Ricardo Gonzales

Ricardo (Richard) Rivera Gonzales, 95, resident of Farmington, NM for the past eight years, passed away on December 12, 2022.

He was the youngest of nine children of Geronimo and Paulina Gonzales and he grew up in Pecos, NM.  All his siblings have preceded him in death. 

After graduating from Pecos High School he was drafted into the Army and upon completing his basic training was assigned to work as a clerk typist in General Headquarters during the Japanese occupation where he spent the bulk of his tour in Japan.

When he completed his tour of duty, he married and resided in Santa Fe, NM where he retired from Sears and Roebuck as the automotive manager after 30 years of service and became a real estate agent for several years. 

He was a type of renaissance man.  Although he only had a high school education, he was self-taught in classical music, philosophy, and slide rule operation.  Around 1974, with limited building experience, built a two story four bedroom passive solar home with his three young sons. 

He took pride in his New Mexico ancestry which dated back to 1598.  He was especially adept at researching New Mexico history and New Mexico genealogy and was used as a resource by other researchers. 

All his life he was a lover of the outdoors.  He was an avid horseman, fly fisherman, and hunter (both rifle and bow).  He tried vegetable gardening and made his own compost.  He loved to experience beautiful sunsets.   

He is the father of ten children, two of which have preceded him in death.  He is survived by his eight remaining children, numerous grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

A Rosary at 11:20am followed by Funeral mass will be at 12 noon on Wednesday, December 28 at the Risen Savior Catholic Church, 7701 Wyoming Blvd. N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87109.   Internment to follow after the mass.