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With immense grief, we announce the passing of our beloved father/grandfather, Robert C. Lopez. Robert was born on Sunday, Jan. 14, 1945, at the Miami Inspiration Hospital in Miami, Arizona. He passed away Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Chandler, Arizona.
Robert was the third of eight children born to Reymundo and Trinidad Lopez of Claypool, Arizona. He grew up in Grover Canyon playing marbles, shooting basketball in the front yard, shopping for soda and ice cream at the Sendejas store, and hanging out with brothers Joe and Junie, Cousin Joe (Jojito) Lopez, close friends Leo Gonzalez, Alex Campos, Edwin Hopkins, and best friend Felix Garcia. Dad always used to reminisce about the great times they used to have.
Robert attended Miami schools, was a proud Miami Vandal, and stayed reppin the green and white throughout his life. He was the starting offensive center his junior year where the team advanced to win, becoming the 1962 Tri-State Champions. After graduating high school in 1963, Robert moved to Phoenix, Arizona where he attended Phoenix College studying bookkeeping. Becoming homesick, he moved back home where he began working at Schwartz Lumber in Miami with his uncles Chuey and Jose Castaneda.
Shortly after moving back home on Aug. 24, 1965, Robert was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in the Vietnam War and made the decision to join the airborne. He traveled to Fort Polk “Tiger Land,” Louisiana, where he attended basic infantry training. After completing basic training, he headed to jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia where he accomplished numerous successful jumps and received his diploma on Feb. 24, 1966. His journey into the United States 101st Airborne then took him to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, before finally being shipped off to Vietnam on June 5, 1966. Upon arrival, he officially belonged to Company A, 4th Battalion 503rd Airborne Infantry, serving with the 173rd Airborne Division. During his time there, he regularly sent letters back home to his parents reminding them of the day he would eventually be with them again. After finishing his tour in Vietnam “Leppy,” as he was known, was honorably discharged from the army on June 5, 1967, receiving the Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service, Vietnam Campaign, Marksman & Vietnam Service Parachutist Badge medals. He landed on the shores of San Francisco, debarked, and got his “jump wings” tattooed, forearm. Robert then spent some time in East Los Angeles for a brief period, residing with his Tia Lupe and working for his uncle’s construction company before ultimately heading back to Arizona.
Once back home, he began working at the local copper mines. He started in the SX-EW plant as a laborer, eventually working his way up to foreman. He got married and had two sons, Robert and Nicholas. He settled very close to home, purchasing property right next door to his parents. A stone’s throw away, he enjoyed the convenient breaks for coffee and frequently stopped by Nana’s for some good ol’ homemade tortillas and the best beans one could ever savor!
Bob loved being outside, working on the yard, cultivating beautiful flower beds, planting rose bushes, trees and grass. He was a craftsman woodworker, building items from birdhouses to picnic tables, floor decks and benches. He worked for Magma Copper for 23 years but unfortunately, due to complications from a diagnosis of colon cancer, was forced into retirement in 1995.
Post retirement, Uncle Bob continued to enjoy landscaping outside, feeding the birds, kicking back, drinking coffee and listening to oldies on his little Sirius boombox. He had a fond love for stationary, doodling, sketching, jotting ideas down for future projects, and had impeccable penmanship. He babysat for nephew Chipmunk and would host granddaughter Trinity during fall or summer breaks. He’d launder for his son Shugy, who would drive all the way from Tempe just so Dad could do his laundry. Nobody could iron like dad did!
In 2011 he was diagnosed with lymphoma and moved in with his oldest son Robert and family. We welcomed Grandpa with open arms! He continued doing some of his most favorite hobbies, including reading, and spending time with his granddaughters Bianka and Trinity.
Robert’s lymphoma remained in remission until becoming active again in summer 2024. He suffered a stroke in October of this year, then continued to further decline.
Robert is survived by his son Robert II (Treasta) of Queen Creek, AZ; son Nicholas of Prescott, AZ; stepdaughters Shawna Carlson of Chandler, AZ and Karlene (Larry) Grenert also of Chandler, AZ; granddaughters Trinity and Bianka Lopez; numerous loving nieces, nephews and friends;
sisters Audrey (Dave) Harmon and Arlene Jackson; and brother Joe (Florene) Lopez, all of Mesa, AZ.
He is preceded in death by his parents Reymundo Diaz Lopez and Trinidad Castaneda Lopez, brothers Raymond (Junie) and Edward Lopez, and sisters Juana Lopez Carrasco and Patricia (Pat) Mancha.
Services for Dad were held December 2 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Miami, AZ. Viewing was at 9 a.m., followed by the rosary at 9:30 and funeral mass at 10 a.m. Entombment services followed at Pinal Cemetery.
A lunch reception took place after at Our Lady’s Center in Miami.
