Richard Apodaca Zubiate, 93, peacefully went to be with our Lord on Wednesday, October 24, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He was a graduate of Bowie High School, Class of 1943, where he served as Student Body President and was active in Track and Field. He attended Texas College of Mines where he studied architecture. He was a World War II veteran where he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Signal Corps and was trained as a High Speed Manual Radio Operator. Later, he was a member of the El Paso Ham Radio Club for many years. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he was employed by The El Paso Natural Gas Company and retired after 30 years of service in the Engineering Department. Richard had varied interests including: learning about and riding trains, studying history, watching wildlife documentaries and appreciating good music. His greatest joys were dancing to big band music with his beloved wife and daughters, as well as spending quality time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Evangelina Valdes Zubiate, and son Richard (Dickie) Zubiate, Jr. He is survived by his three daughters, Corinne Fredericks (Peter) of Irvine, CA, Virginia Burciaga (Gilbert) of Austin, TX, and Elizabeth Kreager (Chris) of Bellingham, WA., eleven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 29 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm with rosary beginning at 7:00pm at Martin Funeral Home Central, located at 3839 Montana Avenue. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, October 30, at 9:00am at St. Patrick Cathedral, located at 1118 N. Mesa. Interment immediately following at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery at 10:30am. Pallbearers: Peter Fredericks, Gilbert Burciaga, Chris Kreager, Michael Fredericks, Andrew Fredericks, Greg Burciaga, Nick Kreager, Richard Zubiate III, Daniel Zubiate, and Daniel Ramirez. We’ll miss you, Daddy!