Paul Elizondo Sr.

Paul M. Elizondo Sr., 88, died December 5, 2009 in El Paso, Texas. He was born on September 15, 1921 in Eagle Lake, Texas and later moved to Albuquerque, NM, with his mother and seven siblings. He attended Albuquerque High School where he enjoyed his studies, played baseball, and sang in the choir. After graduation in 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, 15th Air Force. He served as a Radio School Instructor in Chicago and later completed 35 bombing missions over Europe as a combat crew member on a B-17 Flying Fortress. After WWII he attended the University of New Mexico and earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1950. He worked for several years with the Corp of Engineers on projects in New Mexico and Colorado. He spent the remainder of his career with the Veterans Administration where he received numerous commendations for his work as a Benefits Specialist in New Mexico and in Korea. As a young man, he was active in the Methodist Church. At one time he served as the leader of the Methodist Young Adults of New Mexico. He was instrumental in starting the Methodist family camp in Sacramento, NM. It was through the church that he met his wife of 47 years, Esperanza Ortega of El Paso, Texas. Paul is survived by his two sons, Paul Jr., Escondido, CA and Louis, San Antonio, TX, and five grandchildren. He is further survived by his sister Josephine and brother Victor as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Esperanza, by sisters Rosa, Olivia, and Isabel and by brothers James Jr., and Jesse. Visitation will be held on Thursday night, December 10 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm at Martin Funeral Home, 3839 Montana in El Paso, Texas. A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 11 at 9:30 am at Faith United Methodist Church, 3501 Hueco, followed by internment at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 4900 McNutt Rd, Santa Teresa, NM.