Obituaries

Emilio C. Artiaga

1944-2019

Emilio C. Artiaga, age 75, a resident of Los Lunas, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Josie Artiaga; sister, Cathy Nevarez; and niece, Anna Gabaldon.

Emilio is survived by his sister, Corine Molina and husband, Larry; daughter, Hedi Lopez; son, Gilbert Lopez and wife, Josette; and three children, Jeanette, Kimberly and Michael; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A visitation will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at Noblin Funeral Service Los Lunas Chapel. Interment will be held privately by the family.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Los Lunas Chapel, 2211-D Main St., 866-9992.

Melvin Manley Blackburn

1925-2019

Melvin Manley Blackburn, 94, passed away Aug. 3, 2019, at the New Mexico State Veteran’s Home in Truth or Consequences, N.M.

He was born in Holdenville, Okla., on June 10, 1925, to James Robert Blackburn and Katie Hawkins Blackburn. He served during World War II in the U.S. Navy on the battleship BB-44 USS California. In August 1944, the USS California had a collusion with her sister ship, USS Tennessee. Melvin made all the landings in the South Pacific, Guam, Tinian, Manus, Leyte, and the Battle of Surigao Strait. The ship took a kamikaze attack on Jan. 6, 1945, at Lingayen Gulf, killing 44 men and injuring 155. After repairs she returned to battle at Okinawa and the East China Sea.

After the war, they took a good-will tour around the world. He was a building, heating and plumbing contractor in Albuquerque, president of Mira Construction Company and owner of MM Blackburn Mechanical. He was also a member of the Veguita Volunteer Fire Department.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, were instrumental in the opening of Choices for Children Day School, a not-for-profit, accredited pre-school and childcare with a 5-star rating with Children Youth and Families.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Ford Blackburn, of Bowie, Texas; two sons, Michael Claude Blackburn, of Rapid City, S.D., and Randall Melvin Blackburn, of Veguita; three stepdaughters, Kathryn Iovino and husband, Nick, of Denver, Colo., Dianna Ford, of Santa Fe, and Freda Crow and husband, Tony, of Albuquerque. He is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and Mr. Blackburn will be inurned at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at a later date.

Mary Ann Contreras

1929-2019

Mary Ann Contreras, age 90, a resident of Belen, passed away on Friday, Aug. 9, 2019.

She was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Mary Ann enjoyed dancing, and having fun with all her friends at the senior citizens center. She liked going for rides in the car and seeing different things.

Mary enjoyed stopping at yard sales, and when she was at home, she kept her mind on a word search book or just visiting with friends having coffee and cookies. Mary Ann had a good sense of humor and lots of Spanish sayings.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Anselmo and Petra Rael; husband, Baltazar P. Contreras; baby daughter, Mildred; and siblings, Juan, Guadalupe, Laurencio, Eloy, Nabor, Nacaria, Sylvestre and Anselmo Jr.

Mary Ann is survived by Eleanor Labadie, Adenago Contreras (Anna), Lawrence Contrereas (Dolores) and Marie Varela; brother, Fransisco Rael (Lucy); sisters, Ernestine Romero, Vicenta Baca, (Emilio), Stella Ortega and Helen Maes; 13 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

A public viewing will begin at 8 a.m., Friday, Aug. 16, at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 9 a.m. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., 864-4448, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

David L. Fresquez

1925-2019

David L. Fresquez, age 93, a resident of Tomé, joined our Lord and Savior surrounded by his loving family on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019.

He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomé. David proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Force.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Esidro and Maria Vigil Fresquez; and many other family members.

David is survived by his loving wife, Mary Gallegos Fresquez; his five loving children, Gloria Carriger (Gary), James Chavez (Kim), Debbie Ortega (Ron), Teresa Vigil (Raymond) and David Chavez (Kelly). He is also survived by his many loving grandchildren; two brothers, Ernest (Carolyn) and Jimmy (Linda); and many loving nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomé on Friday, Aug. 16, beginning with a public viewing at 10 a.m., a Rosary to be recited at 10:30 a.m., a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will be held at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Call Romero Funeral Home at 864-8501 for interment date and time.

Pallbearers will be John, Tom, John Jr. and Thomas Gallegos Jr., and Angelo and Lorenzo Carabajal.

Please sign David’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

Faustino P. Luna

1936-2019

Faustino P. Luna, age 83, a resident of Bosque Farms, passed away Monday, Aug. 5, 2019.

He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. My dad was a handsome man. He was a hard-working man. He had a heart of gold. He was always willing to help anyone.

My dad and mom shared 65 beautiful years of marriage. My dad enjoyed going to yard sales and going to the casino. He always enjoyed and loved talking to people. He was always there for all of us. My dad had a unique sense of humor. He would brighten up a room when he walked in. My dad will be greatly missed and loved by so many people.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty B. Luna; father, Ramon Luna; mother, Teresa Luna; sister, Mela and husband, Sisto Garcia, Virginia and her husband, Andres Carrasco; sister, Eva and her husband, Marceleno Cordova; and sister, Reina Luna; brother, Fred Luna; foster brother, David Luna; and son-in-law, Antonio W. Marquez.

He is survived by daughter, Judy Marquez; and grandchildren, Marcos Baldonado, Amanda Marquez and boyfriend, Thomas Horton, Amy, and Billy Stewart; brother, Richard and Marylou Luna; sister-in-law, Consuelo Luna; son, Ronald Luna and wife, Marie Luna; daughter, Norma and Jackie Garcia; brother-in-law, James Gutierrez; and many nephews and nieces.

All services were held Friday, Aug. 9, 2019, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers were Ricky Luna, Edward Margo Garcia, Ramon Maes, Thomas Horton, Billy Stewart and Donald Marquez.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Los Lunas Chapel, 2211-D Main St., 866-9992.

Felix Elifar Romero

1948-2019

Felix Elifar Romero, was born in Embudo, N.M., on June 22, 1948, to George and Oralia Romero of El Valle, N.M.

He passed away on Aug. 6, 2019, at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque at the age of 71. He was a long-term resident of Belen.

Felix was one of five children that grew up in El Valle. He served in the Army from 1968 to 1974 during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

Felix was an avid hunter, enjoyed the outdoors and loved all sports.

He is survived by his children, Michael Romero, Gina Hernandez, Felix Romero Jr. and Victoria Romero; siblings, Elmer, Juanita and George; grandchildren, Joseph, Natasha, Keoma, Adrian and Erika. He is also survived by great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and lots of friends.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, George and Oralia Romero; and brother, Raymond Romero.

The family of Felix Elifar Romero has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477; devargasfuneral.com.

Wilson “Rich” Richardson

1925-2019

Wilson “Rich” Richardson, age 94, of Albuquerque, and Ellison Bay, Wisc., passed away at his Albuquerque home on July 22, 2019.

He had been under the loving care of Presbyterian Hospice, and his entire family, including his daughter, Nancy, a registered CNA at Door County, Wisc., and his wife of seven years, Karen Bielinski-Richardson.

Rich was born on June 10, 1925, to Wilson E. Richardson Sr. and Grace L. (Fulkerson) Richardson in Highland Park, Ill. He graduated from Highland Park High School, and then joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. he served on the island of Saipan as an airplane mechanic.

After the war, he came home and, for a short time, worked on the engine of a commuter train in the Chicago area. He then joined the Highland Park Fire Department. He retired after 28 years of service as assistant chief of the department.

In 1953, he married Carole D. Lyle. They were to be blessed with four daughters, Jennifer L. Taylor, Marcia Lynn Richardson, Rebecca L. Lueras and Nancy L. Smith. They were later blessed with grandchildren, Molly (Nick), Jay, Meghan (Casey) Lyle and Benjamin; great-grandchildren, Delia and Lucy.

Rich and Carole spent their marriage raising their daughters, camping every summer with family and friends, building new homes and socializing with their many friends and family. Rich was a doting and proud Poppa (as his children and grandchildren nicknamed him).

Carole passed away in 2008 after sharing 55 years of marriage with Rich.

Rich was also preceded in death by his daughter, Marcia; his parents, Wilson and Grace; brother, Roy; sister, Ellis; and aunts, Mertha Fulkerson and Alice Larson.

In 2012, Rich was married for a second time to Karen Asplin Bielinski. Karen had been married 47 years to Leonard J. Bielinski, who died of melanoma skin cancer on July 5, 2006. Rich and Karen enjoyed seven years of marriage before his passing.

Rich will be buried next to his wife, Carole, at the North Shore Garden of Memories in Waukegan, Ill. His body has been cremated but the date when the burial will take place has not yet been determined.

Karen and the family whishes to thank Dr. Richard Madden, MD, and the members of the Presbyterian Hospice team for the wonderful care Rich was given.

Commander James Emmitt Russell

1950-2019

Commander James Emmitt Russell, age 69, passed away Aug. 1, 2019, from complications of Huntington’s disease.

He was a Naval Academy graduate and retired naval aviator. James served our country for more than 20 years. He also served as director of transportation for eight years under Gov. Johnson’s administration, then deployed to Afghanistan as a contractor for the U.S. Army.

James is preceded in death by his parents, Dick and Ramona Russell; father-in-law, Martin Chavez Sr.; and mother-in-law, Sadie G. Chavez.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline Chavez Russell; three stepsons, Matthew Jaramillo and wife, Angelic, Steve Jaramillo Jr. and Robert Jaramillo; three granddaughters, Mia Jaramillo, Alexa Alveolar and Vana Jaramillo; sister, Carol Jane Russell and brother, Jerry Russell, of Kansas; brother-in-law, Marty Chavez Jr. and wife, Lisa.

Per his wishes, Jim has been cremated and services will take place on Aug. 26 at Romero Funeral Home Chapel, beginning with a visitation from 10 a.m., service at 11 a.m. and interment at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, at a later date.

Please sign James’ online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.