Ricardo Ariel Rodriguez

IN LOVING MEMORY
Ricardo Ariel "Bubba" Rodriguez
1992 – October 14, 2026
A Husband. A Father. A Soldier. A Deputy Sheriff. A Border Patrol Agent. A Brother. A Legacy That Will Live On.
His Story
Ricardo Ariel Rodriguez, lovingly known as "Bubba," was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1992. He grew up in the projects, dreaming of becoming something greater than his circumstances. After graduating from Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, he knew he wanted a different future for himself. New York would always be home, but he was determined to build a legacy of his own. He preferred to be called by his middle name, Ariel, a name deeply connected to his family, his grandfather, and the legacy of service that shaped his life.
Believing that military service would let him grow, serve his country, and create a better life, Ariel enlisted in the United States Army and joined the infantry. It was the start of a journey that would take him far beyond the streets of Brooklyn and shape the man he would become. In 2012, while stationed in New York, he deployed to Afghanistan for the first time, beginning a life defined by service, sacrifice, and friendships that would become lifelong brotherhoods.
A Soldier, A Brother, A Leader
Ariel served approximately eleven and a half years in the Army. Along the way he built friendships that went far beyond the usual promises of brotherhood. These were the people who stood beside him, shared his experiences, and knew exactly what it meant when Bubba had something on his mind. When Ariel wanted to talk, his friends knew they might be listening for hours. His outgoing personality, quick humor, and unmistakable New York spirit made him unforgettable, and he had a way of turning friendships into family.
In 2018, he took on the challenge of Ranger School. Life did not unfold exactly as he had hoped, but he never stopped pushing forward. Shortly after returning from his attempt, in early 2019, he deployed again. Even during this demanding period he was thinking about his future, and in 2019 he bought his first home at a young age, a milestone that reflected his determination to build stability and a foundation for the life he envisioned.
In 2020, Ariel attended the Drill Sergeant Academy and was soon stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. There he helped train, guide, and inspire soldiers beginning their own military journeys. The New Yorker had become a leader, carrying his experiences into the lives of those he instructed. His military career was more than a job. It was a chapter of sacrifice, growth, discipline, and brotherhood that would remain part of him forever.
A Father's Decision
In early 2023, Ariel faced a difficult decision. He had dedicated years of his life to the military, but deployments and distance were making it harder to have what he wanted most: more time with his children. He missed his daughter, and he did not want to risk being sent farther away or miss the moments that mattered as his children grew.
Leaving the military was not a decision to stop serving. It was a decision to be present in a different way. Ariel wanted to be a father who was there, to watch his children grow, to be part of their everyday lives, and to build a future they could depend on. His ambitions continued, but the reason behind them stayed the same: his family.
Following His Grandfather's Footsteps
Ariel's desire to serve through law enforcement was deeply personal. He looked up to his grandfather, ATF Special Agent Ariel Rios, who died in the line of duty. That example left a lasting impression, and Ariel dreamed of following in his footsteps as an undercover agent and law-enforcement professional. The ATF headquarters named in his grandfather's honor stands as a lasting recognition of that sacrifice. For Ariel, his grandfather's legacy was more than a family connection. It was an example of duty and courage that guided his own path, and he wanted to honor it while creating a legacy of his own.
He explored opportunities in the El Paso area, hoping to gain law-enforcement experience without sacrificing time with his family, and he pursued his Master's degree alongside that search. He first pursued a position with the New Mexico State Police, believing he would be able to work near El Paso after completing the academy. When he learned the eventual assignment would not keep him close enough to his daughter, he made the difficult decision to withdraw.
He kept searching and joined the Otero County Sheriff's Office as a deputy sheriff, where he valued the welcoming environment and the feeling of being treated like family. Still, he felt called to something greater. He joined the United States Border Patrol in the El Paso Sector, continuing his commitment to public service while working toward his ultimate career aspirations. Even as a federal agent, he continued to pursue his Master's degree.
Those who knew him understood that Ariel never wanted to stop growing. He had goals and pursued them with determination. Every position was another step toward the future he wanted to build and the example he hoped to leave for his children.
The Dream He Was Still Chasing
By September 2026, Ariel was a husband, a father of five, and a Border Patrol agent. His youngest son had just entered the world, and Ariel was looking forward to precious time with his growing family, especially his newborn son, who was only three weeks old.
Even with the demands of work and family, Ariel kept reaching for the next step in his career. He took out his laptop and applied to agencies that could help him achieve the goal he had been working toward: joining the United States Secret Service. He spent late nights on applications, running on little sleep and pushing through exhausting days, eager for the calls and emails that might bring him closer to his dream. He kept looking forward, hoping the next opportunity would finally open the door he had worked so hard to reach.
On October 14, 2026, Ariel's life came to an unexpected end. The following day, October 15, the email he had been waiting for arrived. It was the opportunity he had worked so tirelessly to pursue, and it came one day too late for him to experience that next chapter. His family was left with the heartbreaking knowledge that, even as his life was ending, the dream he kept fighting for was drawing closer.
He had dreams, he loved his family, and he kept striving for a future he hoped to share with them.
A Final Reflection: A Life, A Dream, A Legacy
Ricardo Ariel "Bubba" Rodriguez passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind his wife and five children. It is a heartbreaking reality no family should ever have to endure. His children now face growing up without their father, carrying a story that began with his love, dreams, and sacrifices but was interrupted far too soon. His love will remain part of their story, along with the memories, the family who will surround them, and the legacy Ariel leaves for all five of his children.
Ariel's passing reminds us that behind every uniform is a human being, behind every application is a dream, and behind every hardworking person is a family waiting for them to come home. He was more than his uniform, his job title, his applications, or his ambitions. He was a son and grandson, a husband, a father, a friend, and a brother to the people with whom he served. He wanted to be present for his children and kept working toward a better future for them. Ultimately, God makes the final decision. Though his time here was cut short, his story, his sacrifices, and his love will live on through the children who carry his legacy and the people whose lives he touched. His dreams did not disappear with him, and his influence did not end with his final day. The love he gave his family and the memories he created will continue to be part of the lives he changed.
The Man Behind the Uniform
Ariel was known for his magnetic, outgoing energy, quick humor, and spontaneity. He had a rare gift for making friends wherever he went and treated strangers with warmth and hospitality. Friends became "bubs" and "bubba" to him, and no one remained a stranger for long. His personality could fill a room, and his conversations could go on for hours. He brought his own kind of energy everywhere, leaving people with stories, laughter, and memories that will stay with them.
Above all, Ariel loved his children. He worked to build a legacy and a foundation for his family, and every professional step he took was guided by his responsibility to them and his desire to give them a better future. He wanted to be remembered not only for what he accomplished, but for what he was building: a home, a family, a future, and a legacy that would outlive him.
Forever Loved, Never Forgotten
Ariel is survived by his beloved wife of seven years and his five children:
• Rosalie, 9
• Maximus, 4
• Leoncio, 2
• Sayeli, 1
• Santiel, 1 month
He was preceded in death by his beloved grandfather, ATF Special Agent Ariel Rios, whose life of service helped inspire his own path.
Ariel's life was cut short, but it was not without purpose. He served his country, pursued his dreams, formed lifelong bonds, and loved his family. His journey from Brooklyn to military service, from soldier to law enforcement, and from one ambitious goal to the next was the story of a man who never stopped trying to build something better. His legacy will live on through his wife, his children, his family, his friends, and the brothers and sisters in uniform who had the privilege of knowing him.
Rest in peace, Ariel. Your mission on earth may have ended, but your legacy will never die. You will forever be loved, missed, and remembered.
Funeral Services
Visitation
Monday, October 26, 2026
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM, with a prayer service at 6:00 PM
Sunset Funeral Homes – East
750 N. Carolina Drive, El Paso, Texas
Chapel Service
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
11:30 AM
Sunset Funeral Homes – East
Interment and Military Honors
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
1:00 PM
Fort Bliss National Cemetery
Military honors will be rendered, and the United States Border Patrol will also pay tribute to Ricardo.
In Lieu of Flowers

The family welcomes donations to Honoring Bubba: Support for His Family (gofundme.com/f/honoring-bubba-support-for-his-family).