Rufino "Tino" Rodriguez

Rufino "Tino" Rodriguez, 81 of Fort Sumner, NM passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales following an illness. He was born September 16, 1941 in Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico.

Tino made his home in Fort Sumner in 1978. He worked for Sprout's Cafe, as a welder for Mitchell's Windmill for 37 years. He also worked for Anne Fincke for 18 years as a gardener. Tino retired in 2013. In his spare time he mowed lawns for several Fort Sumner residents. He also volunteered time as maintenance for The Church on The Hill.

Tino is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Juan Rodriguez Rojas, and a sister Maristel Rojas.

Survivors include his wife Betty Rodriguez of the home in Fort Sumner, a daughter Beatrice Rodriguez Mendoza of El Paso, TX, and a son Felipe Rodriguez of Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico; grandchildren, Myra Mendoza and Eduardo Mendoza of Fort Sumner, Diana Rodriguez, Alexis Rodriguez, and Jesus Rodriguez all of Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Also surviving is Betty's family, daughter Sheena Martin of Fort Sumner, son Dean White of Clovis, grandchildren Justin White of Albuquerque, Jacob White of Sho Lo, AZ, Jace White of Phoenix, AZ, and Lisa White of Clovis, a sister in law Nancy (Bill) Kilgore of Roswell, along with Tino's fur baby Oso, and grand fur babies She-She and Kuro.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm Monday, January 30, 2023 at The Church on The Hill with Anna Teeter Gentile and Richard Terrell officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Eduardo Mendoza, Jose Sosa, Derrill Mitchell, Mark Kilgore, Jerry Joe Gonzales, and Robert Kenyon.

Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311.