Ruben Manarang Hipolito

Ruben Manarang Hipolito was born on April 30, 1935 in the Philippines to Marcelina Manarang and Hilario Hipolito.

When Ruben was just around six years old, his father went off to war. As the oldest brother, Ruben sold newspapers to help support the family and often took care of his siblings and provided for them.
Ruben entered the United States Navy on December 30, 1957. While in the Navy, Ruben began to correspond with a young woman named Adelaida “Aida” Cruz. Unlike today with text messaging, Ruben would write letters and send them off in the mail and anxiously await a response. According to Ruben, they spent years writing letters back and forth to each other. Finally, Ruben’s persistence paid off and he and Aida were married on January 31, 1962.

Ruben had orders that transferred him throughout the country. Ruben and Aida finally made a permanent residence in Harbor City, CA. Ruben and Aida welcomed five children into their lives: Rhida, Eddie, Liza, Lori and Erika. Upon his retirement in 1983, as Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy, Ruben invested into a local 7-11 in Lakewood, CA. Ruben spent long hours at the 7-11 instilling a valuable work ethic for his children.

Ruben was an avid and passionate fisherman. This passion has spilled over to his children and grandchildren. Ruben was an active member of the Navy Fleet Reserve Association, Knights of Columbus, as well as serving his church as a Eucharistic Minister and the Filipino Community.

Some of the Ruben’s children’s fondest memories include: fishing under many of the Navy Piers and not getting caught, camping and fishing at the Kern River, shooting the BB gun in the backyard, processing two pigs in the backyard, Disneyland trips, fishing trips to Mexico, rebuilding and maintaining the family cars, helping with newspaper routes and the stories he would tell about his newspaper routes in the Philippines, backyard gardening with lots of fruit trees and vegetables. School and homework were also important to him and he would set up his trustworthy military lamp in the kitchen and sleep on the couch until homework assignments were completed. There were martial arts in the backyard and early mornings to say goodbye before Dad headed off to San Diego, carrying the kids upstairs when they fell asleep, teaching them how to cook a proper steak, teaching them how to descale a fish, earning a nickel when multiplication tables were answered correctly, letting them stand on milk crates to ring people up at 7-11, and always putting up the Christmas lights right after Thanksgiving. They remember Ruben’s passion for cooking and will tell you that his prime rib is the best!

Ruben enjoyed traveling, and he often visited the local casinos and ventured to Las Vegas every now and then. Ruben and Aida loved to travel and enjoyed family gatherings. Aida preceded Ruben in death in 2009.

Ruben was fortunate and found love a second time wherein he met Germencia Arevalo (Minnie) at a Christmas party. Ruben married Minnie in 2011. They loved going to the casinos, events with the Fleet Reserve Association and annual visits to the Philippines.

Ruben loved having his family over for formal and informal gatherings. During these gatherings he would share stories of his childhood, Filipino and family traditions, the lives of several uncles, aunties, and extended relatives in the Philippines. His favorite stories involved fishing and he would always talk about catching Cow Cods, making wine on the ship, and a few more stories we can’t mention here today.

On the eve of his passing, he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. We know that he is now with God and all of his loved ones that have preceded him.

Ruben will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife Minnie, Daughter Rhida Hipolito, Son Eddie Hipolito and his wife Nancy, Daughter Liza Roque and husband Ronie, Daughter Lori Dasargo and husband Mike, Daughter Erika Hipolito; Grandchildren Ruben Hipolito, Robin Hipolito, Roxanne Hipolito, Rocco Hipolito, Roman Hipolito, Rolan Hipolito, Ricco Hipolito, Hannah Hipolito, Riley Roque, Rowan Roque, Evan Hipolito, Addy Dasargo and Mason Dasargo; Siblings Fely Talao, Rick Catap, Roger Catap, Pepito Catap, Rodrigo Catap, Norma Timbang, Rosario Catap, Renato Catap; stepchildren and grandchildren: Bennedict and Jennifer Celis and children, Arnel and LiliBeth Arevalo and children, Dirk and MarieChris Atwell and children.