Rita was born to Albino and Francisca Velasquez on May 22, 1929 in El Paso, Texas. She took pride in the fact that she and her sister, Ernie, helped at the family store in Socorro, TX. She learned the value of hard work early.
Rita graduated from Bowie High School with the class of 1948 alongside classmate Raul Armando Garibay. The high school sweethearts married on August 31, 1952, whereupon they started on a military life of travel and adventure. She passed away 22 days short of what would have been their 72nd anniversary. She was a loving wife and mother; family, faith and service were important to her.
Rita availed herself of different experiences and cultures as they traveled, learning doll-making, flower arranging, pattern making and Japanese cooking in Okinawa; doing ceramics, candlemaking and cake decorating for family, friends and special functions; and cooking and teaching Mexican cooking. Because of her talent for making tacos, enchiladas and pies, she was a wonderful partner for her husband as they traveled from Kentucky, Oklahoma, Okinawa, Kansas, Alabama, Uruguay, Virginia, Mexico City and Texas, over his 31 years in the U.S.Army.
Rita was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered for the American Red Cross (primarily at William Beaumont Army Medical Center) for more than 30 years. She was a co-founder and active member of the Bowie High School Golden Bears Social Club and was involved with the El Paso Quilters’ Association and Quilters Guild Northeast El Paso after adding quilting to her creative skills. Rita was an award-winning quilter, gifting numerous quilts to friends and family as well as to fundraisers for different organizations.
Rita treasured her role as mother to Riva Snell, Altus, OK; Rachel Garibay-Ritchie (Wayne), Midland, TX; Cissy Holland, Minneapolis, MN; Ty (Linda), Austin, TX. She could be counted on to chaperone a school field trip, produce a batch of cookies overnight, and make a costume when needed. Rita was grandmother to Stephanie Smith, Francis Smith Hammack, Petra and Mariah Ritchie, Matthew and Maria Holland and Tomas and Jacqueline Garibay; great-grandmother to 7 and great-great grandmother to 6.
She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings Albino, Luis, Anita, Angel, Emma, Josefina, Velia, Ernestina and Armando. She is survived by her loving family and little sister, Gloria Zubiate and many relatives and friends.
For the last seven years, Rita battled Multiple Myeloma but that did not stop her from enjoying life, family and quilting.
We would like to thank the doctors and staff at WBAMC, Dr Gabriela Hunko and the good people at Sun City Home Health for their care and support through the years.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Rita’s name to the American Red Cross, Bowie High School or a charity of your choice.
Visitation will take place Monday, August 19th at Funeraria Del Angel Central, 3839 Montana Ave from 10am-12 noon with a Scripture Service at 12:00 noon and graveside service at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery at 2:00 pm.
