Rafael was born in Chicago Illinois on Dec. 23, 1931 and moved to Southern California from Mexico at the age of 16.
Rafael survived by his wife, Dolores, and their six children, Joseph, Raymond, Johnny, Mark, Martin, and Maria, fourteen Grandchildren and five Great-Grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters, as well as countless loving family members.
At a very young age Rafael learned the value of hard work and landed a Job at Southern Pacific Railroad where he would work for 34 years and create life long friendships with fellow coworkers. Rafael found great pleasure in spending quality time with his family and friends, when Rafael was not entertaining by cooking his famous Tripas and listening to his Mexican music he would enjoy nurturing the plants in his garden.
Rafael was a strong patriarch of his family, and a good friend to all, a man who would give the shirt off his back to a friend in need. He was a loving father, grandfather and lucky enough to be a great grandfather. In his later years he enjoyed watching his grandchildren play in the yard as he and his wife Dolores would sit and reminisce on a fortunate life they had made together.
Rafael was a strong, proud and good man. He will be dearly missed by many.
