Dolores Sanchez Rubio

Dolores Sanchez Rubio, 89, a long-time resident of Albuquerque who lived the past three years in Michigan, entered her sabbath-rest on Friday, July 3, 2026, after a short stay in hospice care.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband Reuben Alex Rubio, parents Alejandro and Clemencia Sanchez, siblings: Alejandro Jr., Marie, Jose Orlando, and Abel.

She is survived by her only child Dr. Reuben Alex Rubio II and his wife Pastor Kathleen Bowman Rubio, their children: Dr. Daniel Kiril Francisco Rubio; Julianna Rubio Slager and her husband Jeremy; their children: Judah, Jacob, and Aurora; Angelina Dickinson and her husband Matthew; their children: Viviane and Isabelle; Reuben William Rubio III; Raquela Lian Rubio; Miranda Rubio Opsal and her husband Samuel; and Alicia Pasquala Rubio and her fiancé Malachi Nutter, who will marry in August, 2026; two nephews: Walter Chaves of Tampa, Florida and David Chaves of Reno, Nevada. Her surviving immediate family all live in Michigan, Illinois, and Toronto, Canada. 

Dolores would want us to remember that she was a sinner saved from judgment and death by the grace of God manifest by her faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer. For the last half of her life, she mainly practiced her faith within a Messianic synagogue and like-minded groups of friends. She married Reuben in 1958, and they were married until he passed away after 49 years of marriage, save for three-and-a-half years when they were divorced. Before and during this time, she found faith in Jesus with a little help from her friends, and Reuben later gave his life over to Jesus’ lordship. They then remarried and stayed true to each other. This miraculous work of God in their lives (things did not look so good before that all happened) became a strong testimony to myriad others who sought biblical wisdom on marriage from them.

Dolores was born in Mountainair and lived the first few years of her life there with her family before moving to Albuquerque, living in homes in Barelas and Alameda while single and the South Valley and Netherwood Park while married and widowed. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School, and worked as a medical stenographer at St. Joseph Hospital before beginning a long career as a secretary and later Human Resources administrator and director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Albuquerque office.

As a volunteer, Dolores ministered faithfully for many years in the offices of KDAZ radio and KCHF television stations. She was a long-time secretary for the Right to Life Committee of New Mexico and was a strong supporter of pro-life action in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. With her husband Reuben, she co-founded Sephardim for Yeshua, one of the first groups in Albuquerque to help Hispanic residents inquire about their Crypto-Jewish roots. She also served for a short time as member and president of the Parish Council for Immaculate Conception Church. She ran for the state house in 1994, winning a primary election before losing in the general election. After that, she served as both a precinct delegate and poll worker for several election cycles. Her main church affiliations in Albuquerque were with Immaculate Conception, Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque, and A’dat Y’shua Messianic Synagogue; in Michigan, it was with Caring Community Wesleyan Church of Albion. All of the church leaders and congregants from these institutions would describe her as a devoted Christ-follower who knew the Bible very well, fully participated in worship of the Lord, and would step up to do whatever job needed doing as long as it kept her out of the limelight.

Dolores' Life Celebration will begin with a Visitation on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 9:00am at Salazar Mortuary located at 400 Third St. SW, 87102. Service will begin at 10:00am. Dolores will then be laid to rest at Mount Calvary Cemetery located at 1900 Edith Blvd. NE, 87102. Reception will follow inside Salazar Mortuary's Event Center located at 400 Third St. SW, 87102.