Richard C. "Dick" Gonzales

Richard C. Gonzales (Dick), deeply loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, son and friend passed gracefully from this life to never-ending life on Sunday, October 18, 2015. Born on August 23, 1932, in Albuquerque, NM, he had just celebrated his 83rd birthday. In his early teen years Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was Honorably Discharged in 1948 and has been a Lifetime Member of the DAV, Local Chapter 33 in Albuquerque. He was an avid outdoorsman, successful big game hunter, fisherman and Advocate for Concerned Sportsmen of New Mexico. Richard was also an heir to the Atrisco Land Grant and a member of San Felipe Catholic Church. He began working at Sandia National Laboratories in 1957, retiring as a Section Supervisor in 1985. Richard was a New Mexico licensed General Contractor (GB98) for 35 years.
Beginning as a member of the Young Democrats of New Mexico, Richard was an active member and party official of the Democratic Party. He participated in many local and state elections; he assisted his wife, Emma C. Gonzales, in her successful campaigns for Bernalillo County Clerk. Richard's political activism resulted in many lifelong friendships with prominent local, state, national elected officials and party members. On October 6, 1979, at the invitation of President Jimmy Carter, Richard and Emma traveled with a contingent of prominent New Mexicans to Washington DC to meet Pope John Paul II.
Richard was known for his compassion and generosity, always there to help a person in need and especially his family; he was a man of impeccable integrity. He was the type of person who not only lit up a room by his engaging smile, but also by how he related to them. He was kind, welcoming, thoughtful and loving with a sweet playful sense of humor. He loved working in his workshop, his garden and tending to his grape vines and fruit trees. His many hobbies included inventing his own tools and artistic welding, as well as participating in his son James' ice hockey activities. Richard and Emma loved traveling, visiting places throughout the United States including Hawaii and Alaska; international travel to Spain, North Africa, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico.
Richard is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Emma (Cordova) Gonzales; his loving children, Sandrea (Sandi) Gonzales, Richard L. Gonzales and Kathryn Lynch, James Gonzales and wife Shelly; his cherished grandchildren, Catherine Compton and husband Chris, Jennifer Burnett and husband Troy, Sabrina Smith, Christina Gonzales, Tricia Gonzales and Kalie Gonzales; and cherished great-grandchildren, Emma Rose Burnett, Zane Compton, Lani Burnett and Levi Priddy. He is also survived by his sisters, Eva Chavez and husband Dennis, Carmen Rodriguez and husband Mickey and brother, Jake Gonzales. Richard leaves behind many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins. Also touching his life were his many dear friends. Richard was preceded in death by his mother, Barbarita Apodaca Gonzales-Carley; father, Jacobo Gonzales; step-father, Richard Carley; as well as his brothers, Albert and Arthur Gonzales.
The family is deeply grateful to the wonderful caretakers who helped us through this difficult time: nephew Mike Rodriguez; Home Companion Care, Wilma Ulibarri; MaheaLani Dodd and the Anna Kaseman Presbyterian Hospice compassionate staff; and the Albuquerque Veteran's Hospital Staff.
A Memorial Mass will be held Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 619 Copper NW, Albuquerque. Inurnment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to New Mexico Parkinson's Disease Coalition at www.nmparkinson.org / PO Box 35091, Albuquerque, NM 87176.



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