Samuel Dominguez

Samuel Dominguez, devout Jehovah’s Witness, father, brother, and amigo to all, has gone home peacefully to his final reward, Monday, March 20, 2023, at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM. He was born to Anita Dominguez, at home, in Chamisal, NM, October 22, 1935.

His formal education began in a one room schoolhouse in Chamisal whereas a student he also served as custodian and keeper of the flame. Years later he still spoke fondly of the school hot lunch program. He was a sawyer and shepherd from a young age, hand cutting and hauling firewood in a wagon pulled by mules, as well as caring for livestock on the ejidos de Chamisal. He graduated from Penasco High School in 1954 and shortly thereafter went to work as an expediter helping build the new US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. He faithfully sent money home to provide for his mother, younger brothers, and sister. He gave each a watch upon graduation so that they would never be late to work.

In 1958 Samuel was drafted by the US Army and served his country during the cold war as a medic and deuce and a half driver in postwar Germany. He would wryly recount his seasickness while making the crossing to Europe through the crashing waves of the North Sea. He would regale us with fond memories of travelling through Europe while on leave enjoying the hospitality of Switzerland, France, and Spain during his active-duty service. He saw many sights while enjoying the local culture and spoke of seeing a Spanish bullfight and large military march while drinking pilsner and eating caracoles. He continued in service to his country as a nuclear worker at the Nevada Test Site during the cold war era underground nuclear testing program. He often spoke of how he enjoyed the Route 66 twenty-five cents a gallon gas, and ninety-nine cent steak and eggs casino breakfast lifestyle, of 1960's Las Vegas, NV. He survived an underground tunnel collapse after a nuclear shot test and eventually returned home due to related injuries and settled down into a comfortable country life and raised a family. Samuel had the greenest of thumbs and enjoyed and shared with all the finest homegrown organic bounty from the creator.

During this period of middle life Samuel turned toward his God Jehovah and became a founding member of the Penasco Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Along with other founders he signed his name on the dotted line in purchasing a Kingdom Hall whose congregation remains active to this day 48 years later. He was a man of deep faith and did his level best to practice what he preached from house to house for decades in his surrounding communities. He was fondly known as “faithful Sam” to many of his fellow congregants.

Samuel was preceded in death by his newborn daughter Patricia Ann, his mother, Anita Dominguez, brothers, Elmer, Jacobo, Paul, and Levi Martinez. He is survived by his daughter Della, son Samuel, and daughter Patricia (Tom), sister Marie Medina and husband Fred Medina.

The family of Samuel would like to extend the most heartfelt thankfulness and deep gratitude to the nurses and nurse techs of the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center Emergency Room and Ward 5A, for their unwavering professionalism and dedicated kindness in caring for our father, and our nation’s military veterans. Also, a heartfelt thanks to the warmhearted caregivers at Casita Senior Living in Rio Rancho, NM and to the kind and gracious Singh family veterans assisted living home in Albuquerque.

A memorial service will be held at the Rivera Family Funeral Home at 305 Calle Salazar, Española, NM, Tuesday, March 28, at 6pm.

Funeral services will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 70 Rio Chiquito Rd, Peñasco, NM, Wednesday, March 29, at 11am.

A private interment will take place at a later date at the Chamisal Community Cemetery due to poor weather and accessibility concerns.