Joe Paul Martinez

Joe Paul Martinez, age 82, passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2023, in the company of his family at their house in Rio Rancho. Joe was born on June 29, 1940, to John Bautista Martinez and Juana Nepomucena Jaramillo, in the village of La Garita, Colorado, and was raised in Santa Cruz, NM. He graduated from New Mexico Tech, served for 5 years in the U.S. Air Force, and worked for the duration of his career at the Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland. He was active in community theater in Albuquerque as an actor and in Spanish musical groups as a guitarist and was a volunteer instructor at the Explora Museum. He was a ham radio operator, an amateur photographer, and an amateur astronomer.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years: Geraldine (Jerry); son Michael and daughter-in-law Martha; daughter Ruth and son-in-law Ernie; daughter Mary An and son-in-law Tyrel Justyn; grandchildren: Forrest, Paz, Eagle, Summer Rose; great granddaughter: Selena; and sister-in-law Jackie.

The viewing will be at 9:00am followed by a Catholic rosary held on Thursday, June 1, at 9:30am at Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Church located at 11 College Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mass will begin at 10:00am. Following the Mass, Joe will be laid to rest at the National Cemetery located at 501 North Guadalupe, Santa Fe, 87501.