Rosendo Garcia

Garcia, Rosendo passed away peacefully at his home early Thursday morning March 30th at the age of 98. Rosendo was born January 26th, 1925 in the community of Guachupangue in the Espanola Valley area. He made his home with his loving wife , Ida in San Pedro since their marriage in 1946. Rosendo is survived by his sons: Ross (Rosendo, Jr.)(wife Kathleen), of San Pedro; Sammy Garcia(Partner Kelley Keresey), of Rio Rancho; Daughter: Dianne Roybal (husband Phillip) of San Ildefonso. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Gina M. Montoya, James P. Garcia (Partner Lorna Torrado), Rosendo E. Garcia (Partner Valerie Rodriguez), Jennifer Garcia (Partner Lorenzo Julia), Michelle Garcia, Rhiannon Chavez (husband Tim), and Ross Phillip Roybal (wife Claire). His greatgrandchildren: Mateo and Lucas Montoya; Celia, Angelica, and Amalia Chavez; Ezri, Ross Phillip, Jr. (RJ), Victor, and Hazel Roybal; and Ashlyn Garcia. He is also survived by step grandchildren Meghan Keresey (Jason Apperson) and Cameron Keresey. Rosendo was preceded in death by the love of his life, wife Ida Josina Garcia (Feb 11, 2023); parents: Ezequiel and Maria Consolasion Garcia, and grandson Jonathan Samuel Garcia. His brothers: Juanito, Esquipula, Maclovio, and Meliton (Josefina). His sisters: Petrita (Merced)Quintana, Anita Lugardita (Luis) Armijo, Rosa Francisca (Chavez, Collier). Rosendo grew up the youngest of the family children. In his early childhood he spent sometime on the family homestead near Los Alamos with his brother Esquipula. There they grew vegetables and other crops to help support the family. Early in his life his family moved from Guachupangue to San Pedro near Espanola. Later he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps near Socorro and Quemado, NM. He said at one time he was cutting willows and other brush to be sent to Espanola to help with flooding from the Rio Grande. Later he went to the Oakland, CA area to find work where he worked for a short time before being drafted into the Army Air Force to support the US in WWII. Rosendo went into the Army Air Force (June, 1943) where he was trained as an airplane engine mechanic and later was assigned and trained as a tail gunner for a B-17 Flying Fortress. He completed 32 missions over Germany while stationed in London, England. This was a very dangerous assignment for him and his crew members where as many as half the planes did not return from their missions. He was very lucky to return home unharmed. He would say his mother and family were always praying for him. Rosendo was awarded the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Clusters First thru Fifth “for excellent performance of duty and meritorious achievement inaerial combat”. He never talked about these awards.He met the love of his life Ida after returning from serving in WWII. Together they made their home in the community of San Pedro and raised their family there. They developed the property together, planted an orchard that was very productive and built a large part of their home together. Rosendo would work the farm while having a full-time job at Los Alamos mostly with the Zia Co., where he worked for 40 yrs. In his later years after retirement Rosendo continued to maintain the farm that he loved. People asked him why he was still doing that after having retired. He would say he just loved doing it – it was not work for him. That was true of a lot of things that he did. He was a very humble man. Many thanks to Professional Case Management (PCM) Nurses who cared for Rosendo: Xochitl, Janet, Angie, Rosie, Claudia, James, Eduardo, and La’Tanya. Many thanks to Caregivers that also provided special support: Adriana, Lourdes, Lorena, & Maria. Thank you also to Home Instead Staff and Caregivers: Jennifer, Eva, Johnny, Gina, Gurujot & Donna.

Pallbearers: James and Rosendo Garcia, Tim Chavez, Ross Roybal, and Carlos H. and Alfredo Ortiz. Honorary pallbearers: J. Carlos and Tino Ortiz and Randy Roybal.

Services will be at Santa Cruz de la Canada church on Tuesday Apr. 18th with viewing at 9:30a.m., Rosary at 10:00 a.m., Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m., and burial at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at 1:30 p.m.