Rodolfo Suarez Reyes was born in Baguio City, Philippines on December 27, 1939, the youngest of eight children. He passed surrounded by his loved ones at El Camino Hospital early Sunday morning, July 25th, 2010, at 3:45 A.M. Rodolfo proudly served the United States Navy for 20 years, enlisting in 1965.
Shortly thereafter, he moved his family from the Philippines to California in 1972. In 1963, he met his wife, Erlinda while residing at a co-ed boarding house in Manila. They were married in her hometown of Rosario, La Union on April 9, 1967. They took up residence in Sunnyvale with their two young daughters and mother-in-law, Leonora Balancio in 1972, and in 1976, moved to their home in Milpitas of 20 years where they completed their family with the births of two additional daughters.
In 1985, he retired from the United States Navy as a Chief Personnelman. In need of change, the family moved to and still resides in Morgan Hill.
Rudy, as most called him, was many things, a lover of baseball, namely the Yankees, a perfectionist, a people pleaser, a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
Most people would agree, Rudy’s time in the military had conditioned him to be the person that he was. Attention to detail, loyalty, and punctuality were some attributes learned, but most importantly, he was compassionate, protective, and generous.
Rodolfo was preceded in death by his parents, Julian and Pascuala Reyes. He is survived by all his siblings, Amado, Milagros, Mercedes, Adelaida, Carlos, Felipe, Emma, and adopted sister, Pilar, his wife Erlinda, his four daughters, Leilani, Rowena, Lizza, and Rhoda and nine grandchildren, Jacqueline, Elysia, Justin, Maya, Jordan, Riley, Devon, Alix, and Zoe.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Rodolfo’s life from 5:00-9:00 P.M., Monday, August 2, 2010, at Johnson’s Funeral Home in Morgan Hill. Church services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Morgan Hill, and his final resting place will be at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetary in Gustine, California. Ceremony will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Tuesday, August 3, 2010.
