Antonio Ruelas

Antonio Ruelas, known by all as Tony, was born on February 16, 1941, to Ramona Lopez (Alvarado)-Godoy and Eusebio Ruelas. He was baptized on November 23, 1942, at what was then called the "Old Mission Plaza Church", also known as La Placita or La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora Reina de los Angeles, the oldest church in Los Angeles. Tony was Ramona's first child and was raised by his grandmother Cruz Alvarado (he called her "my mother") who added him to her home with her husband Juan Alvarado, and her then 8 children.

Tony lived life on his own terms. He would get in trouble, go to juvenile hall, and was even sent to military school for a while. He graduated from Lassen High School in Susanville, CA. But Tony enjoyed the fast life and was in and out of the California "system" most of his life. He even mentioned "visiting" a jail in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico (and probably other parts north & south of the border.) But Tony was always smart and had a good heart. He was very social and had a lot of friends. Even when he was in the system, he studied and was always an avid reader. He learned a lot about the law and shared it with those who needed to know their rights. He had a few children that we know of, Antonio Ruelas, Jr. and Erlinda Joanne Ruelas. But he wanted them to have a good life and he knew he couldn't be the kind of father they needed, so they were raised by responsible & caring relatives on their maternal side of their families. He was like the song said "Papa was a rolling stone." But he loved them from afar.

He also loved his big crazy family. He was a loving brother and was a cool uncle to tons of nieces, nephews, and cousins. He stayed in touch even when he was "away" with letters and even would send some nice crafts he would make, like those wooden clocks. Tony was a righteous and cool dude. He knew almost everyone in South Central LA and almost all of them became friends. He would take the bus and walk everywhere around the neighborhood. He told it like it was and did not sugar coat his words or his stories (he had no filter!) And boy was he funny! We would joke around with him because he was very playful, and oh brother did he like to talk. And was always dozing off (like narcolepsy), whether holding a cup of coffee or lit cigarette, that many times he ended up dropping. We would say "if Tio Tony ain't talking it's because he's asleep!" He would always enjoy family get-togethers and always had a gift for the kids. He always had patience for the little ones.

Tony was a proud Chicano. He stayed true to the neighborhood until the very end. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his sisters Rebecca "Becky" Jimenez and Andrea "Andy" Godoy, his brother Jesus "Chuy" Godoy, and a large tribe of nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded on the journey home by his parents, his brothers Joe Fariña, Peter Godoy Jr., Victor Alvarado, Johnny Alvarado, David Alvarado, Nicolas "Big Nico" Godoy Sr., and sister Julia Lopez-Contreras. Tony will live forever in our hearts.