Lalo Padilla

Adelaido F. Padilla, age 83, of Vaughn, was born March 28, 1934 in Lake Arthur, New Mexico. He passed away on Wednesday April 12, 2017 at Guadalupe County Hospital in Santa Rosa. Lalo, as everyone affectionately referred to him, was raised by his beloved mother, Betty Padilla and Leandro Cordova in Santa Rosa, NM. Lalo grew up surrounded by his aunts, uncles and his 9 cousins, the Gomez’s, who treated him like the tenth sibling. He met the love of his life, Ramona Chavez, when he was in high school and they married right after he graduated. Lalo and Ramona had two sons, who were his pride and joy, Louie and Albert. Lalo went to work for the railroad for 25 years and later settled in Vaughn, NM where he opened the first of several small businesses, Lalo’s Cash & Carry. Lalo was a true patriarch, caring for his entire family, his friends, and his neighbors by serving Guadalupe County and the town of Vaughn as a County Commissioner, a City Councilman and Probate Judge. Lalo was an extremely generous man and very devoted to his community and the Catholic Church. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, golfing in Santa Rosa, going to the casino and playing poker with his buddies. Lalo was preceded in death by his wife Ramona Padilla, his mother Betty Cordova and Leandro Cordova, his eldest son Louie Padilla and many other family members and cherished friends. Lalo was survived by his youngest son Albert Padilla and his wife Deborah, his grandchildren Erica Padilla, Janell Navarro and her husband Rudy, Samuel and Ann Marie Padilla, Julia Sanchez and Dennica Torres and her husband Matthew. Great-granddaughters Darion Rose, Ciana Rose, Enmarae Rose and Amara Rose. Lalo’s sister Sonia Raftery, her husband Tim and their children Hiram Morales, his daughter Amaya and Eliza Romero her husband Mike and their two children Adezra and Andrew. His cousin Maguin Padilla and his family. His uncle Benny and aunt Lorraine Padilla and their family. His wife Ramona’s family, Ernie and Rose Chavez, Carlos and Lizzie Romero, Leroy and Annie Chavez, Victor and Margaret Padilla, Fernie Chavez and their families. In addition to numerous other family members and friends who loved him dearly. Lalo’s life will be celebrated with a 6:00 pm rosary on Monday, April 17, 2017 at St. Rose of Lima Church in Santa Rosa, NM and with a second rosary, Mariachi Mass at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vaughn, NM with Fr. Sotero A. Sena and Fr. Christopher Bernabe officiating. Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Vaughn. Serving as Pallbearers will be Alonso Padilla, Andre Padilla, Joe “Pappy” Chavez, Ernest Aragon, Kennedy Marquez and Billy Gomez. The honorary pall bearers are Benny Padilla, Maguin Padilla, Gilbert Gomez, Edward Gomez, Daniel Gomez, David Gomez, Fernie Chavez, Ernie Chavez, Victor Padilla, Leroy Campos, Carlos Romero, Hiram Morales, William Reid, Jeremy Romero, Robert Campos, Arthur Marquez, Delbert Marquez, Dennis Romero, Chris Padilla, James Moncayo and Raymond Ulibarri. All services for Lalo have been entrusted to the Chavez Funeral Home of Santa Rosa. To place an online condolence please visit our website at www.chavezfuneralhome.co