Abel Martinez Sr.

Abel E. Martinez, Sr., a resident of Vadito, was called home to be with our Lord and Savior on Friday, November 25, 2016.  Abel E. Martinez Sr. was born on November 9, 1921 and raised in the village of Vallecitos and attended elementary school in the same place.  His high school work was done at El Rito Normal.  He was to receive his high school diploma in 1942, but his senior year was interrupted by Uncle Sam and Mr. Martinez was drafted into the Military Service and on to active duty.  He served in the Army for over three years.  Most of his time was spent in England and Europe.  During World War II Mr. Martinez took part in the Invasion of France.  On D-Day the Third Army, which Mr. Martinez was with, landed on the beach of Northern France just hours after the first wave.  This is where Mr. Martinez saw action for the first time.  His outfit disembarked from the landing barges, and with the water just below their chest they made their way to the beach and on to victory.  He saw action in two major battles, the battle of Northern France and the Battle of Normandy.  He also participated in two other major battles, the battle of the Ardennes and the battle of Rhineland.  Mr. Martinez was awarded four battle stars.  After the surrender of Germany Mr. Martinez was transferred to the Philippine Islands.  He left Marseille, France by boat.  They traveled through the Mediterranean Sea, across the Atlantic Sea onto the Panama Canal and across the Pacific Ocean to Wake Island and Caroline Island and on to Luzon.  The trip took 45 days and he landed in Luzon in August 1945.  Mr. Martinez’ outfit landed in Philippines just in time for the Philippine Liberation.  Mr. Martinez spent Thanksgiving in Manila, and by December he was on his way to the US. and he arrived in San Francisco Bay just in time for Christmas.  He spent Christmas in San Francisco and on December 26th he was on his way to Fort Bliss, Texas where he was given his Honorable Discharge on December 27, 1945.  In January 1945 Mr. Martinez resumed his High School studies and graduated from El Rito Normal in May 1946.  In September of the same year he began his college studies at Adams State in Alamosa, Colorado.  He received his BA and MA in Education from Adams State, he also did post graduate work above his MA at New Mexico Highlands University.  It was at Adams State that Mr. Martinez met wife, Felonis Mascarenas.  They married in November 1947 and have one son, Abel Jr.  In 1948 Mr. Martinez began his teaching career in Rodarte.  He then served as principal at the Vadito Schools in Llano San Juan.  From 1968 to 1970 he served as Principal of the Peñasco Jr High School, during the last two years of that time he also served as assistant High School Principal.  In 1975 he was appointed as Principal of the Peñasco Elementary School and served there until 1980.  The remaining time that Mr. Martinez was not in administration he spent as a classroom teacher.  In total he rendered 34 years of service to the Peñasco Independent School District.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Teofila Martinez, and sisters, Celina Jaramillo, Anita Martinez and Cora Chacon.  He is survived in death by his loving wife of 69 years, Felonis Martinez.  His son Abel E. Martinez Jr, and wife Priscilla.  His grandchildren Clarissa A. Martinez and Brian C. Martinez.  Brothers Teofilo, Ben and Roy Martinez, and sister, Isabella Sandoval.  Public visitation will begin on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. at DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory, with a rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 5, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Peñasco, with a burial to follow at 12:45 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers, Brian Martinez, Estevan Trujillo, Gary and Edwin Mascareñas, Alex Trujillo and Victor Vigil. The family of Abel E. Martinez Sr. has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley.

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