Esequiel F. Ruelas Jr.

Esequiel "Zeke" Frank Ruelas Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Nashville, TN, surrounded by his family on Sunday, September 29, 2024. 

Zeke was born on December 17, 1945 to parents Esequiel and Hermandina and grew up in Oxnard, California. He cherished his lifelong friends from his youth, having attended Driffill Elementary, Haydock Junior High and Oxnard High School, where he enjoyed Cross Country and Track and Field. He held the 1320 record for many years. 

After graduation, Zeke proudly served in the US Army as a paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He received a Purple Heart for combat wounds sustained in the Vietnam War. He returned home and attended Moorpark College and UCLA, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. He married Rita, his high school sweetheart, and started a family. He worked in Real Estate, earning his Broker’s license, but his main occupation was with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, where he was a proud member of Locals 46, 13, and 94 in the Port of Hueneme and Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach.

Zeke loved reading, conversant on many topics, especially history and politics. He also loved listening to and dancing to music and was known as the mashed potato king. He was a social person and never shied away from meeting new people. He had no fear and his outlook was always positive seeing the glass as half-full. One of his favorite sayings was “ When there’s a will, there’s a way”.

Zeke is survived by his wife Rita; daughter Jacqueline of Camarillo, CA; son Esequiel III of Nashville, TN; siblings Vivian Ruelas and William Ruelas (Evita) of Oxnard, CA, and Ronald Ruelas and Donald Ruelas of San Pedro, CA; cousins, nieces, nephews and friends too numerous to mention. 

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Marylou Ruelas; in-laws Selso and Julia Revelez, Robert Vargas (Irene), Jessie and Simon Majeno, Fernando and Wilma Revelez, Stella and Manual Rodriguez, Lupe and Manual Morales, Dolores Portillo (Manuel), Robert and Angie Maria; and niece Elaine Carrillo Mathis. Zeke will be missed and remembered by many as a friend to all and one who would always speak up against injustice.

A heartfelt thank you to the Veterans Administration, Amedysis, and Cornerstone Caregiving for their help in caring for our loved one and being there in our time of need.  

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Reardon Funeral Home, 511 North A Street, Oxnard. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m. at Santa Clara Church, 323 South E Street, Oxnard. Interment will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery, 2370 North H Street, Oxnard. Memorial reception details to be announced.

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