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BORN
1930
DIED
2019
Leonard Ortega Obituary
Leonard Carl Ortega, age 89, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother passed away on Friday, September 20, 2019. He was born to Louis and Eleanor Vigil Ortega on Monday, March 17, 1930 in Ramey, a small mining camp in southern Colorado. He grew up in Trinidad, Colorado, and enlisted in the Army at the young age of sixteen. He received the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Japan Medal as a soldier in Korea. He became a firefighter with the Trinidad Fire Department in 1951. He joined the Albuquerque Fire Department in 1960 and became Fire Chief in 1979. He retired in 1985 after 34 years as a dedicated public servant.
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 48 years, Violeta Ortega; his children, Victoria Ortega, Leonard (Karen Sanchez) Ortega, Dorothy (Eduardo Laborde) Gaylor, Marlaine Gaylor, and Yolanda (James) Fastle; grandchildren, Jesse (Ada), Jamie (Naomi) Breedlove, Nicholas and Leonard Ortega, Ian Cannon, Ryan (Nicole) Stanfill, Jordan Fastle, Miranda (Steve) Rich, Ashley Fastle, and Sam (Whitney) Fastle. He's also survived by ten great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his infant son, Leonard Ortega; grandson, Aeric Cannon; and brothers, Louis and Edmund Ortega.
He was a good son, a dedicated husband, a wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle. He shared his words of wisdom and always gave valuable advice to his loved ones. He was a self-educated man and had a book on every subject. He will be sadly missed, but he lives on in our hearts forever. "He who believes never dies."
A visitation will be held on Monday, September 30, 2019, 9:30 a.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Montano Chapel, 1100 Montano Road NW, with a funeral service to follow. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to: John Hopkins Cancer Research, https://secure.jhu.edu/form/kimmel. Please visit our online guestbook for Leonard at
www.FrenchFunerals.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Leonard Ortega
5 Entries
Donna Lucero
November 11, 2019
Sending my deepest condolences too You Bridgette & your family
Lisa Quillman
September 27, 2019
My words are not enough... Sending my love and prayers.
Love Todd and Lisa Quillman
Laura Montoya
September 24, 2019
Mrs. Ortega I'm so sorry to hear of Mr. Ortega's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Laura Montoya, Premier Hearing zCenter
Marlaine Gaylor
September 22, 2019
The beauty of many memories and lives he touched, the gifts of wisdom he shared with everyone.
Ann Majors
September 22, 2019
This obituary is an excellent summary of the life of a wonderful Christian man. He has surely reaped a beautiful reward in Heaven.
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