Manuel T. Aragon

Manuel T. Aragon, 94, went to the Lord April 23, 2018. He was born and grew up in Pena Blanca, New Mexico. Later, the family moved to Albuquerque.

He is survived by his wife, Clorinda L. Aragon; son Clyde Aragon and companion Therese Yordy; step-daughter Gloria Pearl of Las Vegas, Nevada; brothers Roger and Gilbert Aragon; sisters Virginia Long and Stella Miller; many in-laws and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Telesfor and Guadalupe Aragon; in-laws Manuel and Fedelina Lucero of Las Vegas, New Mexico; sister, Maria (Pra) Aragon; brothers Father Salvador Aragon (Franciscan) and Larry 'Tanche' Aragon; sisters-in-law Joyce Aragon and Cleo Lucero; brothers-in-law Jerry Miller and Erminio Lucero; and nephew Roger Aragon Jr.

Manuel had warm memories of Pena Blanca and told many stories of his growing up in this rural village. He also spent several years in the Pacific in World War II aboard the U.S.S. Meade, a destroyer which saw action in Tarawa, the Marshall Islands, French Indo-China (Vietnam), New Zealand, the Philippines, and Hawaii.

To show how strange life can be, during the war, the U.S.S. Meade entered Manilla Bay while he was look-out. It just so happened that he was watching the action all around with binoculars and by absolute chance spotted his brother Tanche on one pier reading a newspaper. Of course he asked the captain for permission to talk to him and with great gusto, the captain sent him off in one of the ship's small whale boats. Needless to say, they had a grand reunion.

After the war, he worked at Kirtland Base for a while, learned accounting thanks to the G.I. Bill, and worked for many years in the lumber industry at companies like American Home Builders and Sagebrush Sales, finally retiring from Lumber, Inc.

A Catholic Mass will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Friday April 27 at San Felipe de Neri Church. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. There will be a viewing from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on April 26, 2018 at Daniels Family Funeral Home at 3113 Carlisle Blvd. N.E.

He was a hell of a good dad, husband, and a friend to all. May he rest in peace.