Rafael Vasquez Flores, 75, of Wilder, Vermont died Thursday, September 10, 2015, at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT, after battling lymphoma.

He was born in San Antonio, Texas, on March 9, 1940, and raised by his Aunt and Uncle, Aurora & Avelino Flores. He graduated Burbank High School, in San Antonio, TX in 1958, and joined the United States Air Force at age 22. He met Lorraine E. Bailey while he was stationed in Topsham, Maine, and while she was in nurses training at Central Maine Medical Center. They moved to California in 1966, and shortly thereafter were married, a union of 49 years. While in California, he worked for Litton Industries, and was involved in the wiring of Air Force One, and the Mariner Venus Space Mission. In 1985, Rafael moved with his family to the Upper Valley VT/NH, and worked at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT as a Registered Respiratory Therapist until he retired in 2005.

During his 30 years in the Upper Valley, Rafael was a volunteer baseball coach at Hartford High School, and very active and committed to the Upper Valley AA community. He had a good natured disposition, and despite being a lifelong Dodgers fan, Rafael had a positive attitude about life, and jovial sense of humor. He was very family oriented, a loving husband, immensely proud of his sons, and enjoyed being a grandpa "Pop". Music, especially Jazz, Latin, & conjunto styles, reading historical non-fiction, baseball, as well as traditional Mexican food were essential enjoyments for him.

He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Flores; his two sons, Rafael A. Flores and wife Ariel of Wilder, VT, Miguel Flores and wife Hannah of White River Junction, VT ; four grandchildren Cadence, Olivia, Solomon and Aurora; Sisters, Sylvia Budraitis, Rosalie Trevino, Dolores De La Torre all of San Antonio, TX, his Aunt Alma Flores of San Antonio, TX, and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of his life at the Knight Funeral Home, in White River Junction, VT on Thursday September 17, 2015 from 3-5pm, with a get together to follow at the home of Rafael A. and Ariel Flores 275 Passumpsic Ave in Wilder.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the Norris Cotton Cancer Center (checks made payable to: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health/NCCC) One Medical Center Drive, HB 7070, Lebanon, NH 03756-0001 or to the Upper Valley Turning Point 200 Olcott Drive, White River Junction, VT 05001.