Rafael "Ralph" Martinez

Rafael “Ralph” Martinez was an accomplished entrepreneur but his real success was the magnitude of his spiritual strength that he drew upon to overcome his alcoholism and stay sober for the last 26 years of his life. He was born in Vado, NM and worked in the cotton fields and farms of Southern NM as a boy and traveled to Mescalero, NM in the winter with his family in search for work as a lumberjack. There he learned to cherish, respect and admire the Apache ways. He proudly severed 10 years in the United States Air Force. In the 60’s and 70’s he was a familiar face in Canutillo and the Upper Valley loading up watermelons in the back of his pick up in the summer or carrying pots of menudo in the back of his station wagon in the winter and driving throughout the Westside communities selling his goods. He saved enough to open a business along Doniphan Dr. These humble beginnings flourished into a full-fledged market called the Mayfair Market. He went on to operate Sunset Grocery in Grass Valley, CA. He was a founder of Mesilla Valley Meat Processing and Far West Beer Depot in Canutillo. Even as he battled the ravishes of cancer he worked to the very end in his new business called the “The Little Tent Produce”. Survived by his loving wife, Irma Martinez; sons: Ralph Martinez, Jr., Benjamin Martinez, and Mark Martinez; daughters: Belinda Martinez, Sylvia M. Ancira, Sally Martinez, Angela J. Muela, and Jennifer S. Martinez. 17 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; brothers: Pilo Martinez, Sotero Martinez and Benjamin Martinez; sisters: Ofelia Chaffino, Dora Triste, Elfida Davalos, and Antonia Ontiveros. Several nieces and nephews. Visitation from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm with Vigil at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at Sunset Funeral Homes–Northeast. Funeral Mass at 10:00 am, Thursday, December 11, 2008 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net