Raul Lopez

Raul Lopez, 89, was born on August 1, 1932 and passed away on February 24, 2022. He was born in Pueblo, Colorado to Petra Luna and Manuel (Vivian) Lopez, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Sophie Lopez, his son Christopher Lopez, daughter Cathryn (Michael) Sanchez, son Craig (Roberta) Lopez, daughter Cynthia Pacheco (Robert); grandchildren Alicia Sanchez, Jade Lopez, Haven Lopez, Drew Lopez, Jordan Pacheco, great grand-daughter Harper Sanchez; puppy dog Lola; brother Gustavo (Lupe) Lopez, brother Armando (Becky) Lopez, brother Manuel (Kathy) Lopez, brother Jaime Lopez, and numerous relatives and friends.

He served in the US Air Force, 1952-1956 as a Staff Sargent and Airborne Radio Operator aboard a B-36 aircraft. After his service, he worked for a railroad out of Colorado for a short time, before he told the railroad that he had to leave because he had to go home to marry Sophie. He began working at the Colorado State Hospital as a psych tech and married Sophie in 1960. He continued as a mental health worker for 30 years at the hospital, retiring in 1987. He often said that he really loved working at the hospital.

Over the next 28 years, he had several part-time jobs, including maintenance at the Pueblo Mall, Chemical Dependency Counselor at Crossroads Managed Care Systems, ESL instructor for District 60, counseling adolescents at the Pueblo Boys Ranch and Program Technician at Pueblo Diversified Industries teaching classes for individuals with intellectual disabilities. He loved the people he taught at PDI and said they were the best people he ever worked for.

He lived his life taking care of others, putting others before himself and he was extremely loyal. Above all and most important to him, was always his family.

He loved his wife Sophie and she was so very special to him. He waited on her like a queen and she was very blessed to have him. He loved to dance and when they were younger, they always used to go out dancing with Sophie’s sisters and their husbands. Up until he had trouble walking, he was still trying to help her and would always tell her loved her. He loved his four children and he and Sophie gave them everything they could and more. He would always say how proud he was of them. After his children became adults, he and Sophie babysat, watched and helped to raise their five grandchildren. They were so proud of their grandchildren. Raul was also very appreciative and proud of his daughter-in-law and two son-in-laws. Raul and his family were very grateful for the compassion and care provided by his caregivers Rebecca, Wendy, Peggy and Ines.

He had a spark in his soul and was full of life and laughter. He was so fun to be around and he made you feel special. He was funny, witty and silly. We remember him standing in the door or anywhere in the house, smiling, snapping his fingers and doing a little dance. He was always making up words or rhyming things. He would call the dog “doga”, cookies, “cookas”, and his daughter Cynthia “Cincha”. He would say he was so pretty he couldn’t help it. He would refer to his kids and grandkids as “my Cathy”, “my Craigy”, “my Cyncha and (my Chrissy”). He told his daughter-in-law Robbi and his son-in-law Mike that they were guaranteed saint hood for marrying his kids. Alicia remembers him calling her “my Lecy”, that he was the best dance partner she ever had and that he would iron her pants with permanent creases, like he had always done with his pants. Jade remembers when he would take her home from Freed, she would beat him to the car, hide on the side, jump out and scare him and he would yell, "Jade! Damn you!”, every time. Haven remembers that while dancing with him at Jade’s graduation party, he got a caramel sucker stuck in his dentures and they couldn't stop laughing. Drew remembers how he showed him how a man truly loves his family. He also remembers his mom taking him wrapped up like a little burrito to grandpas who would be waiting with his arms wide open and a smile as big and bright as the sun, and grandpa taking him into his arms, laying him down on the bed and unwrapping his little burrito. Jordan remembers going to walk with him and Lola at the River Walk or Mineral Palace Park, and him helping her make books out of paper. Harper loved to play with her Grandpa Raul. He would make her laugh and they would have so much fun.

He was our friend and protector. He gave everything and did everything he possibly could for us. He loved us so much and he was so proud of us. He truly walked the walk, and was always waiting for us with open arms. You will be sorely missed Dad, thank you for being our anchor, for being so funny, for always being there for us and for being the beautiful person you were. Your example and heart will forever be our guiding light and a measure of how to live and how to love others. We love you Dad.

A rosary for Raul will be held Monday, March 7, 2022 at 6:00 PM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 421 Clark Street, Pueblo, Colorado 81003. A mass funeral will occur Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 12:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.imperialfunerals.com for the Lopez family.