Victoria D. "Vicky" (Martinez) Gonzales

Victoria D."Vicky" Gonzales, 80, a long time resident of Las Vegas, NM passed away in the arms of her loving family on Thursday. She was preceded in death by her parents: Emilio and Georgia Stone Martinez; brothers, Abe and Celestino Martinez, and a sister, Katherine Gallegos.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, LTC (Ret) Luis J. Gonzales of the family home; three daughters,LTC Vivian Ludi and husband Victor of El Paso, TX, Kathy Lucero and husband Ernest Jimenez of Pueblo, CO, and Sharon Deel of Las Vegas, NM; two sons: Dennis Gonzales and wife Nanci of Centennial, CO and Luis M. Gonzales and wife Charlotte of Las Vegas, NM; one brother, William Martinez and wife Margie of Chapel Hill, NC; five sisters: Mary Gomez and husband Richard, Albinita Downey, and Alice Martinez all of Albuquerque, NM, Gloria Halama and husband Ken of Santa Fe, NM, and Irene Farmer and husband Ron of Bernalillo, NM; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

She was born in Wagon Mound, NM on November 17, 1931. She married LTC Luis Gonzales on December 30, 1950 in Springer, NM. She was a longtime resident of Las Vegas, NM retiring here after a career as an Army wife and mother. She was very active in the community, a past president and member of the VFW Post 1547 Auxiliary, also serving as District 5 President. She was a member of the DAV and the American Legion Auxiliaries. She competed in 10 Senior Olympics winning multiple medals, and represented NM at the Senior Olympic Classic VI where she was selected for the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch. She had numerous hobbies and crafted gifts for many family members. Throughout her career as an Army spouse, she volunteered in multiple positions at each assignment, including serving as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, teaching English to Puerto Rican children, and official scorekeeper for Little League Baseball.

A visitation will be held on Monday, February 6, 2012 from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. in St. Francis Chapel at Gonzales Funerals & Cremations, 2315 Hot Springs Blvd. All services will be held from Our Lady of Sorrows Church with a rosary on Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. recited by Carla O'Neil. Albert Gallegos will deliver the eulogy. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. by Father Douglas Mitchell. Cremation will follow and the committal service will be held on Wednesday a 2:15 p.m. in the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Serving as casket bearers will be Dennis Gonzales, Adam Gonzales, Ryan Lucero, Brandon Culpepper, Victor Martinez, and Louis Lucero. Honorary bearers will be the rest of her grand and great-grandchildren. Her granddaughter, Christina Deel of Las Vegas, played the loving role of companion in her last months.

The family has requested that memorials be made to the ASPCA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in care of the ASPCA Memorial Honor Giving Program,520 8th Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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