George R. Ortiz
George Ralph Ortiz – July 21, 1940 – May 21, 2018
Following a long battle with cancer, George Ortiz died beautifully and peacefully at his home and surrounded by his family in the early morning hours of May 21, 2018. He has gone to be with our Lord. George was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico on July 21, 1940. He is preceded in death by his parents, George A. Ortiz and Mary Baca Ortiz, his sisters Beatrice Duran (Edward), Mary Lou Romero (Atanacio) and Teresa Martinez (Cirilo). He is survived by his wife, Anita Ortiz; his children, Anna Maria Gonzales (Martin), Alicia Ortiz (Wendy Neufeld) and Jorge Ortiz; his grandchildren, Amador Gonzales and Mariana Gonzales; his brother Thomas Ortiz (JoAnn); and many cousins, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends.
During his growing up years in Santa Fe, George had many adventures with his cousins and neighbors. He was a Guadalupe Rambler and graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1958. After his graduation he enlisted with the US Navy and got to see the world. He worked as a mechanic at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport before apprenticing at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to become a tech machinist. He retired after 36 years. When he retired he dedicated his time to his garden, caring for his grandchildren, visiting family and friends, fishing, and gifting his homemade pickles. He will be remembered for his kind and generous ways and for the gardens that he tended, those that bloomed in our yards and those that bloomed in our hearts. His passing will leave a hole in our lives and he will be missed by many.
A rosary will be recited on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. and a funeral Mass celebrated on Friday, May 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Both services will be held at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Santa Fe. An interment service will take place on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at National Cemetery.