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Isabel Stubblefield, 100, born March 27, 1905, died Friday, May 13, 2005 in Los Lunas, NM. She was the fourth of eleven children born to Don Ramon and Dona Eligia Garcia. She grew up in Peralta, NM, a small farming community in Valencia County. At the age of 15 she was betrothed to her childhood sweetheart, Aginaldo (Gile) Salazar. In June 1921, she married Gile son of Don Francisco and Dona Feliciana Salazar. Gile was the fourth of ten children born to the Salazars. On April 9, 1925, Isabel's dreams were shattered! Her husband, Gile, died from burns received in an accidental fire. Isabel's desire to continue her education seemed like an impossible dream. She loved children and had dreams of becoming a school teacher, but she knew that a college education required a substantial amount of money and her father's small farm could never produce the required amount. The Great Depression had crippled the U.S. economy and the only kind of work she could hope to find, was taking care of children, house cleaning, or doing laundry. By summer, she had managed to save enough money to enroll at the University of New Mexico, taking only 3 credit units at a time. In the fall of 1936, she finally had enough credentials to seek employment as a teacher. Her ultimate dream. Isabel considered the school year of 1936-37 the happiest and the most gratifying, yet the most difficult year of her life. She would wake up while it was still dark, prepare breakfast and lunch for her son, Jose and herself, walk to school, and start the fire in the wood stove. She wanted the schoolroom warm when her students arrived. In September, 1940 her daughter, Chanita, married Jesus Romero of Peralta, NM. In the fall of 1941 she transferred to the Valencia Public School, there she met her future daughter-in-law, Lumina, also known as Lucy. Her son, Jose married the beautiful young lady, Lumina, on July 2, 1948. In 1950 she married a wonderful man, Donald "Tex" Stubblefield. Tex courted her for five years before she agreed to marry him. Tex taught her to drive and for the first time in her life she owned a car. They bought a house and established Tex Service Station on River Road in Belen. This Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005, she celebrated her 100th birthday. She lived a full life and has no regrets. In her heart, she knows that she played a positive and important role in the lives of numerous children in Valencia County. She is survived by her children, Feleciana (Chanita) and Jose; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Friends may visit French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel on Sunday, 5:00 p.m. until service. A Prayer Service will be held on Sunday, 6:00 p.m. at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel. A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, 10:00 a.m. at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jesus Romero, Jr., Kenneth Romero, Chano Romero, Frank Romero, David Salazar, and Rick Salazar. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333
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