Ruben A. Guerra

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Ruben Guerra, the ultimate Badass, has died of Covid-19.

Ruben's fascination with motorcycles began in high school.  Ever curious about how machines worked, he took apart his first motorcycle, studied the  parts, reassembled them and hopped on the saddle for a lifelong two-wheeled journey.

Planning trips and studying maps were favorite all-consuming pastimes.  Before a 1954 Benson High School graduation trip to Catalina Island, he memorized every street name in the City of Los Angeles.  When asked recently about this, he replied modestly; "Well, there weren't as many streets back then."

Ruben became an intense motorcycle enthusiast, earning the 300,000 BMW Motorcycle Owners of America high-mileage award, his wife Joan, the 200,000-mile award.  He was a BMW MOA Ambassador Emeritus with Lifetime Charter Membership, a prestigious designation bestowed upon only a handful of BMW motorcycle owners worldwide.

Ruben enjoyed riding with buddies from a wide range of motorcycle organizations.  In addition to holding Charter-Life Membership with the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and a Charter membership with the American Motorcyclist Association, he was also a member of the American Legion Riders / Post 25, the BMW Riders Association, the Airhead Beemer Club of San Diego, CA and the SE Arizona Touring Riders.  He served as Director of the International Brotherhood of Motorcycle Campers from 1991-1993 and enjoyed collaborating with his wife Joan on the membership list and newsletter publications.

When interviewed for a Veterans' school project, Ruben told his grandson the story of his path to the military.  He explained that he was educated under the era of "Juan Crow" in a segregated classroom and was not allowed to swim in his town's public pool.  After graduation, he quickly realized  that the only jobs available to him in his small railroad town were inconsistent day-laborer gigs.  So the man with limited swimming experience made the life-changing decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy!  He served as a Boilermaker aboard the Destroyer USS Sarsfield (DD837), Flagship of Destroyer Division 601, attaining the rank of Petty Officer First Class.

After military service, he worked for eleven years as Supervisor of Maintenance at the Petrol-Chemical Division of The Great American Plastics Corp. of Fitchburg, MA.  It was in Massachusetts, at a dinner at his sister Maria's house, that Ruben met Joan.  He instantly fell head-over-heels for her.  Maria was stunned as she witnessed this man of few words suddenly transform into the most talkative person in the room!  They were engaged within weeks and were married at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Clinton, MA.  It was while living here that their two daughters were born.

Ruben returned to his beloved state of Arizona and worked a full career for the Defense Department at Williams AFB in the Civil Engineer Squadron.  After he retired, he and Joan settled in Benson, where they took great pride in being attentive grandparents to Michelle's daughter Corinne.

Along with his wife Joan, Ruben accompanied their daughter Yvette to her wedding near Cognac, France.  After the ceremony, the newlyweds invited the parents on a road trip to their destinations of choice.  Joan asked to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes; whereas Ruben's "Holy Land" was the "The Art of the Motorcycle" exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.  It was probably Ruben's first time ever as a back driver, but he was a good sport about being chauffeured through the Pyrenees and Basque Country, and across the lush verdant landscapes along Spain's northern coast.

After his wife Joan passed, Ruben developed a special closeness with this daughter Michelle, and he was there to walk her down the aisle at her wedding at Saint Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno, Nevada.  Immediately following the wedding ceremony, friends and family headed to the star Wars-themed reception, complete with the theme song announcing the couple's arrival.  The mystery we are all left with is this:  Ruben went to his grave without anyone knowing if he ever watched the original movie or knew that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father.

We will forever be grateful that we were not forced into making decisions under pressure.  Ruben's Advance Directive, penned 25 years ago, was detailed and precise, and it was the clearest form of communication he would ever prepare for us.  After saying their goodbyes, his brother Hector and sister, Maria, listened and prayed as he transitioned peacefully to Heaven.  Knowing that he had the tranquil passing that he had always hoped for, provided comfort during this excruciatingly difficult time.

The irony has not been lost on us that for Ruben's high tolerance for physical risk-taking (working and living on a destroyer, decades on motorcycles), it was an invisible virus that took his life.  A proud Navy Veteran, he led a courageous and honorable life of service, and we honored his wishes in his death.

Ruben valued privacy and was a difficult person to get to know.  He was certainly  never one to gab on the phone!  His two "best likes" in his life were Motorcycles and Jazz Music.  He had a profound relationship with Dixieland Jazz, especially the music of clarinetist Pete Fountain, whose beautiful work he requested we play at his funeral.

The moment we can safely coordinate the specific Rosary and Funeral Mass that he mapped out for us, we will gather together to celebrate his life.  He has asked that we set out his motorcycle tour photo albums, play some of his favorite Jazz CS's, and offer the Mexican dishes that brought him comfort throughout his life.  We may even provide a little "anointing" ceremony with Cognac.  On that day, absolutely no one will be allowed to diet!

A final request is that his remains be escorted to Joan's side by motorcycle sidecar from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church to the Cochise Garden of Rest.  We will make sure we carry this out precisely as he prescribed.

Ruben has stood at the gravesides of his parents, Ruben and Margarita "Maggie" Guerra, and his wife Joan, to whom he was married for 37 years.  His sister Yolanda passed earlier this year at age 71. 

In 2008, Ruben remarried.  His wife, Violet, recounts the moment they first shook hands.  They both felt an instant connection and let the handshake linger longer than is customary.  Ruben adored that Vi filled their home with the sounds from her musical instruments.  Their relationship reminds us that you're never too old to find someone to share your life and heart with.

Ruben is survived by his wife Violet, his daughters Michelle and Yvette and their spouses, his brother Hector, his sister Maria, and his three grandchildren:  Corinne, Alize, and Julien.

A devoted parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Ruben was actively involved in many facets of the church including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus in Council 7521 & Assembly 2058.  He was also a member and Chaplain at the Vincent Manzo Post 45 of the American Legion in Benson.

In place of flowers and comfort food, the family suggest offering donations to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Benson. 

Please visit the Memorial Website: RubenGuerraBMW.com and share your photos and memories about Ruben's life on this living tribute.  You may also send confidential messages to the family through this website.

Finally, we cannot forget that COVID deaths are preventable deaths.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruben A. Guerra, please visit our floral store.