Francisco Roman Carrejo Rest in Peace

 MARCH 9, 1936 – JULY 26, 2023

Beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, friend, Francisco Roman Carrejo, of Desert Hot Springs, California and El Paso, Texas, aged 87, passed away in Rancho Mirage, California on July 26, 2023, after a short-term illness.

Francisco best known as “Pancho” was born on March 9, 1936, in El Paso, Texas to Sabino and Dolores Carrejo, both of El Paso, Texas. He was the 4th of their 10 children. Being that his father was serving oversees in the United States Army his family moved to Germany where he attended high school and graduated from Heidelberg American High School in Heidelberg, Germany in 1954. Pancho enjoyed the new culture of Germany and learned to speak the language. He had fond memories of neighbors coming to enjoy his mother’s Mexican food often. In 1958 Pancho joined the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Cronkhite in Sausalito, California and worked on Ajax missiles. Pancho was honorably discharged as a Specialist in 1961. After serving his term in the Army, he returned to El Paso, Texas. He soon met his bride to be Rosa Esparza and they were married on June 24, 1962. Pancho began working for the Los Angeles Times as a Pressperson in the late 1960s. Shortly after beginning his career at the Los Angeles Times, he moved his wife and children from El Paso, Texas to Southern California and purchased a home in La Puente, California. Pancho continued to work for the Los Angeles Times and retired after 25 years of service in 1994.

Pancho was a God-fearing Christian and spent his time reading the Bible and visiting with his family and friends. He also liked watching Western movies and playing the slots at the casino. His favorite foods were enchiladas and tamales. Although Pancho was a quiet and reserved man, he enjoyed music and would sing often with his family and friends at gatherings. His favorite ballad were Los Trios and Los Dandys.

Pancho was preceded in death by his parents; Sabino and Dolores Carrejo; his infant brother Pablo; brothers Fernando, Sabino, and Juan; his sister Cecilia; and his close cousin Robert Ortega, and the love of his life; his wife of 40 years Rosa Antonia Esparza Carrejo.

He is survived by his brother Luis, his sisters Carmen, Magdalena, and Teresa; and his 6 daughters; Susan (husband Michael) and Susan’s children Andrew, Joseph (wife Alexandra), Matthew; Maria (husband Brian) and Maria’s children Nathan, and Aiden; Laura and Laura’s children Giovanni Jr., Aaron, and Naomi; Isabella, and Isabella’s son Chad; Rosalinda (husband Luis); Estela (husband Jose) and Estela’s children Genesis, Amalia, Sophia, and Valentina; and his great grandchildren Elizabeth, Ava, Lunabella, Loveanna, Evangelina, and Elleanni.