ROBERTO A. MARTINEZ passed away September 25, 2023, in Las Cruces, New Mexico surrounded by his loving family. He was born on December 10, 1950, to Master Sergeant Patrocinio and Carmen Martinez at Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lorenzo "Lolo" Martinez. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Debra Martinez, his daughter Colonel Angelica R. Martinez, his son, Agent Patrocinio Martinez and his daughter-in-law, Detective Mathilda Martinez.

With a longing to return to New Mexico after moving twelve times throughout childhood with his WWII and Korean War veteran father, Roberto graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and purchased his grandmother's historic adobe home in Santa Fe. This was the first time he was allowed in the living room. Great grandma Vincenta "Bessie" Gonzalez kept the kids outside or in the back of the house in the "cuartito" room. Although Roberto had a successful career working for the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department, he will be remembered for generously sharing his time and incredible talents as a woodworker, home builder, welder, classic car restorer, motorcycle rider, and dedicated member of fraternal and veteran organizations.

Close friends, family, and people he happened to meet, frequently visited Roberto and Debra where he built a second story addition on the house (to include a spiral staircase) and constructed an adobe outdoor oven used to make bread and goat with the Valencia family. He also restored and painted classic cars, hand-crafted classical Spanish wood furniture, and played guitar and sang the music of Lalo Guerrero, Jim Croce, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard. If not helping friends with innumerable projects (mostly because he had a tool for everything), you could find him communing with contemporaries on a charitable motorcycle ride or sharing stories with compatriots at his beloved Fraternal Order of the Eagles Club, the American Legion, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He loved his 1937 Ford truck, several loyal dogs, and saying entirely too much about his children's achievements.

Upon retirement and moving to Las Cruces, he met a new neighbor (and new friend) who was nervous about having his first child. Always the father figure, Roberto simply said, "my kids are the best thing I've ever done." His kindness extended to nieces, nephews, cousins, and new friends who were always welcomed in his home to enjoy a bowl of Debra's delicious menudo or posole and the opportunity to learn a new skill in his workshop. He would also give strangers the shirt off his back or the couch he gave a cousin, a piano he gave a neighbor, or the dining room table he gave a priest and two nuns who picked him up when his car broke down. Many will miss spending time with Roberto, and more importantly, his personality, generosity, and innate ability to make people feel like they have family and a friend in his presence.

The family invites you to a Celebration of Life to be held at 1 PM Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at Baca's Funeral Chapel, 300 E. Boutz Road.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapel of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com