Rufino Martinez Barragan passed away at the age of 102 in Yuba City, California. He was born May 15, 1922 in San Marcos, Oaxaca, Mexico to Corazon Barragan and Francisca Martinez. He is preceded in death by both parents as well as all his siblings except his sister, Adelfa Barragan Cortez of Mexico City, Mexico.
Rufino was married to his first wife, Teodora Marin (d. 2004) from 1949 to 1959. They had four sons, Corazon (d. 1956), Jorge Sr., of Killeen, Texas (Adeline - d. 2008) Adalberto (d. 2010), and Marcos (d. 1962).
In the early 1960s, Rufino migrated to the United States where he eventually met and married Juanita Lozano (d. 1988) in 1964. Together they had five children, Angel Sr. (Sylvia) of Manteca, Alfred (Rama) of San Jose, Sandra (Magdaleno Jr.) and Peggy of Yuba City and Maria (Alberto Sr.) of Olivehurst, California.
Rufino has 21 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 17 great-great grandchildren, whom he loved with all his heart. Rufino loved spending time with as many as he could, always telling them about his life and his experiences. He was very proud of the men and women they were becoming and watching them grow was one of his favorite things to do. He was preceded in death by his grandsons, Vincent Jonathan (d. 1994) and Richard Matthew (d. 2020) and now joins them in heaven.
In his lifetime, Rufino worked many jobs. He came to the United States under the Bracero program, where he was contracted to pick crops in the agricultural fields. Later he would work in the flower nurseries (this is where he met Juanita) as well as the canneries. He spent some time as a garbage man, but the majority of his life he worked as a landscaper until he retired in 1994.
After his wife passed away, he dedicated his time and life to his family. He truly lived life through simple pleasures like watching the San Francisco Giants and the 49ers. He watched any soccer game being televised and especially loved his Spanish novelas. He enjoyed telling stories from throughout his life, going to the casino and just being in the presence of his family. Rufino’s family will forever remember him as a strong and loving Dad and Grandpa, always giving the little ones candies and treats.
Services will be held at Lima Family Erickson Memorial Chapel on 710 Willow Street, San Jose on Thursday, June 20, 2024, with visitation beginning at 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. with a rosary at 6:00 P.M. A funeral mass will be held for Rufino at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, June 21, 2024 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 2020 E. San Antonio Street, San Jose. Burial to follow at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln Street, Santa Clara.
The family will host a reception for friends and family to join in celebrating the life Rufino shared. It will be held at 4:00 P.M. at the San Jose Police Officers' Association Hall 1151 N. 4th Street, San Jose.
