Adolfo Orlando Padilla

Orlando Padilla, 86 of Santa Rosa, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, February 17, 2022, in Albuquerque, NM. Orlando was born on February 14, 1936 in Puerto De Luna, NM to Alfonso Padilla and Nora (Fajardo) Padilla. Orlando was raised in Puerto De Luna and attended school in Santa Rosa—graduating from Santa Rosa High School in 1955. While in high school, Orlando excelled in boxing, where he won the state championship. Following graduation, he joined the Air Force and served for one year as a jet-engine mechanic for the B47 Aircraft and then spent the following three years in Guam. After serving his country, Orlando returned to Santa Rosa and worked for the Department of Corrections. He married and shortly thereafter, moved to Santa Fe. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the College of Santa Fe, while employed by the U.S. Postal Service. The family then moved to Bowie, Maryland where Orlando was employed first by NASA and then by the Department of Defense in Washington, DC for 19 years. During this time, he was also in the Air National Guard. Orlando retired and returned to Santa Rosa in 1994. Orlando is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Hilario (an infant), Danny, Gilbert, Rayne, Floyd and Vera. Orlando is survived by his wife: Cindy Padilla, his four children: Noreen Padilla, Angela Padilla, Andrew (Tonia) Padilla, and Olga (Joey) Muniz, his eight grandchildren: Olivia (Christopher) Dulany, Victoria Williams, Isabella Padilla, Catalina Padilla, Madonna Muniz, Leticia (Daniel) Chavez, Jody (Jordan) Johnson and Bruce Muniz, his eight great-grandchildren: Caleb Williams, Grace Dulany, Donte Vigil, Daniel Chavez, Jr., Felicity Chavez, Selena Chavez, Amiliana Montoya and Cirilo Muniz. Orlando is also survived by his six siblings: Flora Garcia, Nea Casaus, Victor (Margaret) Padilla, Marie (Joe) Villanueva, Judy Padilla and Larry (Barbara) Padilla and sisters-in-law: Cecilia Padilla and Linda Padilla. Services for Orlando will be Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 11am at Living Waters Assembly of God Church, 739 El Rito St., Santa Rosa, NM, with Pastor Lorenzo Delgado officiating. Interment of cremains will follow at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Santa Rosa. Services are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 923 S. Third St., Santa Rosa, NM 88435. 575-472-3369. To place an online condolence or tribute, please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com.