Antonio Sandoval

ANTONIO "TONY" SANDOVAL, 97, a resident of Espanola, and formerly a resident of Abiquiu and Santa Fe passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, December 13, 2105 with his family present. Tony was born on April 14, 1918 to Francisco and Ramoncita Trujillo-Sandoval in Ojo de la Vaca.
Tony is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Elizaria Romero Sandoval; sons, Frank Sandoval and wife Cristina of Albuquerque, Antonio Sandoval and partner Christine of Rio Rancho, Lawrence Sandoval and wife Sandra of Savage, MN; Fred Sandoval and wife Rachel of Cochiti Lake; daughters, Lourdes Alcala of Española, Esther Valle of Albuquerque, and Evangeline Martinez of Santa Fe; thirty grandchildren, fifty four great-grandchildren, and eleven great-great grandchildren.
Tony was preceded in death by his parents, Francisco and Ramoncita Trujillo-Sandoval; sister, Delfina Sandoval-Trujillo; his sons, Herminio and Francisco Sandoval, and grandson, Kenneth Sandoval.
Tony was a hard working man from an early age, working on his uncle's farm and in their grocery store.  He went to work with the Civilian Conservation Corp. during the Great Depression Era at the age of 17.  Since he was fluent in both English and Spanish, he was sent to several locations in New Mexico where he helped other workers to correspond with parents back home.  Later in life, Tony drove trucks for Big Jo Lumber Company, Alpine Lumber Company, and Foremost Dairy. Tony served in the Army during World War II.  After his honorable discharge, Tony worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM.
In 1968, he was hired as the maintenance man for the Simpson Ranch in Abiquiu, NM where he became an expert at many facets of construction.  Tony and Elizaria settled in Abiquiu where they built their dream home, raised farm animals, and had a large garden where they grew many fruits, vegetables, and flowers.  They were also active members of the choir and Cursillo of St. Thomas Parish.
Tony worked at McDonald’s restaurant for many years where he served as the "public relations" personnel greeting every customer and ensuring their visit was pleasant.  He was known as grandpa to all the children that visited McDonalds often.
Tony and Elizaria moved to Espanola in 2001 where they could be closer to their family.  Tony lived life to its fullest.  He loved people, telling jokes and dichos, and making people laugh.  Even during his final days in the hospital he made the doctors and nurses laugh and smile.  That is how we will always remember Antonio "Tony" Sandoval.
Public visitation will begin on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Española. Burial to follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers, Guillermo Jimenez, Christopher Alcala, Brian Sandoval, Triton Gulczynski, Cielo Baumgardner-Sandoval, and Adam Martinez.  Serving as honorary pallbearers are Santiago Gurule, Isaac Ulibarri, Kento and Yuto Onikubo, Victoria Valle, Tony Trujillo, Joe B. Gonzales, and Brad Duni. The family of Antonio “Tony” Sandoval has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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