Abelino Jose Montoya Sr.

Abelino Jose Montoya Sr., age 92, passed away Saturday, November 30, 2013. Our beloved patriarch is now reunited with our mother, Lucille, in heaven. Abelino was born July 27, 1921 in Canon del Carro Village, Mora County, NM to the proud parents of Manuelita de Atocha and Jose Vidal Montoya. Abelino was the twelfth born of fifteen children, including two half-brothers. Abelino married Lucille Salazar July 29, 1938 and she passed away July 11, 1968. In 1969 Abelino married his second wife, Julianita Martinez. In 1934, Abelino�s family was faced with much hardship. His father, their only provider, passed away and Abelino and his brothers were unable to pursue their education as they had to work to provide for their mother and family. They provided for their mother for fifteen years until she passed away in 1949. At a very early age Abelino worked various jobs. He told his children stories of selling ice from a little red wagon, selling wood from the back of a truck, driving a taxi cab for Rimbert�s Taxi Co., and working as a bartender in Las Vegas, NM. A decorated World War II Veteran, Abelino was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, American Area Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon, and European African Ribbon. Abelino was proud of his service to our country with our U.S. Navy as a Fireman First Class. He was able to serve our country from May 23, 1944 through his honorable discharge on December 12, 1945. He enjoyed talking about his travels and the people he met during that time. In 1945 he began work with the New Mexico State Highway Department as a heavy equipment transporter and carrier. In 1973, twenty-eight years later, he retired from the State Government, as a Highway Safety Supervisor. After 39 years of continuous employment, retirement brought Abelino leisure time to travel, fish and partake in other outdoor activities. Most importantly, he could sit back, enjoy, and watch his family grow. He moved to Albuquerque, NM in 1988. The last five months of Abelino�s life were medically challenging. After 40 years of retirement, Abelino is now in God�s hands. He acknowledged on many occasions, his greatest accomplishment in life were his children and their accomplishments. As a devoted, giving and loving father, Abelino kept a promise he made to Lucille before she passed away: He would keep the young children together which was was accomplished with determination, guidance, and love. Abelino was preceded in death by his first wife, Lucille E. Salazar Montoya; children, Dulia Louisa, Michael Matthew; sisters, Regina, Juanita, Eloisa, Alicia, Adelmira, Laura; brothers, Eloy I, Eloy II, Tomas, Teodocio, Alfredo, Vidal, Juan, Placido; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; son-in-law, Fred Montoya. He is survived by daughters, Dulia Montoya, Teresa (Henry) Montoya Duran, Bernadette (Ben) Montoya Sena, Katherine Montoya Gallegos, Louisa Montoya, Manuelita (Dewey) Montoya Loveless, Frances (Dennis) Montoya Hawksworth, Hope Montoya; sons, Edward Montoya, David (Lisa) Montoya, Abelino (LouElla) Montoya Jr., Bobby (Loretta) Montoya, Les Montoya, John Montoya, Michael Montoya; forty-one grandchildren; forty-one great-grandchildren; twenty-five great great-grandchildren; step-children, Mary Esther Loredo, Ida Muniz, Joe Roy Martinez, Virginia Martinez, Willie Martinez, Loretta Martinez, Victor Martinez. Visitation will be held Friday, December 6, 2013 at 10 am to 11 am at Daniels Family Funeral Services Wyoming Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Noon Friday, December 6, 2013 at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Visitation will also be held from 8 am to 9 am on Monday, December 9, 2013 at Daniels Family Funeral Services Wyoming Chapel located at 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE with the Rosary to be recited at 9 am. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 12:45 pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Abelino J. Montoya Sr. at New Mexico State Employee Credit Union for family members living with chronic illnesses, with one individual beginning treatment this week. NMSECU, 3451 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107 account # 3002175050