I always think of that Johnny Cash song when I get my shoes shined. Rufus Singleton always epitomized that song – he always had a smile on his face and a happy story to tell. Rufus retired about six years ago from being a longshoreman in San Francisco over the previous 34 years and had begun shining shoes to keep busy and get out of the house. Rufus is a native of east Texas who had moved first to Los Angeles in 1943, to the SF Bay area in 1956 and finally to Vallejo in 1989. Rufus really took care of his guests and made them feel special, and he was always on the lookout for a pair of shoes to shine (since there are so few left that need shining). Sadly, 6 months ago he had to hang up his shoeshine rag as he has both glaucoma and cataracts in both eyes and, since he is now 85, he felt it was time to focus on his health. He will be missed and we all will have to be on the lookout for a good shoe shine guy (or gal) to keep our shoes shiny!
7 Flags Car wash in Vallejo was his former location
