Rudy Rodriguez

Rudy Rodriguez
Rudy Rodriguez of Santa Maria, California, died peacefully on November 2, 2010, in Waterloo, Iowa, after a courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was 82 years old.
Born on March 11, 1928, in Tulare, California, the Rodriguez family soon thereafter made their home in Santa Maria. Rudy attended Fairlawn Elementary School, El Camino Junior High School, and Santa Maria High School, graduating with the class of 1946. After joining the National Guard, Rudy attended trade school and became an accomplished upholsterer. As the Korean War broke out, Rudy and many other local guardsmen were designated U.S. Army personnel, and in 1951, shipped to Japan for training in preparation for duty in Korea.
Upon coming home from the War, Rudy returned to the upholstery trade. In 1953 he married Betty Pearson. While Betty was expecting their first child, Rudy opened Rodriguez Upholstery on the 100 block of South McClelland. After a few years and the birth of his second child, and sparked by his entrepreneurial spirit and never-ending energy, Rudy decided to go into the restaurant business. In 1960 he opened Quito's Mexican Restaurant on East Jones Street. Rudy later opened Quito's locations in Salinas and Napa, and along with friend and partner Harvey Allen, re-opened the popular Rick's Rancho. He operated Quito's Restaurant at the East Jones Street location until it outgrew the building, and in 1974, moved just steps away to the South Broadway location. Quito's was in business nearly 50 years. Rudy also was a general building contractor. Rudy had no desire to retire. He enjoyed getting up early every day and going into work, and continued to do this only until his disease made it impossible.
In his active years, Rudy was a member of the Elks Lodge, No. 1538, and Kiwanis Club. Most of all, Rudy was passionate about tennis, especially in his later years, willing and eager to challenge players much younger than him.
Rudy is survived by his wife, Betty, son Vincent Rodriguez and his wife Sally of Santa Maria; daughter Lisa McClain and her husband Kelly of Waterloo, Iowa; son Paul Rodriguez and his wife Ann of Valencia, California; eight grandchildren: Jackie Rodriguez Michael, Joe Rodriguez, and Lee Rodriguez of Santa Maria; Garrett McClain, Evan McClain, and Alec McClain of Waterloo, Iowa; Malone Rodriguez and Layton Rodriguez of Valencia, California; five great-grand children; sisters Vera Bowers of Napa, California, and Edna Draper and her husband Jim Draper of Minden, Nevada; brother Ray Rodriguez of Ensenada, Mexico; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Rudy is preceded in death by his brothers Al Rodriguez and Urbano Rodriguez, and sisters Minnie Della Bitta and Tina Rodriguez.
A funeral service will be held Monday, November 22, 2010, at 11:00 a.m., in the Chapel of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. There will then be a graveside service at the Santa Maria Cemetery.
Friends, if they so desire, or in lieu of flowers, may make a donation to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at LBDA.org.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory and Memory Gardens.

Dudley-Hoffman
Mortuary & Crematory
(805) 922-8463
www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com