Joaquin R. Balderrama

1932 - 2015

Joaquin R. Balderrama, 82, of Wyoming St. passed away on Monday, June 8, 2015 at Covenant Specialty Hospital in Lubbock, TX. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday (June 12) at San Jose Catholic Church. Father Martin Cordero will be the celebrant. Interment will follow at Sunset Gardens Memorial Park with Military Honors performed by the Carlsbad Veteran's Honor Guard. Vigil with Rosary will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at San Jose Catholic Church. Visitation will be 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Thursday at West Funeral Home. Services have been entrusted to West Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed atwestfuneralhomellc.com
Joaquin R. Balderrama was born August 27, 1932 to Dulces Nombre and Manuela (Ramirez) Balderrama in Terlingua, TX. He was raised in Loving, NM. He served as a PFC (paratrooper) in the US Army during the Korean War.
On November 29, 1958 Joaquin married his loving wife of 56 ½ years Hilda (Franco) Balderrama.
Joaquin was employed for 25 years with the Carlsbad Potash Mines and had also done construction for many years.
He was a member of San Jose Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society, North Mesa Senior Citizens, United Steel Workers Union and served on the Carlsbad Beautification Committee (West Carlsbad curb and gutter).
Joaquin is preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Andres, Antonio, Juan and Jose; sisters: Eudelia Franco, Carlota Chavez and Wences Vasquez.
He is survived by his loving wife Hilda, son Eddie (Jill) Balderrama and daughters, Patricia and fiancé Nathan McGee, Yvonne and Jacqueline Balderrama, all of Carlsbad and daughter, Clara Fierro of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren: Tiffany Fields and Christopher Balderrama of Albuquerque, Jonathan Fields of Texarkana, AR, Sierra Cosgray and Timmie Fierro of Carlsbad, Savannah Balderrama of Ft. Worth, TX, Kain Fierro of Las Vegas, NM and Nevaeh and Isabella Navarrette of Phoenix, AZ; great-grandchildren: Cincinnati Lopez and Aurora Cosgray of Carlsbad, Cattleya Luna of Ft. Worth, TX and brother Julio of El Paso, TX.
Pallbearers are Andy Balderrama, Chance Cosgray, Mario Vasquez, Hector Balderrama, Melvin Balderrama and Nathan McGee.
Honorary Pallbearers are Beto Espino, Merced Espino, Susano Garcia, Tano Martinez and Richard Titus.