Ruben Camacho

Ruben Dario Camacho was born on August 6, 1948 in Puerto Rico, US Territory to Ruben and Clara Camacho. He emigrated with his parents and older sister, Elsie, from Puerto Rico when he was two. He played baseball in high school. He graduated from Armada High School in Armada, Michigan in 1966. He attended RETS Electronic School in Detroit. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and attended Airborne Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was trained at Fort Polk, Louisiana before he was shipped to Viet Nam with the 101st Airborne (1968-1970) where he was exposed to Agent Orange, the ultimate cause of his death 50-some years later. He was a squad leader when he was wounded and sent to Valley Forge General Hospital, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania where he met Lora at the Post Theatre.

He married Lora Kadolph on March 20, 1971 in St Mary Catholic Church, Eldora, IA. He moved to Iowa about 6 months before he and Lora got married and lived in the basement of Lawrence's and Doris Kadolph's house until he and Lora were married. At first, he worked at a TV repair shop in Iowa Falls after his discharge from the Army. Later, he worked at Smith Electric Motors in Iowa Falls where the company specialized in repairing electric crop dryer motors. After that, he worked at the State Training School in Eldora in the Maintenance Department for 12 years as an electrician. Then, he accepted a position at the State Training School as an Electrical Vocational Instructor in Basic Wiring. He retired from the State Training School in 2008 after 22 years.

He joined the Iowa National Guard in 1984. He was a squad leader and worked in the Motor Pool. He took leadership classes and was promoted to Sgt First Class E7. He worked the Floods of 93 and the medical mission to Honduras where he was an interpreter. He retired from the National Guard the same year he retired from the State Training School (2008).

While in Iowa, he coached Little League and played fast-pitch softball and coached a women's softball team. He enjoyed working on cars and other vehicles and mowing the yard so it resembled a golf course. His retirement was spent bowling in the fall, winter, and early spring and golfing the rest of the year. He and Lora enjoyed spoiling their grandkids.

Ruben passed away on May 29, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruben and Clara Camacho and an infant sister, Maria. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lora; three children: Scott (Michelle), Bryan, and Russ (Jessica); 8 grandchildren (Samantha, Adam, Thomas, Audrey, Madelaine, Marcus, Mason, and Maya; two step-grandchildren (Matthew Aldinger and Morgan McCauley); and a step-great-grandson (Sutter Aldinger).

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.