Lucio attended Kofa High and Arizona Western College. Later, he was a City of Yuma employee. He enjoyed restoration of classic cars and traveling to car shows.
Lucio is survived by his daughter, Mary Rodriguez of Chandler, AZ; sons, Lucio M. Blanco of Chandler, AZ, and Miguel Blanco of Aberdeen, MO; his siblings, Simon Medina, Joe Medina, Lupe Torres, Dora Torres, Francisco Blanco, Ignacia Martin Del Campo and Raul Blanco; as well as four grandchildren, Celise Rodriguez, Brielle Rodriguez,Isla Rodriguez and Rylan Blanco. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Victor Blanco and Diego Medina; father, Manuel Blanco; mother, Mercedes Blanco.
A wake will be held at Funeraria del Angel on Thursday, March 8, 2012 from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with Rosary to be said at 7:00 P.M. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Friday, March 9, 2012 at 10:30 A.M..
Pallbearers will be Jose Hernandez, Benjamin Blanco and Francisco Blanco. Honorary Pallbearers are Lucio Blanco, Frank Blanco and Miguel Blanco.
Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria del Angel, Yuma, AZ.
When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Lucio Blanco who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Lucio was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Lucio knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.
Lucio was born on September 1, 1955 at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, Arizona. His parents were Mercedes and Manuel Blanco. Lucio was raised in Somerton, Arizona. Even as a youngster, Lucio learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.
As a young boy, Lucio was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Lucio was raised with nine siblings. He had Victor Blanco, Diego Medina, Simon Medina, Joe Medina, Lupe Torres, Dora Torres, Francisco Blanco, Ignacia Martin del Campo and Raul Blanco. Lucio had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Lucio, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.
In school, Lucio was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Lucio was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Lucio’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Kofa High School in 1973. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was the mechanics class.
Lucio’s practical work ethic carried over into his college years. His logical mind permitted him to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. He would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. He attended Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona.
Lucio was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Lucio was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Lucio came to expect his high standards of performance. Later in life, he became friends with "Tiny" from "The Saintz Car Club" and Angia & Willie Harmon.
Lucio was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Lucio would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Lucio was blessed with three children, Mary, Lucio and Miguel. They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Celise Rodriguez, Brielle Rodriguez, Isla Rodriguez and Rylan Blanco.
Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Lucio was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Lucio was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Lucio upheld his standards. His primary occupation was a road maintenance man. He was employed for the City of Yuma Street Division. Lucio was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.” He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. Unfortunately, is illness caused him to stop working with the City of Yuma.
Lucio approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were car restoration and collecting valuable items. Lucio was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.
Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Lucio to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. In high school, Lucio played football. Recreational sports included bowling and softball. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list was football.
Being generous with his time and energy, Lucio liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. He was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. His desire to uphold traditions and his ability to take charge of any type of project made him a tremendous asset. In high school, Lucio was a member of the DECA Club. Throughout his later years, Lucio was an active member of the Nostalgia & Saintz Car Club.
Faith was important to Lucio. He held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay he saw around him. For that reason he held deep spiritual beliefs that he was willing to share. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
As someone who placed a high value on showing gratitude, Lucio could graciously accept a “thank you” extended to him by those he helped. However, individual recognition wasn’t a motivating force for Lucio; rather, when he saw that there was a need to get something done, he was more than willing to give his time and energy in order to see it accomplished. Some of his most prestigious awards included various trophies in car show competitions.
When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Lucio used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Lucio had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included visiting family in California.
Lucio was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Lucio’s favorites was Twinkie a Dachshund. His family was rounded out by his Pit Bull, Sheila.
Lucio passed away on March 4, 2012 at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, Arizona. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Rodriguez of Chandler, AZ; sons, Lucio M. Blanco of Chandler, AZ, and Miguel Blanco of Aberdeen, MO; his siblings, Simon Medina, Joe Medina, Lupe Torres, Dora Torres, Francisco Blanco, Ignacia Martin Del Campo and Raul Blanco; as well as four grandchildren, Celise Rodriguez, Brielle Rodriguez,Isla Rodriguez and Rylan Blanco. The wake was held at Funeraria del Angel on Thursday, March 8, 2012 from 5:00 P. M. to 9:00 P. M. With Rosary to be said at 7:00 P. M. Funeral Mass was held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Friday, March 9, 2012 at 10:30 A. M.
All who knew him would agree that Lucio was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Lucio Blanco did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.
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