Alfonso Rios Padilla

1932 - 2012  (80 years)

• Name	Alfonso Rios Padilla
  Nickname	Lil Beer
  Born	25 Feb 1932	Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas
  Gender	Male
  Died	14 Jun 2012	Rossville, Shawnee County, Kansas
  Cremated	18 Jun 2012	Mount Calvary Cemetery, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas
  Person ID	I5634	Rossville
  Last Modified	26 Oct 2017

  
  

  Father	Yldefonso Padilla
  Mother	Simona Rios Padilla
  Family ID	F5451	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Cremated - 18 Jun 2012 - Mount Calvary Cemetery, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Documents		Obituary- Padilla, Alfonso 1 Alfonso Rios ‘Lil Beer’ Padilla Alfonso Rios “Lil Beer” Padilla, 80, formerly of Florida, died on Flag Day, June 14, 2012, at Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Topeka on Feb. 25,1932, the son of Yldefonso and Simona (Rios) Padilla. He was a 1950 graduate of Topeka High School. Alfonso served in the U.S. Air Force from Oct. 27, 1950, to Sept. 27, 1954. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was assigned by Convair as a technical advisor to USAF personnel in the possibility of an Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile launch. He played baseball as a pitcher for the USAF and was a Golden Gloves champ. He received his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in November 1959 from Finlay Engineering College in Kansas City, Mo. He worked as an associate engineer for General Dynamics/Convair from August 1960 to December 1962. From January 1963 to February 1988 he was the senior flight test engineer for General Dynamics Space Systems and was assigned to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. After retiring from this position he served as a consultant engineer from April 1989 to June 1991 with the International Technical Service providing engineering and consulting services to General Dynamics Space Systems at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. He also directed the USAF personnel in the installation of communication systems. Alfonso enjoyed golf, walking on the beach and exercising. His friends were his family. He was a member of the State Board of Registration for Architects and Professional Engineers, a member of Our Savior Catholic Church in Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Topeka. Alfonso is survived by his siblings, Mary Lou Vela of Raytown, Mo, Mary Ippoliti of Edgewater Park, N.J., Rosemary Alonzo of Topeka, Virginia Grimes of Lompoc, Calif., and Lisa Padilla of Kansas City, Mo.; a special niece, Tish Alcala of Topeka; and numerous other nieces and neph-ews, and his extended family of close friends including Joe and Leona Parker of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Iraida Rickling of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and godson, Mark Rickling of Washington D.C. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Hope Gomez and Carmen Jones, a brother, Joseph R. Padilla, and his close friend, Jack Rickling. Alfonso’s family especially thanks the staff at Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and Grace Hospice for all the loving care given. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 18 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Military services were conducted at the church following mass by Philip Billard Post 1650 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was cremated following services at the church. Inurnment was in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center or Grace Hospice and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW Sixth Ave., Topeka, KS 66603.
  		Obituary- Padilla, Alfonso 2 Alfonso Rios ‘Li’l Beer’ Padilla Alfonso Rios "Li’l Beer" Padilla, 80, formerly of Florida, died oil flag day, June 14, 2012 at the Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Topeka, Kansas on February 25, 1932, the son of Yldefonso and Simona (Rios) Padilla. He was a 1950 graduate of Topeka High School. Alfonso served in the U.S. Air Force from October 27, 1950 to September 27, 1954. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was assigned by Convair as a Technical Advisor to USAF Personnel in the possibility of an Atlas Inter-continental ballistic missile launch. He played baseball as a pitcher for the USAF and was a Golden Gloves Champ. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in November of 1959 from Finlay Engineering College in Kansas City, Missouri. He worked as an Associate Engineer for General Dynamics/Convair from August 1960 to December of 1962. From January 1963 to February 1988 he was the Senior Flight Test Engineer for General Dynamics Space Systems and was assigned to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. After retiring from this position he served as a Consultant Engineer from April 1989 to June of 1991 with the International Technical Service providing engineering and consulting services to General Dynamics Space Systems at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. He also directed the USAF Personnel in the installation of communication systems. Alfonso enjoyed golf, walking on the beach and exercising. His friends were his family. He was a member of the State Board of Registration for Architects and Professional Engineers, a member of Our Savior's Catholic Church in Cocoa Beach, Florida and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Topeka. Alfonso is survived by his siblings, Mary Lou Vela of Raytown, MO., Mary Ippoliti in Edgewater Park, N.J., Rosemary Alonzo of Topeka, Virginia Grimes of Lompoc, CA., and Lisa Padilla of K.C., Mo., a special niece, Tish Alcala of Topeka and numerous other nieces and nephews, and his extended family of close friends including Joe and Leona Parker of Cocoa Beach, FL., Iraida Rickling of Cocoa Beach, FL., and Godson, Mark Rickling of Washington, D.C. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Hope Gomez and Carmen Jones, a brother Joseph R. Padilla and his close friend, Jack Rickling. Alfonso's family would like to especially thank the staff at Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and Grace Hospice for all the loving care given to Al. He will lie in state on Monday after 2:00 p.m. at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, where a Parish Prayer Vigil will be at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Military services will be conducted at the church following mass by Philip Billard Post #1650 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He will be cremated following services at the church. Inurnment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center or Grace Hospice and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66603. Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.