Marvin Dubbin

Marvin Dubbin passed away peacefully at his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on October 22, 2025, at the age of 80, surrounded by his wife and children. He died of complications from leukemia after 18 months of treatment.
"Varying degrees of great!"
Is the exuberant response you'd probably get after asking Marvin how he is. If he hadn't seen you in a while, an energetic hug and a big smile were soon to follow.
A genuinely kind, curious, and positive person, Marvin had many close friends and neighbors. Always active and generous, one of his favorite activities was helping others; another was hard work. When the two could be combined, that brought him the most joy. He used his extensive knowledge and exceptional skills to build or repair everything from precise electronic circuitry to major building renovations, even restoring classic cars - the faster and louder the better. If you were fortunate enough to know Marvin, there's a good chance he helped you repair something, picked you up when your car stranded you, whipped up some sleds so you could ride the dunes at White Sands, or tracked down where that leak was coming from. Nothing you could ask him to help with was too big or too small.
In 1967, he met the love of his life, Stella Mercedes Baca, during a night out dancing at the Cork and Bottle. She didn't accept his offer to drive her home, and not having a phone of his own, he had to drive across town to call her for another date and get her address. Much to his surprise, they were neighbors, living nearly across the street. After many more dates and dances, he proposed to her before heading to a job he had landed on Wake Island for almost a year. They wrote letters and shared cassette tapes, and after he returned, they were married on July 26, 1969. They welcomed the birth of their son, Mark Dubbin, in 1971 and later the birth of their daughter, Melissa Dubbin, in 1976.
Always a loving and dedicated father, Marvin spent his little free time with his family whenever possible. From making a homemade bike seat so he could ride around with his toddler son, making his daughter a wooden cradle for her dolls, teaching them both about computers, making things, and helping with homework. He was always supportive of their interests and pursuits, even those he considered needed reconsidering. As they got older, he helped them with home repair projects and was a willing participant in his daughter's artistic endeavors, participating in a film and helping with circuitry for pyrotechnics in a series of photographs made with her husband, which have been widely exhibited.
Ever gregarious and sociable, Marvin loved hosting family and holiday celebrations, barbecues, and events with family and friends; the more, the merrier. He was always finding an extra seat for anyone without family or friends to spend the holidays. He enjoyed dancing, car races, fishing, cycling, golf, music, waterskiing, card games, woodworking, and many other fun and challenging activities. In their younger days, he and Stella even won dance competitions, and he could always be found on a dance floor whenever the opportunity arose. Playing cards, especially cribbage, was one of his favorite pastimes, something all the Dubbin family got together to enjoy during their many family reunions. A reunion always included a card tournament and some rides in the pontoon boat around one of the many lakes in Northern Minnesota. When his mother Rosabel needed to move from the harsh Minnesota winters, he kept his promise to care for her and brought her to New Mexico, providing a home for her and caring for her throughout the rest of her life.
More recently he could be found riding his e-bike around town even during the last year of his life when he was undergoing chemo. He was able to help plan a surprise party for his wife's 90th birthday just a few weeks prior, with many recalling the special moment when they danced together at her celebration. The fact that he was in treatment did not diminish his active lifestyle and optimism; his love for life and its joys could be seen by all. His granddaughter remarked only a few months ago, 'How can he be so happy when he knows he's dying?' which is a testament to the way he lived.
Marvin Henry Dubbin was born on April 20th, 1945, in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, to his parents, Rosabel (Larson) and Melvin Dubbin. He was a fraternal twin and shared his birthday with his brother Melvin Dubbin, who passed away in 2020. He was the fourth-born of 10 children in his family of 5 brothers and 5 sisters. They spent most of their upbringing in Northern Minnesota, primarily in the town of Finland. He attended Silver Bay (William Kelley) High School and after graduating in 1963, he went on to serve his country in the Navy. He moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1967 and received his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University in 1971. He worked at White Sands Missile Range for 32 years, where he began at the Atmospheric Sciences Lab (ASL), promoted to the director of IMETS, the Integrated Meteorological Program, and was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
In addition to his parents, Marvin was preceded in death by his brothers Melvin Dubbin and Mark Dubbin and sisters Judy Moody and Marlene Doublet. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Stella (Baca) Dubbin, his sisters Shirley Nelson, Arlyce Dubbin, and Vicky Soulier, his brothers Wayne Dubbin and Dallas Dubbin, his son Mark Dubbin (Tisha), his daughter Melissa Dubbin (Aaron), and his granddaughter Anika Dubbin-Davidson.
A memorial and celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Perches - Graham's Funeral Home in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Blood Cancer United or the American Legion. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marvin, please visit our floral store.