Alfonso Rios Padilla

Alfonso Rios "Lil Beer" Padilla, 80, formerly of Florida, died on 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 at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Monday after 2:00 p.m. 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.