Robert "Bob" Rios

Robert (“Bob”) Rios, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, with his family by his side. Robert was born May 3, 1936, in Los Angeles, California to Thomas Rios, Sr. and Genevieve Reyes. Robert served in the U.S. Air Force from March 1955 to December 1958. He received an Honorable Discharge and was released from foreign services obligation in 1963. While stationed at Forbes Air Force base, Robert met and married Maria Luisa Pimentel in June 1956. Robert and Maria had six children. They divorced in 1986. Marilyn Bean was Bob’s partner for twenty years and later separated. He married Lorraine Muro in 2014 and divorced in 2020. Bob is survived by his children: Vivian Rios McBride (Carolyn Mantia); Kathleen Rios Hillin (Luke); Deborah Rios Ortega (Ray); Robert J. Rios; Randy A. Rios; and Cheryl A. Rios; his siblings: Thomas “Tom” Rios (Jeanie); Sam Esquibel, Jr., and Mark Esquibel; 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Mary Ann Rios Madrid (Merced) and Mary Lou Esquibel Gonzales (Eli) and his brother Richard Rios. Bob worked for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad following his discharge from the U.S. Air Force. He was a Human Resource Manager at Allis-Chalmers and later worked for State of Kansas – Department of Human Resources, Division of Employment and Training as a Program Consultant until his retirement in May 1998. Bob was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church; he was a Crusillista, and a Fiesta volunteer. In 1997 he started the annual Fiesta Golf Tournament with members from the Topeka Magic Golf Committee and that annual tournament continues today. He served as Vice Chairman, Rangel Brothers Chapter, American G.I Form of Kansas; Chairman and Vice Chairman, Chapter No. 1, American G.I. Forum of Kansas; State Secretary for American G.I. Forum of Kansas; Lobbyist and Vice Chairman, Legal Aid, Inc.; and Member of Mayor’s Veterans Task Force. Bob was an avid golfer -- In March 1999, he hit a 128-yard hole-in-one on the No, 4 hole at Lake Shawnee with a sand wedge. Bob loved traveling to California to visit his family. He had many hobbies, including hunting, fishing bowling, camping, and playing poker. He enjoyed watching the LA Rams, LA Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs and KU basketball. The family is very grateful to the staff and caretakers at The Gardens of Aldersgate and Pioneer Winds Hospice for their loving care and support. Bob will lie in state at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Friday, April 8, 2022, from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M., with a rosary at 6:00 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M., on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Burial with military honors will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery-Topeka. Memorial contributions can be made in Bob's memory to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Contributions can be mailed or left with the funeral home. To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit, www.brennanmathenafh.com. Arrangements entrusted to Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, KS 66603.