Ruben Gamboa was born in Mexico in 1930.
At the age of 15, he realized that there was no work in Mexico to make a decent living and he came to the United States of America, the land of opportunity, working in the mines in Arizona. The first thing he thought was, “If I am going to be in the USA, I have to learn the English language and become a citizen”. He studied and became a US citizen and was proud to be a citizen of the USA.
In the early 1950’s, he came to Hawthorne and bought and operated a pool hall near the Hawthorne Club. After selling the pool hall, he worked for Hawthorne Utilities and the Army Ammunition Depot, after retirement he loved to fish, play pool and enjoyed his R&R Gift Shop and several projects at home.
He designed and made an aluminum coke and beer can masher by using angle iron as a guide for the cans and a plunger to mash the cans and dump them in a bucket. All operated by an electric motor and gears.
He spent much time with his beloved dog, Twinkie.
Ruben was a very kind person and was willing to help any one that needed help.
He was preceded in death by his mother; father; son, Elias Trujillo and daughter, Patty Sue Trujillo.
Ruben was survived by wife, Ramona; children: Leonard Trujillo of Albuquerque, N.M.; Paul (Kathy) Trujillo of Hawthorne; Esther Conway of Hawthorne; Hopie (Raymond) Guzman of Reno; Greg (Karen) Gamboa of Reno; Theresa (David) Pasillas of Riverside, Calif.; Francis (Mike) Murray of Hesperia, Calif. and Kathy Koch of Arizona. He also has 22 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
