Ruben Baca

1935-2018 Ruben Albert Baca, age 82, husband of Barbara Baca, was called to be with the Lord following a brave five year battle with cancer. He was born in 1935, in Belen, New Mexico, to the late Macedonio and Angelina Baca. Ruben was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church where, in 1976, he and his wife served as Padrinos Del Santo Nino. He attended Saint Mary’s Catholic School and Belen High School. Ruben proudly served in the U. S. Air National Guard. He was a long-time auto dealer in Belen and Mountainair, New Mexico and was a founding member of the General Motors Minority Association in Detroit. He worked with his father and brothers at Baca Oil Co. and Baca Auto Sales. Later his wife, Barbara and his two sons, John and Rodney, joined him at Baca Chevrolet and Baca Pontiac in Rio Communities. Together with his family, Ruben was active in his community. He was one of the founding organizers for the Bank of Belen. Ruben sponsored the First Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Balloon Fiesta and the first Hispano Chamber Matanza. He delighted in donating automobiles to Our Lady of Belen Fiesta Raffle, Our Lady of Belen Spanish Choir Organ Raffle, the Jerusalem Church and Community, New Mexico Lobos and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Ruben also enjoyed a successful career in real estate where he was an agent at Exit Altura in Los Lunas. His dedication to the community and outstanding business ethics were recognized when he was the recipient of several awards including Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award, Top 100 Hispanic Businessmen in the US, and Citizen of the Year-Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Ruben’s keen work ethic was only rivaled by his positive spirit and his notable gift to make people smile either by a well told joke or with his infectious smile, blessings, kisses and hugs. Ruben enjoyed drag racing, motorcycles, hot air balloons and flying airplanes. He was an avid reader and especially enjoyed time with family and friends. Ruben was a deeply devoted family man and, despite his illness, made it a priority to pray for everyone around him. We are ever so thankful that God blessed us with such an extraordinarily loving, hardworking and positive-spirited husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle and friend. His favorite philosophy is to, "Glorify God, To Glorify God’s Creations, To Love and Be Loved and To Be True to One’s Self." Ruben may have had "just a little bit of cancer" but he never let it get him down and he fought it with all of his heart. We will miss him greatly and forever embrace his love. We love you, Dad. Ruben is preceded in death by his loving parents, Macedonio and Angelina Baca; and his brothers-in-law, Joe Sanchez, Mike Baca, and Marty Sachs. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 62 years, Barbara Baca; their three loving children, John Baca and fiancee, Grace Flores, Rodney Baca and wife, Yolanda, and Franciene Baca and husband, Joseph; his four grandchildren, Crystal, Danielle, Christine and Juli; his three great-grandchildren, Emma Rose, Malia and Bentley; his loving siblings, Jane Sanchez, Elsie Baca Sachs, LeRoy Baca and wife, Sylvia, Margaret Baca and husband, Ned, Tina Baca, and Mac Baca and wife, Anita; and all of his loving nieces and nephews. A viewing will take place on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. at Romero Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Mr. and Mrs. James Sanchez. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11:30 a.m., officiated by Father Nigel Clement. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Danny Sachs, and Andrew, Phillip, Michael, Roberto, Paul and Mark Baca. Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Salazar, Diego Castillo, Ruben Marquez and Raymond Getman. Readers will be Rhona Espinosa, Renee Chavez and Kristi Sanchez, along with honored alter server Marcus Rimorin. Please sign Ruben’s online tribute at: www.romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home 609 N. Main St. Belen, NM