Venito Vasquez

Venito (Ben) Vasquez

Venito (Ben) Vasquez, age 79, passed away on November 20, 2025. Born to Santos Vasquez and Juanita Esquivel in Eagle Pass, Texas. He was the fourth of nine children whose family followed the crops throughout the United States and settled in Watsonville, California.

He graduated from Watsonville High School and soon joined the United States Air Force where he was stationed in Lompoc, California prior to being sent to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico for his final assignment.

It was in Albuquerque where he met and eventually married the love of his life, Dorothy (Dodie) Vasquez. While working for his father-in-law's business, he attended the University of New Mexico. He worked for GTE Lenkurt before joining Sandia National Labs in an apprentice program. He retired from Sandia after thirty-one years of service as an Electronic Technician.

Venito was preceded in death by his father, Santos Vasquez; mother, Juanita Esquivel Vasquez; brothers, Santos Vasquez Jr., Enrique (Quico) Vasquez, and Andres Vasquez; sisters-in-law, Nellie Vasquez and Nora Vasquez; father-in-law, James Montoya; and mother-in-law, Adelina Montoya.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dodie Vasquez; his three children, Monica Vasquez, Matthew Vasquez, and Vanessa Vasquez (son-in-law, Juan Garcia); grandchildren, Lorenzo, Estevan and Elena Garcia; brothers, Porfirio, Victor (Mary Ellen), and Anthony Vasquez; sisters, Irene Vasquez and Linda Ruiz; sisters-in-law, Margaret Vasquez and Liz Vasquez; and godson, Kevin Valencia along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

We mourn the loss of a kind, humble, and intelligent man. It is important to remember how much joy and happiness Venito brought into our lives. Rest in peace, your spirit will forever remain alive within us.

Pallbearers are Juan Garcia, Lorenzo Garcia, Tim Valencia, Kevin Valencia, Lawrence Platero, and Joe Lente.

Honorary Pallbearers are Frits Toledo, Clarence Garcia, Estevan Garcia, Michael Tenorio, and Raymond Baros.

A visitation will be held Monday, December 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., at FRENCH - Westside Chapel, followed by a Rosary at 6:00 p.m.

A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., at St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Catholic Church, 5901 St. Joseph's Dr. NW - Albuquerque, NM 87120. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Please visit our online guestbook for Venito at www.FrenchFunerals.com.