Colonel Rafael Guerra Jr., 90, died peacefully in his Antelope, CA, home on October 1, 2021 surrounded by his loving family. A veteran of the Korean War, he proudly commanded many Air Force squadrons. Colonel Guerra was born on July 4, 1931, in El Paso, TX, to Rafael Guerra and Maria Valles. In 1950, he was drafted in the armed forces as an enlisted troop and later commissioned as an officer. He was assigned to a variety of bases including, Keesler AFB, MS, Kirtland AFB, NM, Randolph AFB, TX, March ARB, CA, Mather AFB, CA, McClellan AFB, CA, and he deployed to Japan and Korea in support of the Korean War. Colonel Guerra held a variety of positions in the Air Force to include Administration, Personnel Management, Logistics, and Inspector General. Colonel Guerra was a brave and loyal Airman, as well as a patient, loving and caring father.
Colonel Guerra grew up in Tucumcari, NM, and was a proud 1950 high school graduate of Tucumcari High School where he played football for the Rattlers. In 1990, he retired from the Air Force after 40 years of faithful service and he later moved to Albuquerque, NM and then to Sacramento, CA. During one of his trips to visit his brother, Arturo, in Los Angeles, he met his loving wife, Maria of 25 years. Colonel Guerra loved dining at restaurants, and he invited anyone to breakfast who wanted to go with him. He always shared stories from his Air Force career about the places he traveled and how he was fluent in international morse code. Colonel Guerra never missed anyone’s birthday and he played and sang his unique rendition of Happy Birthday on his guitar. He also loved visiting San Antonio, TX, especially during Fiesta Week, and he favored traveling by train to enhance the experience. He always found the beauty in everyone. Colonel Guerra lived life to the fullest and his smile lit up the room. Everywhere he went he was recognized by his big smile. Colonel Guerra brought so much joy to all those that he was around and he will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife, Maria, his children, Audrey, Lance, Keith, Ralph, Marcos and Silvia Lopez, Leticia Lapre, Susana Noel, Marie Osuna, Jose (Danny) Osuna, and Lissett Osuna, his former spouse, Cecilia Guerra, his twelve grandchildren, Camille, Andrew, Jayden, Ellie, Gregory, Mykel, Christopher, Maylan, Aiden, Myla, Alex, and Ava; and his three great-grandchildren. Hayden, Reece, and Cameron. His brother, Arturo Guerra and his sister, Eloisa Guerra, precede him in death.
A rosary and mass will take place at St. Clare Catholic Church, Roseville, CA on October 25, 2021, at 9:00 am with the burial immediately following at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
A funeral service for Rafael will be held Monday, October 25, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Clare Catholic Church, 1950 Junction Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LambertFuneral.com for the Guerra family.
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