Martin Garcia

Martin Garcia, 73, of Fort Sumner, NM died Saturday, May 8, 2004 at the V.A. Medical Center in Albuquerque following an illness. Martin was born October 20, 1930 in Fort Sumner to the home of Guadalupe and Bonifacia Garcia. He was reared and attended schools at Fort Sumner. Martin served in the U.S. Army from May 1, 1951 to April 15, 1953. He served with Company F 31st Infantry Regiment; and received the Combat Infantry Badge – Korean; a Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star and the United Nations Service Medal. Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Martin joined the U.S. Air Force where he completed 23 years of military service. His Air Force duties included Communications Center Specialist and Radio Operator. Martin received the Air Force Longevity Service Award; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Vietnamese Service Medal; and Republic of Vietnam Service Medal. He retired as a Staff Sergeant from Randolph Air Force Base on May 31, 1974. Martin married Josie Lopez on January 12, 1962 in Fort Sumner. Following his military career, Martin worked for the Social Security Administration in San Antonio, Texas. He was a member of the D.A.V. in Clovis, NM and a longtime member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner. He was preceded in death by his wife Josie in 1972; his father Guadalupe in 1981 and his mother Bonifacia in 1997. Survivors include two sons Gabriel Garcia and Joseph Garcia both of Fort Sumner; a daughter Sandra Vigil of Clovis, NM and her companion Pete Calzada of New Deal, TX; a granddaughter he raised as his own, Josie Lopez and husband Aurelio of Fort Sumner and one sister Lucy Hanson and husband Robert of Houston, Texas. Other survivors include six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Rosary services will be held at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 12, 2004 from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from the church on Thursday, May 13, 2004 with Father Leo Padget officiating. Burial will follow at St. Anthony Cemetery in Fort Sumner, NM. Pallbearers will be Rumaldo Garcia, Martin Blea, Danny Garcia, Nick Lucero, Alex Segura Jr., and Tim Segura. Honorary bearers will be all his friends and other family members. Visitation will be Tuesday and Wednesday from 1pm to 6pm at the funeral home and Thursday from 9am to 10am at the Church. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (505) 355-2311 www.chavezfuneralhome.com