Adan Rodriguez Escamilla

Adan Rodriguez Escamilla was born December 17, 1937. He was raised in Elsa, Texas and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Elsa. He helped his parents and siblings run the family corner market. Later, the market was converted into a laundromat. During his youth, some of his favorite hobbies included boxing, being a member of Future Farmers of America, youth minister at First United Methodist Church, and running track and field. During high school, he met and married his first wife in Texas. They had five children together and later moved from Texas to California. During these early years, Adan worked mainly as a migrant farm worker to support his family.

During his early adult life in California, he became involved in civil rights issues. He spent years working as a paralegal, court interpreter, and a process server for the Legal Aid Society and the Cesar Chavez Foundation. He was a founding member of the Community Food Bank in San Jose, California. Adan was an employment program representative for the State of California. Throughout his adult life, Adan had ten biological children and helped raise ten more children as his own.

During the 1980's, he became a psychiatric licensed technician. Throughout his career, he worked at various state hospitals with the mentally ill in California. Later in life, Adan returned to his hometown of Elsa, Texas and purchased a two-acre ranch with his family. During this time, he grew passionate about becoming a public servant. He ran for public office twice, once for Mayor and once for a school board member position. He also worked as a freelance writer for the Delta Chronicle. He was a writer/owner/editor of the Delta Weekly.

Toward the end of his life, he returned to live with his eldest daughter in California. During this time, he enjoyed visiting the local senior center, visiting with his children, grandchildren, and enjoying his coffee and pan dulce daily.

Adan was a free-spirited gentleman. He traveled often, via hitchhiking, to and from Texas to visit his family. He had a great sense of humor and outlook in life. He loved genuinely and held no ill will toward anyone. Along his many travels, he would stop and visit with family members for extended times. Oftentimes, his cousins would refer to him as the family's ambassador. Adan was accepting, loving, and an open-minded person. He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, father and grandfather.

Adan was preceded in death by his parents, Bernabe Escamilla II and Margarita Rodriguez Escamilla; brothers Saul Escamilla, Bernabe Escamilla III, Ruben Escamilla; sister Eva Pena; sons Ivan Escamila, Ivon Escamilla; grandsons Raul Resendiz Jr., John Conlon II, and his great grandson Raymond Rey Resendiz. He is survived by his brother Noe Escamila; sisters Lilia Carr and Lucy E. Gonzalez; children Nelda Escamilla, Adan Escamilla Jr, John Kennedy Escamilla, Abel Escamilla, Eva Escamilla, Michelle Hoffman, Martha Escamilla, and Victor B. Escamilla; children he raised: Ignacio Medina, Jesus Medina, Graciela Medina, Victoria Magana Salvador Magana, Rosalinda Magana, Luis B. Rodriquez, Horacio Rodriguez, David A. Galaz; grandchildren Ruben Resendiz, Romulo Resendiz, Rolan Remo Resendiz, Rose Angel Boyer, Nicholas Escamilla, Moses Escamilla, Estella Arranaga, Krystal Escamilla, Jake Lee Escamilla, Joseph Duarte, Ysabel Escamilla, Bruno S. Valdez, Veronica Valdez, Sylver DeHart, Lilia Cruz, Eva Andrade, Melina Andrade; great grandchildren Anita Resendiz, Angelina Resendiz, Raul Resendiz, III, Ruben Resendiz Jr, Jacob Ivon Resendiz, Renesmee Renee Resendiz, Santino Ivan Arranaga, Syrah Arranaga, Sebastian Arranaga, Tyler Escamilla, Joey Duarte, Sophia Duarte, Ralphie Duarte and Westley DeHart; and great-great grandchildren Isabella Flores, Samuel Resendiz and Ava Resendiz.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at Hollister United Methodist Church at 9:30 a.m. and service at 12:00 p.m. The address is 521 Monterey Street Hollister, California 95023. Services are 12:00-1:30 p.m. with a reception to follow in the same location. Internment Wednesday, November 24, 10:00 a.m. Oakhill Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Ave., San Jose, California 95125. Flowers can be purchased at Moment's Flower Shop in Hollister, California 831-313-1205.

Published in Hollister Free Lance · November 22, 2021