John V. "Johnny" Rojas

1951 - 2023

John "Johnny" V Rojas
08/08/1951 - 05/12/2023
With deep sadness, we announce the passing of John V. Rojas, age 71, on May 12th, 2023. Born on August 8th, 1951, in Houston, Texas, John grew up and lived in the Southeast Houston neighborhood of Manchester.

Known as "Johnny" in his younger years, John proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1971 to 1974, as an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist during the Vietnam War. He provided operational support at bases in Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea. Sergeant Rojas' expertise played a vital role in missions involving aircraft such as the C-47 passenger airplane, the EC-47 electronic reconnaissance aircraft, and the KC-135 Stratotanker. When he returned to the U.S., John was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio as a member of the 17th Bombardment Wing - Strategic Air Command supporting aerial refueling missions. After active duty, John continued to serve in the Reserves based at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston as part of the 704th Tactical Airlift Training Squadron. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

John retired from the City of Pasadena in 2010, where he worked as a Senior Radio Technician for over 28 years. He played an instrumental part in maintaining the critical communication infrastructure that served various departments within the city including the police and fire departments. On multiple occasions, John was recognized by the Mayor of Pasadena for his enduring service, leadership and dedication to the city.

John's passion for radios was a significant part of his life. He operated an amateur radio station from his home under the callsign WD5DHA, connecting with other ham radio operators across the world. His enthusiasm even led him to establish radio communication with the International Space Station. He had a fascination with technology and was an early adopter of personal computers and the internet. He spent over two decades using the internet to research and document the family genealogy. Through this work, he unveiled untold stories and made connections with relatives from various family branches. Another hobby that he greatly enjoyed was working to maintain and improve his trucks and tractors. John took meticulous care of his vehicles and enjoyed taking his truck out on road trips to explore the Texas Hill Country with his family.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Beatrice Rojas, and his sister Josie Lightfoot. John is survived by his son, David, brother, Jesse, and nephews and nieces, Martin, Jonathan, Vital, Randall, Valerie, and Monica.

A memorial service to honor his life will be held at Houston National Cemetery on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023, at 10am. Friends and family are invited to attend.