Refugio Campos

Maria del Refugio Campos, lovingly known as “Cuca” or “Ruth,” was born on July 23, 1936, in Calvillo, Aguascalientes, Mexico, to Alberto Martinez and Maria del Refugio Velasquez Martinez. She was the ninth of ten children.

Raised in a traditional Catholic home, Ruth was nurtured by her widowed mother and older siblings. She often shared cherished memories of her childhood—spending time with her sister Teclita and many hours at church praying the Rosary. Her devotion to her Catholic faith, especially her love for the Virgin Mary and the Rosary, remained a guiding light throughout her life.

At the age of 20, Ruth met Guillermo “Willie” Campos, the love of her life. They were married on June 17, 1959, in a ceremony officiated by Willie’s brother, Father Raul Campos.

After their wedding, Ruth lived in Momax, Zacatecas, with her in-laws, Juanita and Ignacio Campos, while Willie worked in the United States and prepared for their immigration. During this time, she welcomed her first child, Guillermo Campos Jr. (“Memo”), in 1961. Ruth later immigrated to California, where she gave birth to her daughter, Yolanda Campos, in 1963. Soon after, the family settled in Penryn, California, where her third child, Jaime Campos, was born in 1964.

In addition to her devotion as a full-time mother and homemaker, Ruth worked part-time at the Auburn Convent and at the High Hand Nursery in Loomis. She was deeply dedicated to her family, raising her children with love and guidance and later helping to care for her grandchildren, of whom she was immensely proud.

Ruth was the heart of her family. A talented cook and gracious host, she welcomed relatives and friends for countless gatherings over the years. Family memories are filled with roasted pigs, tamales, flautas, enchiladas, and albondigas prepared with love from her kitchen. Each of her children and grandchildren still has a favorite “Ruth dish,” a lasting reminder of the warmth she brought to every meal.

She also had a wonderful sense of style and loved to shop. Ruth and her daughter Yolanda spent many years treasure-hunting together at sales. She adored clothes and always took pride in looking absolutely impeccable and well-dressed wherever she went.

Personally, she loved to read, crochet, knit, and tend to her beautiful gardens, which were always filled with her beloved roses and orchids.

Ruth passed away peacefully in the home where she raised her children in Penryn on September 19, 2025, at the age of 89, surrounded by her children and the love and memories of the family she cherished.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William “Willie” Campos. She is survived by her three children—Yolanda, Guillermo, and Jaime—and by her two grandchildren, Julie and Jacob Campos.

Ruth will be remembered for her deep faith, her impeccable style, her warm hospitality, and the love she poured into her family. She was truly the glue that held her family together, and her legacy will continue to live on in those who loved her.