2002 (as) Ruby Montes (19)

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2002 (as) Ruby Montes (19)

Monterey County Herald, CA June 8, 2002, pB1,B2
Student killed on way to graduation
By Victoria Manley / Herald Staff Writer
Nineteen-year-old Ruby Montes was supposed to receive her high school
diploma Tuesday night from the Pacific Grove Adult School. She didn’t
make it. En route to the festivities on Lighthouse Avenue, the
Watsonville resident was killed Tuesday afternoon when she was struck
by a passing truck while putting gasoline in her stalled car on
Highway 1 near La Selva Beach. Montes had pulled onto the shoulder to
fuel her Honda Accord about 4 p.m. when a Salvation Army truck
inexplicably drifted off the highway and hit her, killing her
instantly, according to the California Highway Patrol. Her death was a
blow to her classmates as well as the law enforcement community in
Watsonville. Her father, Robert, is a sergeant in the Watsonville
Police Department. Just the day before, a California Highway Patrol
officer who grew up in Watsonville, John Pedro, was killed when his
patrol car veered off an offramp and hit a tree just outside the city.
Maria Nunez, the adult school principal, said she got word of Montes’
fate an hour before the ceremony. “I didn’t say anything in public to
anyone,” she said. “The family had sent some representatives to get
the diploma. I called the family this morning and we’ve been in
communication. Right now we’ve just been taking like any kind of
family would.” Nunez said Montes was studious but also had a silly
side. “When she was out with her friends she was bubbly and full and
energy. She was just a lot of fun,” Nunez said. “She really enjoyed
the girlish stuff – you know, bright polish and glitter. She was just
a lot of fun. “She was also a really dedicated student. I learned that
from her teachers. She was really excited about learning, and her
writing had reflected that. She was just excited about her progress
and achieving her goals.” Montes enrolled in the school two years ago
to receive her high school diploma. Her cousin, Manuel Sanchez, also
attended the school and was scheduled to speak at the graduation
ceremony. “He of course didn’t’ come because of what happened,” Nunez
said. About 120 students received their diplomas from the school
Tuesday. The adult school is a part of Pacific Grove Unified School
District and has about 4,600 students enrolled in courses at various
sites.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, Ca June 8, 2002
Services will be Wednesday for Ruby D. Montes, who died Tuesday in an
accident near La Selva Beach. She was 19. Montes was born and raised
in Watsonville. She had attended Green Valley Christian School, Bay
Monte Christian, Monterey Bay Academy and would have graduated from
Pacific Grove Adult School on Tuesday. Montes was a member of the
Green Valley Christian Center and of Twin Lakes Church, where she sang
in the youth choir, "Rock Solid." She is survived by parents Gilla and
Robert Montes of Aromas; sister Monique Montes of Aromas; grandparents
Eilja and Geronimo Montes, and Martha Nuno, all of Watsonville; niece
Syerra Ayala; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Services will be
1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Green Valley Christian Center. Burial will be
at Valley Cemetery. Friends may call from 1-1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the
center. Contributions are preferred to Ruby Montes, account No.
41397954, Monterey Bay Bank, 35 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, CA 95076.
(PGHS Class of 2002)

Ruby Montes 23 May 1983-4 Jun 2002 – 607-14-6885 CA