“Ruben’s happiest times were praising God, doing God’s work and anything having to do with church.”
Details from the El Paso Times:
Family and friends are heartbroken over the death of retired Fire Lt. Ruben Flores Jr. from the coronavirus Jan. 9. He was 55 years old.
He tested positive Nov. 22 with mild symptoms that quickly worsened. He was hospitalized Nov. 29 and was put in the intensive care unit Dec. 4, suffering a collapsed lung that led to sedation and intubation.
Flores had been in the El Paso Fire Department for 25 years and had served at the fire station in the Lower Valley.
“He loved everything about it. Ruben’s purpose in life was helping people. If you look at all the posts, everyone talks about him helping. He was definitely a doer,” said Beckie Flores, his wife of 35 years.
It was a natural transition for him to want to continue serving people through his Catholic faith after his retirement.
Almost five years ago, he entered the Catholic Diocese’s Permanent Diaconate program and was going to be ordained as a permanent deacon in August.
Beckie Flores said her husband felt like he had a second chance at life in 2001 when he was hit by a drunken driver and survived. He decided to start being more active in church, teaching confirmation classes and helping with retreats.
“Just as much as his passion for the Fire Department, he loved the kids and he wanted to make a difference in their lives and be a role model and be somebody they could look up to and come to with whatever, never any judgment,” she said. “Ruben’s happiest times were praising God, doing God’s work and anything having to do with church,” she said.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him …
