Ruben Anthony Padilla

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 Ruben Anthony Padilla 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, Ruben was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Ruben knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Ruben was born on October 13, 1959 at Los Angeles County General Hospital in Los Angeles, California. His parents were Ruth and Ladis Padilla. Ruben was raised in Azusa, California. Even as a youngster, Ruben 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, Ruben 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. Ruben was raised with nine siblings. He had John, Lupe, Richard, Dora, Pauline, Rosie, Helen, Alice and Liza. Ruben 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 Ruben, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Ruben's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Ruben enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. In his spare time he liked watching Drag Racing. Ruben's memorable achievements included.

In school, Ruben 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, Ruben was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Ruben’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Gladstone High School in 1977. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Band. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Miss Simmons. Band president, drum captain, music excellence awards.

Ruben’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. Ruben’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped him stay on track but often put him ahead of schedule. When Ruben saw the need or benefit, he would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. He earned his Associates degree in business.

Ruben 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 Ruben 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 Ruben came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were his neighbor Mike. Later in life, he became friends with Nancy, John, Anna and Benny.

An objective and conscientious individual, Ruben reveled in the security of his family. On November 12, 1983 Ruben exchanged wedding vows with Kimberly Lynn Caughey at the Saint Francis of Rome of Azusa, California. One of Ruben’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Ruben 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. Ruben 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. Ruben was blessed with one child, Amy.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Ruben 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, Ruben 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, Ruben upheld his standards. His primary occupation was Automotive and Telecommunications. He was employed for 5 years by Winston Tires, 3 years by Pep Boys, 3 years by Firestone and 7 years by Verizon. Ruben was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Ruben 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 collecting Elvis memorabilia and following sports and Indy car racing. Ruben 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 Ruben to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball, college football, college basketball and Indy racing.

Being generous with his time and energy, Ruben 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, Ruben was a member of the Band.

A civic-minded person, Ruben was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. He was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Politically, Ruben was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. During these years, Ruben applied his analytical intellect to problem solving and so was an asset on most committees.

Faith was important to Ruben. 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 Faith Community Church for 5 years.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Ruben 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. Ruben had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included Hawaii, Las Vegas, San Diego and the Beach.

Ruben was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Ruben’s favorites was Skittles, a dwarf hamster. They were best friends for 2 years. His family was rounded out by his bunny named Bunny and Bubba, a parakeet.

When Ruben’s retirement finally arrived in became disabled in 2007, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. In many ways, Ruben loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Ruben passed away on November 9, 2012 at Citrus Valley Hospice. He is survived by his wife Kim, his daughter Amy, sisters Dora, Helen, Alice, Pauline and Rosie, brother Johnny and many nieces and nephews. Services were held at Faith Community Church. Ruben was laid to rest in Oakdale Memorial Park in Glendora, California.

All who knew him would agree that Ruben 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. Ruben Anthony Padilla 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.