Edward Richard Gonzales

Funeral services for Edward R. Gonzales, 93, of Portales will be held at 10:00 AM, Tues., Mar. 17, 2020 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Kelly Fulfer officiating assisted by Barton Charles Gonzales.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Fr. Francisco Carbajal presiding.  His grandsons, Valentine Sotelo, Rudy Sotelo, Jr., Juan Martinez, Victoriano Martinez, Rey Garcia and Marcel Gonzales will serve as pallbearers.  Jayson Zingraf and Leroy Aragon, Jr. who are also a grandsons will be honorary pallbearers.  The Rosary will be recited at 7:00 PM, Mon, Mar 16, 2020 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel.

Edward Richard Gonzales was born April 16, 1926 in Rawlins, WY to the home of Rose (Lujan) and Pete J. Gonzales, and died on the evening of Mar. 12, 2020 at his home in Portales.  On June 28, 1961 in Rawlins, WY he was married to Maria Eutilia Martinez.  Mr. Gonzales was currently retired. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Cleveland during WWII.  Over the course of his life, he owned and operated many restaurants and served as a chef by profession. In addition to reading his prayer book, his favorite past-times were fishing, playing pool and wood working. He loved his family and adored his wife and set the example of love and respect for Our Lord and Savior. He will be greatly missed on earth and joyously welcomed in heaven. 

He is survived by Maria Eutilia Gonzales, his wife of nearly 59 years; three sons, John Michael Gonzales of Denver, CO, Barton Charles Gonzales of Oahu, HI and Augustine Martinez of Portales; four daughters, Mary Martinez, Arlene Sotelo and husband, Rodolfo, and Helen Martinez-Garcia and husband, Eduvijes all of Portales and Brenda Lee Kirkland and husband Timothy of Jasper, AL; 20 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Rose Marie Joss of California.  He was preceded in death by his parents and 5 brothers, Robert Bustos, David Bustos, Dan Garcia, Albert Bustos and Larry Bustos, and by a daughter, Elaine McGraw.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in his honor, to the VFW or American Legion as these charities were special to Mr. Gonzales.

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