Ruben Aguilar Martinez Jr.

After a long and courageous battle with pancreatic caner, Ruben Aguilar Martinez Jr., age 69, passed away on Friday morning, March 31, 2017 at Memorial Medical Hospital with his wife by his side. Ruben was born on June 11, 1947 to Celia Rivas de Martinez and Ruben Aguilar Martinez Sr. in Long Beach, California. Ruben was educated at the California State University at Long Beach, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. For years he worked for Star-Kist and later moved to International Transportation Services in San Pedro, California before relocating to Las Cruces in 1993. He retired in 2015, where he worked in the Accounting Department for Dona Ana County. Ruben proudly served his country honorably as a Sergeant E5 in the Americal Division, 198 Light Infantry Brigade, Battalion 1/6 Infantry Charlie Company in Viet Nam as a highly trained sniper. His unit worked with the Hmong people for whom he had the highest esteem. Despite the horror of war, Ruben came home with a great respect for the Vietnamese people and a true love for living life to the fullest. Ruben served ten years as the financial secretary for the Knights of Columbus (3rd Degree) at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Later, he transferred to St. Albert's Newman Center and continued his service as a Knight, a Eucharistic Minister, as a volunteer for the Finance Council, and the Lunch Bunch Ministry. He was a kind, caring, and compassionate man, who was generous beyond a fault. He always had a smile for everyone and will be greatly missed by those who had the privilege of knowing him. Those left to mourn his passing include his wife of 41 years, Chriss Martinez; his daughter, Crystal Fire Martinez of Dallas, TX; brother, Richard Martinez and wife, Leilia of Sparks, NV; brother-in-law, Gary Stinnett of Waco, TX; as well as many loving and dear friends in Las Cruces, NM and in Los Angeles, CA. Services will be celebrated on Friday, April 7, 2017 at St. Albert the Great Newman Center which is located at 2615 S. Solano Drive in Las Cruces. The Rosary is scheduled at 10:00 A.M. followed by an 11:00 A.M. Mass with military honors to be celebrated by Father Ray Flores. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to be made in Ruben's honor to the Americal Legacy Scholarship Foundation. Please send your donation to: Americal Legacy Scholarship Foundation at P.O. Box 309, Middleville, Michigan 49333. Indicate Ruben A. Martinez on the check's memo line. PDF Printable Version