Manuel Salinas Sr.

Manuel L. Salinas Our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friends passed peacefully through Heavens gates on Friday, February 3, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. Manuel was born in Lordsburg on August 4, 1938 and attended High School as a Lordsburg Maverick. During his sophomore year of High School, he voluntarily joined the Army in 1959 and served our Country until 1983. While his time serving our Country, he also attended NM State University to pursue his Business degree. After obtaining his degree in 1961, the State Corporation Commission gave Manuel the opportunity to serve as a public servant to the people of New Mexico. Before his military career ended, he was sent Executive orders by Governor Bruce King to actively respond to the 1980 Prison Riot at the New Mexico State Penitentiary for a period of 12 days. Shortly after moving to Santa Fe, he met and married his beautiful, supportive wife, Anna Ruth Chapman. In 1975 he was appointed to serve as the Director for the State Corporation Commission and served the state until his retirement in 1998. He is preceded in death by his father and mother Luz and Josephine Salinas, brother, Marvin De La Garza and his beloved wife, Anna Ruth. He is survived by his son, Manuel Salinas Jr. (Rosemary), daughters, Relda Jo Fallis (William), Tammy Salinas (Sean), Patricia Bybee (Berto Valdez), and Roberta Nylund (Mark), brother, Edmund Salinas and wife Dolores, sister, Loretta De La Garza, mother-in-law, Relda F. Ortega, grandchildren, Keisha Salinas, Dominique Salinas, Noah Salinas, Shianne and Sierra Fallis, Robert Thompson, Gilbert and Andrew Valdez, great grandchildren, John Salinas and Contess Reyos, and many loving nephews, nieces and friends. A visitation and rosary were held on February 8, 2012. A mass was celebrated on February 9, 2012. All services were held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Interment followed at the Santa Fe National Cemetery with Full Military Honors.