Rowena Aurora Rivera King

Rowena Aurora Rivera King died on Friday, June 4, 2021, after a long illness. She was born in El Paso, Texas, on Thursday, December 28, 1933, to Serveriano Rivera and Guadalupe Ordones Rivera, both of whom predeceased her. She was married to Dr. Elbert W. King at the time of his death.

Rowena had a long and fruitful career in higher education. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and French from the University of Texas at El Paso, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Romance Languages and Literatures. She obtained a Doctorate degree from the University of Colorado, where she specialized in Latin American Colonial and Contemporary Literature. She taught Latin American Literature, Spanish Literature and Hispanic Folk Art, as well as Spanish, French, and Portuguese at Colorado State University, the University of Colorado, Boulder, the University of Colorado, Denver, and the University of New Mexico, where she was a Professor of Spanish. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Universidas Autonoma del Paraguay, Ascuncion. Rowena also wrote articles, books and translations that dealt with Spanish and Latin American Literature, Chicano Literature and Hispanic Folk Traditions. She received research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment of the Arts. Her work is held in the Center for Southwest Research Collection, Zimmerman Library at the University of New Mexico.

Rowena is survived by her sister, Gloria Rivera Chavira; her brother, Ramone Roberto Rivera; her stepson, Brian W. King and wife, Nicole; her stepdaughter, Lesley S. King; as well as several nephews and nieces. She was predeceased in death by her brother, Dr. Raul Rivera.

A Eucharist Service will be held for Rowena on Monday, June 28, 2021, 10:00 a.m., at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 601 Montano Rd. NW. Special thanks to the staff of The Retreat Alzheimer's Specialty Care, Rio Rancho, NM for their care over the last almost ten years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, New Mexico Chapter.