David Martin Sanchez

David M. Sanchez

1952 - 2026

David M. Sanchez, age 73, a resident of Los Lunas, NM, and a member of San Clemente Catholic Church in Los Lunas, NM has entered eternal rest on March 9, 2026. Services will be held at San Clemente Catholic Church in Los Lunas on Thursday March 19, 2026, beginning with Visitation at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Rosary at 10:00 a.m., and Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Los Lentes Catholic Cemetery.

About David.... A baby boy was born on May 21, 1952. He was adopted by his loving parents, Jose and Viola Sanchez, and was given the name David M. Sanchez.

David grew up in Albuquerque and Santa Rosa, New Mexico. He was known for killing rattlesnakes and placing their rattles in his guitar. For this, he was given the name "Rato" by his lifelong friends Chuko, Davy, Tutor and numerous others.

David graduated from Highlands University. It was at Highlands where he met the love of his life, Roberta. He liked to joke that he waited outside the home economics building and she was the first one to come out. For her, he earned the name "Sweetheart." David and Roberta recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

David and Roberta were blessed with four children-Veronica (James), Christina, Noelle (Andres), and little David (Adrienne); six grandchildren-Victoria (Cevin), Vanessa, Viola, baby David, Mateas, and Cyra; and two great-grandchildren, Jeremy and Vayla. For them, he proudly carried the name of Dad and Grandpa.

David placed great importance on education and the pursuit of knowledge at every level. Throughout his life, he achieved many accomplishments: he was drafted and served in the United States Army, earned a master's degree, was an environmental scientist, worked at Notre Dame, retired from state government, read grant proposals for the federal government, served as a college professor, and was also a business owner.

If you asked David about his greatest accomplishment, he would say it was his family. He showed his love in simple ways-fixing a broken can opener, checking to make sure the garage door was shut, taking care of those darn dogs, getting his grandkids off the bus, answering every phone call and so much more.