Jose "Ruben" Swarts Torres, lifetime Deming resident passed away Friday July 20, 2018 at the of age 79, at Mountain View Regional Hospital in Las Cruces, NM due to complications following surgery.

Ruben will have a public viewing at Baca's Funeral Chapel (811 S. Gold Ave, Deming, NM 88030, 575-546-9671) on Friday, July 27 beginning at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Rosary service at 6:00 p.m. led by Eddie & Guillermina Diaz. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Ann's Catholic Church (400 S. Ruby St, Deming, NM 88030, 575-546-3343) on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 10:00 in the morning. Concluding services and interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Father Manuel Ibarra, pastor will officiate. His pallbearers will be his sons and grandsons.

Ruben Torres was born on December 18, 1938 in Deming, NM to Pete and Della Torres. He was an active member of Saint Ann's Catholic Church and was a member of the Deming League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC 205) and Saint Ann's Men's Club where he was able to create and serve his world famous secret sauce barbecue at all the fiestas.

He retired from the New Mexico Highway Department with 45 years of service. Ruben dedicated over 30 years of his time, energy, and passion to the Deming Public School Board, he held numerous leadership roles including President, regional board representative and was also inducted into the New Mexico School Board Association Hall of Fame. In 2008, Deming Public Schools honored him by making him the namesake for Ruben S. Torres Elementary School in which he played a key role in the passage of the 2006 bond that helped build the new elementary school. The inscription "For the kids," hangs over the entrance to the Ruben S. Torres Elementary School as a tribute to his often-said reason for why he served.

Survivors include his loving partner Martha Jimenez, sons and daughters-in-law; Ruben and Denise Torres of Phoenix, AZ, Emilio and Maribel Jimenez and Henry Jimenez and Kyleen Snyder of Tucson, AZ, his daughters and son-in-laws; Teresa and Michael McLaren and Deana and Ken Karch of Alameda, CA and his 11 grandchildren.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Pete and Della Torres; Siblings, Agapito II, Raymond and George Torres, Adela Jones, Lumina Morgan and Eloisa Saucedo.

Ruben was 1 of 13 children born to Pete and Della Torres and leaves behind 3 surviving siblings, Erlinda Morales, Colonel Torres and Eddie Torres and many loving nieces and nephews.

He will always be remembered by his quick wit, his sense of humor, his mission to provide education opportunities to kids and his ability to help anyone and everyone who crossed his path.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude's (www.stjude.org), whose mission is to understand, treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.