brother! Richard will always be remembered and may he RIP. 

Norma,

I didn't know and just discovered that we lost Richard.  I am guessing that it is never too late to say 'I'm So Sorry'.  I wish I could have been there for you during your difficult times but my thoughts and prayers go out to  you.

I love you - Sal

My old friend, I've been thinking more and more about you recently and wanted to look you up since we lost touch since we last met in 1991. It just so happens that recently I met someone here in Kuwait that used to be in El Paso, an American, that told me he could look you up and put us in touch.

Unfortunately it was not good news, I found out that you passed away last year. I cannot express to you my deep regret in not being able to look you up myself before. My dear friend, I remember all the good days we spent together. From the day we met and shared our passion for old cars/drag race cars I knew we'd be good friends. I remember you fondly always, as a good man, as a great friend. I pray for you and your family. I remember the times your mother insisted that I try apple juice even though I didn't like it, and I still don't!!

I'll always remember you and the great times we spent together, which to me will be some of the greatest moments in my life. See you in heaven my friend...

Rick,
You were always a great friend. I remember seeing  you a lot at Leo's on Montana when you worked at Pontiac. Al though I worked at a different dealership at the time you were always kind to me. I went to work for Rudolph Chevrolet on Mesa Street in 1996, shortly after that you also joined the Rudolph Chevrolet Team.   
We worked together for almost 10 years and it was great to know some one who also had the love and passion for Pontiacs as I have. Thank you for being a great friend, I will truly miss you. My thoughts and prayers will always be with you and your family.
Its Not Good Bye. It is just to  be a while, when we will   all  be together again. May God Bless you and all of your family.
                               Your Friend Always,
                             George A.  Atkins


I met Rick about 5 years ago when he sold me a Camaro.  Such a humble and professional guy. He always answered all my questions and was very knowledgeable. I wanted to contact him today, cause I wanted to upgrade my Camaro to a Corvette. I lost his business card, so I looked up the staff at the dealer website, but couldn't find him. So I googled him and ran into this. Rick, thanks for everything you did for me. You were a true professional. Rest in peace.

Richard was a 2 year old toddler when his brother, Sam, and I were married.  There was almost a 3 year age difference from our eldest son, Phillip.  Richard  would say that Sam was not his brother.  Sam was Phillip's Dad.  But Richard learned to pull rank when he visited us in California or we came to El Paso.  When Richard and Phil had a dispute he'd say, "Phillip, you have to do what I say, I'm your uncle!".   

Richard had a kind, generous, nonjudgmental personality. He will be missed.


        Richard was my youngest brother.  He was 18 years younger, so I have many memories of him as a little boy.  When he was 2 years old we liked to play football in my folks living room.  He was a little chunky then, and he would run at me full speed, and I was supposed to tackle him.  He would get a great kick out of that game. and never tired of it. 
       I also remember riding in my dad's car with Richard when he was 5 or 6 years old,  He and my dad had a game identifying cars that we passed.  He had a phenomenal memory, and he alway got the make, model and year right.  It was no surprise that he made a career in the auto industry.
       Richard was a very good son and looked in on my parents daily in their later years.  He grew to be a fine man, doing the work he loved, and with the family and friends he loved.  He fought his cancer courageously, and maintained a positive attitude until the very end.  
       He will always be my little brother , and I will miss him until we meet again.

Rick and I have been friends since about 1974 when he followed me home one day from near UTEP on Mesa St. I was a serious car guy and had built a custom hot rod Vega that was known all over the city. Well, Rick was also a car guy but was just getting into it back then and had a Vega wagon he wanted to fix up. He saw me on Mesa one afternoon and followed me all the way home to the far west side which was a long way to go since he lived all the way in north east on the other side of the mountain. I noticed someone following me and when I pulled up to my house sure enough there was Rick right behind me. He had lots of questions about my car and what I was planning for the future modifications on the car. We then talked about what he was looking into changing on his car. He had ideas where he wanted to take his car and I showed him what he needed to do and where to source the parts he would need and said I'd help him do the engine swap and get it running again. He wasn't as radical in the changes he wanted compared to where I was taking my car but his ideas made it into a nice car with much more power than it had and fun to drive. Over time we built more cars, had fun, he always wanted to help our buddies with their projects when he could. He was a good friend and was a great guy to buy a car from working at Pontiac or Chevrolet. He was always honest in his dealing with the public and took the time to know the product he sold and the competitors products. He was always looked up to by his co workers for help since nobody knew the products as well as Rick did. You could always trust Rick to do everything right and tell you the truth, then deliver just the right car or truck for what you needed. He was a rarity in the car business. Rick was my best friend for these past 45 years, I have an emptiness now since he's gone and miss him very much. We had a lot of good times, lot's of memories. We were all blessed to have had him in our lives. 


I knew Rick not for a long time but for a while.
Rick was a devoted husband.  l rarely saw him  without Norma by his side.
Rick was a man of God.
I never heard Rick said an unkind word about anyone, never.
Rick was a hard worker,  best Corvette salesman that I ever met.
Rick knew Pontiacs, GTOs and Firebirds. Some  might call him an expert on these cars, I would be one of those.
Rick always seemed happy and upbeat.  I never saw him in a  bad mood, always had a positive out look, I always felt better having been around him. 
Rick got sick, he fought ever so hard to get well, I never heard him complain, not once;  always postive, till the end.
Rick was my friend,  and I dearly  miss him.

          Reggie






I have had a great deal of trouble while attempting to figure out just how to place my thoughts into words.  When Richard passed, the only friend that I had, the one that remembered our shared childhood starting when we were running around in diapers has gone ahead.  I do not wish to lament my sense of loss but I choose instead to approach this from a different vantage point.  From this point on, whenever I see an F body or a classic GM muscle car I will remember Richard fondly.
I will miss him greatly.

Richard, miss you already.  I miss the lunches we used to have at my house.  I think of you every time I see pictures and frames that you put up on the wall for me.  Also, if one of the pictures is crooked, I say to you, "See I'm fixing it the way you used to."  I know you are in a far better place, but I do miss you and wish you were still here.  Love always.
Aunt Eva

Richard was the kindest man I have ever known.  He would always offer his help and or his advice.  He also had a wonderful sense of humor.  We loved to go back and forth to one another joking about something, anything usually to make my mother laugh, or drive her crazy.  My love of cars came directly from him.  He was a living car encyclopedia  and Haynes repair manual in one.  Richard had a Pontiac Fiero that I used to love to criticize for having a small six cylinder motor.  He would always respond with the details about it's suspension, etc.  One day he took me for a ride on Scenic Dr in it.  I never made fun of that car again...
Love you Richard and miss you dearly,
Boy

Rick has been a long time friend of mine for many years, it all started of course because of cars, big surprise Right?  Over the years  we worked together, played together,  and built several cars together.  One thing most people don't know about him was that he sort of had a (discomfort) on the upper level of Cielo vista mall. It is because you can feel the floor move as people walk by. So sometimes , when we were there, him, myself, and my brother, and he was just standing there,  we would jump up and down, which would make the floor move, yes, you can actually feel it. It used to drive him nuts, and would emphatically tell us to stop. Aw , such good times making him nervous.    I miss you Rick, Hope you are not worried about falling through the clouds of Heaven.

Rick was the first real friend I made in El Paso.   Some time in 2005, I was browsing an online car forum, and an instant message popped up from "Rick 88".   It said, "Hey, I see you live in El Paso...there are a group of us Fiero owners here.  Want to get together?"  The rest is history.

Rick brought me into our group of car fanatics.  Over the last 14 years we went on road trips together, attended car shows, or often just got together for lunch.  We bruised a lot of knuckles on our project cars over the years and had a blast doing it.  Rick never did succeed in selling me a new Corvette....but in 2015, he special ordered my wife's Camaro for her retirement.  It still puts a smile on her face every time she drives it.

Rick became like a brother to me over the years.  Nellie and I miss him terribly.  But I know he's saving a spot for us at the car show in Heaven.    



Richard and I met in January of 1976.  I am so glad I decided to go to that frat party that night because it would change my life forever. For the next 43 years, 29 years as a married couple, we would share good times and bad times, laughter and tears, but always much, much love. One of our favorite things to do was to take trips to New Mexico. His family was originally from New Mexico and for us it was truly our Land of Enchantment. We also took other trips which included taking our granddaughters to Disneyland, just as we had their daddy many years ago.  They have many memories of the good times that they shared.  And although I will miss him tremendously every day for the rest of my life, I thank God that I was blessed to have Richard's love and companionship for as long as I did. My Honeybunny, I love you then, now, and always. Your bunny, Norma.

Rick had one of the most sincere smiles.  I purchased a few cars from Rick, and swore one day to buy a Corvette with him.  I didn't make it to the Corvette, but I got much more in just knowing Rick.  His kind heart and passion for the happiness that cars can bring to someone, along with his ability to connect to the person made him a success in the car business, and a friend to all that knew him.  I never had the pleasure of meeting the rest of his family, but he spoke of his happy marriage often, and considered himself a fortunate man to have the family and friends that made him who he was.  To me, it was the rest of us that were lucky, and as usual, I feel badly to have not seen him recently.  

Rick, if and when I ever do buy that Corvette, it will be in your memory.  You'll live on in our memories. 

OBITUARY

Richard Edward Armijo

April 3, 1957 – March 23, 2019

Funeraria del Angel Central

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