Elfego "Albert" Campos

Elfego Albert "Friggie" Campos, 88 of Santa Rosa, NM passed away Wednesday evening, June 28, 2017 at the V.A. Medical Center in Albuquerque. A rosary followed by the Mass of Christian burial will begin at 10am Friday, July 7, 2017 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Santa Rosa, NM. Interment of cremains with military honors will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Honorary urn bearers will be his grandchildren, many friends, all past employees of the restaurants he owned and the City of Santa Rosa employees while he served as councilman and Mayor, and his many health care providers at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Elfego Albert Campos was a humble inspirational servant. He lived by a bible verse from 2 Timothy 2:24: the servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, and patient when wronged. He knew the talents of his children and sacrificed so they would become good at what they liked to do, not just at what they had to do! He was a unique kind of servant leader who helped to make sure the highest needs of others were met. He had an uplifting greeting for everyone. He might say, Hello Kid or Hello Tiger or give you one of the hardest finger snaps you’ve ever experienced. By inspiring others, he cut a path for them to see into their future. He wanted everyone to succeed! He wasn’t looking for fanfare or paybacks. In Philippians 1:4; the Apostle Paul added, each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but the interests of others as well. He wanted everyone to grow, have the courage to look towards the unknown, be able to go there, and then inspire others to get there as well. It was commonly known, if you needed help, ask Friggie (a nickname he was fondly called most of his life). He was meticulous and customer oriented. If you worked for him (during his 35 year restaurant career where he started La Fiesta with his uncle Jose Campos, Sr., Lettie’s Restaurant named for his daughter, and the Adobe Restaurant) you earned your pay and got a positive message, directly from him, with your check. He instilled strong work ethics and integrity within others. People enjoyed working with him because he shared his affectionate smile and witty sense of humor with them. He always pitched in to help finish the day’s work; and, if an employee (they were family members to him) needed a little financial boost, he didn’t hesitate to reach into his pocket. Customers loved to stop by for a cup of coffee with him at the restaurant. Those at the table would laugh, solve the problems of the community, and the world, and most importantly, shared fun conversation and strengthened their bond with each other. Many times, the coffee was on Friggie. He always put a lot of thought into what he did, even when he was told a few weeks ago, no words were minced, he did not have long to live. After he was given the message by a team of doctors, he said with his own brand of humor; many of my family and friends are gone, it’s time for me to get ready to go with them. He had no fear! He spent the rest of his time preparing for death and his new life and to say good-bye to Ida Jo (his wife of 64 ¾ years) and his family. As a city councilor and mayor of Santa Rosa, he wanted the City to always thrive and the credit for progress to belong to her citizens. He undertook projects and served on committees that would benefit the community like attracting the Travel Centers of America and the Santa Rosa Apartments and improving the San Jose Cemetery and providing oversight as a member of the Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church Parish Council. He was a Korean War veteran. He very seldom, and to very few people, talked about his experiences during his military service. Those life-changing experiences, as a medic, deepened his faith in God and it was proven every day after he returned home from his tour of duty by his strong sense of compassion toward those in need. He came face-to-face with all types of horrors during the war, yet continued to believe the world is good. Most importantly, during the war, he was willing to set aside his own plans and put his life on-the-line for our freedom. When he returned home, he dedicated his life to serving others. He was a teacher about life. He taught his family and others, by his actions, about ethical responsive government, working with honesty and integrity, giving back to the community, paying it forward (when someone helps you, then you should help someone else), and, provided young people with genuine opportunity they would have to earn. His life lessons built character and passion in those lives he touched. He left Santa Rosa better than he found it. Over his lifetime, he worked to improve every corner of the community! His legacy is simple: it is one of unselfish teaching, taking care of business, and helping others reach their goals. His legacy will live on through the many lives he influenced. His life’s message to his family was, never stop helping others. He had a unique strength, rooted in his faith in God and people, to go forward (Siempre Adelante). It was as if he was always on a mission! He took on, without fear, what was dealt him. He wholeheartedly believed in God and was very attentive to God’s wishes. He believed, without doubt, Jesus was going to take him home and he did! Mr. Campos is preceded in death by his parents Ramon and Miquela (Torres) Campos, a son Robert Ramon Campos, his brother Santiago Campos, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tom and Zulema (Serrano) Nichols, and a nephew Karl A. Lucero. Survivors include his wife Ida Jo Campos of the home in Santa Rosa, a daughter Lettie Chavez (Abel) of Santa Rosa, three sons Pete Campos (Lori) of Las Vegas, Tommy Campos(Barbara) of Santa Rosa, Albert Campos (Rose) of Santa Rosa, a sister in law Patsy Campos of Santa Fe, and Mary Belle Lucero (Sam) of Rio Rancho. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, Peter Samuel Campos, Larissa Campos, Tomas (Melissa) Campos, Damian (Brenda) Chavez, Dominic Chavez, Dina Chavez, Daniel (Letecia) Chavez,, Brandon (Alicia) Campos, Brett (Keitta) Campos, Britaña Campos (Dave), and Gianna Campos, 11 great-grandchildren Hailie Lucia Campos, Darwin Jose Zambrano, Isabel Lydia Zambrano, Santiago Campos, Leticia Campos, Liyana Campos, Matthew Chavez, Daniel Chavez Jr., Kimber Campos, Bryce Campos, and Brinley Sanchez, 5 nieces and nephew (deceased) and their families along with a host of other family and many friends. The family requests memorial contributions in memory of Elfego "Albert" Campos to the Veterans/Community Center, 130 S. 4th Street, Santa Rosa, NM 88435 or St. Joseph Cemetery, 439 S. Third Street, Santa Rosa, NM 88435. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 923 S. Third Street, Santa Rosa, NM. (575) 472-3369.