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Ruben Gonzales Obituary
Ruben Gonzales
Ruban leaves his wife of 56 years, Phyllis; and sons, Mark, Dave and Tim; and their children.
He enjoyed racing his stock car, his many years on the national ski patrol, square dancing, wood working, traveling, and having coffee with his friends.
A private family service will be held in Anacortes, WA.
Memorials may be made to Providence Hospice of Snohomish County.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ruben Gonzales
2 Entries
March 12, 2011
March 12, 2011
Our sympathy and condolences to Phyllis and family at this time of such a loss.
Ruben, Ken, Neil and I started teaching together at Cascade Elementary School, Marysville in 1959. Being newcomers, we struck up a great team friendship. We were the "guys" in a female world at that time. Ruben, being a little older, with an easy going temperment, was a guiding light for me. He was a master at handling discipline and I was always greatful for his tips and techniques that made teaching easier for me over my years.
The four years spent with him and the others were the best years of my career. The after school volleyball matches, long discussions, and dinners at each others homes was the greatest.
After I left Cascade and Ruben quit teaching, we slowly drifted apart. As the saying goes, you don't know what you've lost until you have it no longer. Ruben, I will always remember you. You were one of the best.
Robert Barbeau, Stanwood
Bob Landles
February 13, 2011
My heart goes out to Phyllis and the family at this difficult time.
Ruben was a true friend. I cherished the time we spent together,as a co-worker, continuing coffees with a few of his friends after his retirement, and continuing after my retirement ten years later. I always enjoyed the conversations over a cup of coffee, talking about anything and everything, from events of the day, occasionally about local politics, and always about gardening and family, and how each other was doing. While we met only occasionally, we shared over two decades of coffee, conversation and friendship.
I'll miss his easygoing conversation and companionship, and generous, outgoing nature. And our discussions about gardening.
My yard is full of examples of his generosity, with plants he was culling from his garden. A mock orange, that has multiplied abundently; an apple tree that was not the right variety and that he wanted out of his garden; a vine maple he wanted removed by his back fence; a small cedar blocking too much light; bulbs, broken concrete rubble that now forms a rock wall for a raised garden in my yard, and more...
I'll have these growing things to remind me of the friendship we shared, and I'll miss my friend Ruben and the coffee times we shared together.
May God bless the family and be with you at this time.
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