Rey Medina

Rey (Reynaldo) S. Medina of Chama, Santa Fé and Española was born in Chama, NM to Elvira Martínez and José Florentino Medina on September 11, 1934, and passed away peacefully at his home in Española, NM on June 20, 2022. He adored his family and the outdoors and led an active, seldom idle, life. Rey was kind, generous, and an optimist who always saw the good in people.

 As a young child, Rey lived in Chama, Santa Fé, Utah, California as the family sought out economic opportunities. He served in the US Air Force (Aircraft Control and Warning Operator) and the New Mexico Army National Guard (Chief Warrant Officer) and studied at New Mexico Highlands University prior to completing his studies at the College of Santa Fe. He served two terms in the New Mexico House of Representatives (1973-1976), representing District 41 (Río Arriba and Taos). During his legislative tenure he served on the House Appropriations and Finance, Education, and Labor Standing Committees and on the Interim Energy, Health and Aging Study, and Legislative School Study Committees. His distinguished career in state government included years as a Veterans’ Service Officer and appointments as State Labor Commissioner, Chief of Hearings and Appeals for the Human Services Department, and Director of Property Control. Following retirement, Rey continued to serve his community in various capacities including the Governor's Commission on the Handicapped, the Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission, and the Board of Trustees of Presbyterian Española Hospital.

 Rey was grateful for the many friends that he made throughout his lifetime and who made a difference in his life. He attributed much of his professional success to the brotherhood and solidarity he shared with Patricio M. Serna, Jerry Apodaca, and Dennis Salazar among many other dear friends.

 Rey was preceded in death by his sister Estella Valdéz and brothers José Florentino Medina II and Benny Medina. His surviving siblings are Margaret Trujillo, Gilbert Medina, Mary Gallegos, Dennis Medina, Ramón Medina, Sammy Medina, Josie Medina, and Carol Montoya.

 His best friend, wife, and mother to his baby daughter Yolanda and son Dennis Xavier, Elvia Isela Vidal Fuentes of Chihuahua preceded him in death in 1984.

 He is remembered by his children Joseph (José Florentino III) Medina (Española), Dianne (Fernando) Barbosa (Austin, TX), Greg Medina (Española), Victoria (Vickie) Luviano (Española), Rosina Kathy Medina (Española), Steve (Janet) Trujillo, Yolanda (David) Medina de Trujillo (Henderson, NV), Xavier (Elsa) Medina Vidal (Arlington, TX),  his grandchildren Leslie Rae Barbosa, Christina Spangler, Daniel (Natalie) Barbosa, Roque Luviano, Adrián, Victoria and Erica Castillo, Eva Luna Múñoz, Remedios Griego, Stephen (Kristi) and Zachary Trujillo, Marisol Elvia and Santiago Lino Trujillo Medina, and Paola Isela Medina Camargo, great grandchildren, extended family in New Mexico and Nevada, and his sobrinos in Chihuahua, Eduardo (Coco) Vidal, Isela (Fernando) Vidal Gómez, René (Julia) Vidal, Delia (Juan) Vidal Aguirre, and Irving Vidal.

 A celebration of Rey’s life will be held on Sunday, September 4th from 2:00-5:00 PM at La Fonda del Sol at The Delta, 233 N Paseo de Oñate, Española, NM. He will be laid to rest with his late wife in the Cementerio de Dolores in Chihuahua, Chihuahua. Learn about smoking cessation at https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking. 

The Medina family has entrusted Rivera Family Funeral Home of Espanola with the gentle care of their loved one. Please leave a condolence, message, or memory for the family to view on our guestbook at www.riverafamilyfuneralhome.com