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Vincent M. Rodriguez


Vincent M. Rodriguez

Vincent Manuel Rodriguez, 57, of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, formerly of Sabinal, died Oct. 31, 2021, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, New Mexico, following an extended illness. 

He was born Aug. 29, 1964, in Littlefield, Texas, to Mary (Serna) and Manuel Jesus Rodriguez. He lived in Sabinal until the age of 16, when the family moved to Fort Sumner.

He attended Fort Sumner High School and graduated with the class of 1983. While in high school, he worked at the Pueblo Conoco. 

He continued his education at Eastern New Mexico University where he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. 

After college, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for seven years as an aircraft armament systems specialist and weapons maintenance technician. 

He was honorably discharged in 1990 and married Erma Gonzales on Nov. 6, 1991, in Sabinal.

They made their home in Fort Sumner.

Rodriguez served for 20 years in law enforcement with the De Baca County Sheriff Department. During this time he was appointed to complete one term as De Baca County Sheriff. 

He also worked for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway as a Conductor for 13 years.

He volunteered with the Fort Sumner Valley Fire Department, where he served as fire chief for several years. He also volunteered as a driver for Fort Sumner Emergency Medical Services. He served one term on the Fort Sumner School Board. 

He was a member of American Legion Post #21 in Clovis and a member of the Legion Riders motorcycle group. 

His hobbies and interests included welding crafts with horse shoes, fishing, and hunting. His family says that he loved to stay busy.

Survivors include his wife, of Fort Sumner; son Vincent Rodriguez II of Albuquerque; daughter, Alexandra Evert and husband, Ben, of Lubbock; mother, Mary Madrid and husband, Alex, of Fort Sumner; three sisters, Christy Drake and husband, Brian, of La Lande, New Mexico, Regina Gonzales and husband, Nick, of San Antonio, and Jessica Harris of Marble Falls; two brothers, Andrew Harris and wife, Charity, of San Antonio and Johnny Rodriguez of Utopia; aunts, Eloisa Muñiz, Gabriella Rodriguez, and Antonia Contreras and husband, Mauricio, all of Sabinal; uncles, Ricky Rodriguez of San Antonio and Johnny Rodriguez of Texas; and a host of other family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Manuel Jesus Rodriguez; brother, Billy Rodriguez; maternal grandmother Lauteria L. Pacheco; and paternal grandparents Isabel and Andres Rodriguez.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Nov. 6, 2021, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner with the Rev. Christopher Bernabe and the Rev. Sotero Sena officiating.

Interment with military honors followed at Fort Sumner Cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. 

Chavez Funeral Home, www.chavezfuneralhome.com/