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Abel A. (Chanen) Garcia, 87, a resident of Albuquerque passed away and went to be with Our Lord on January 13, 2006. At his bedside were his nieces, Lucy Gallegos, Martha Romero, Polly Kassicieh and husband, Naim, Mary Macias; and his two nephews, Raymond Lamberson and his wife, Emma, Ernest Lucero and wife, Margaret. He is also survived by several other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mr. Garcia was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores Cobley, his parents, Pedro and Margarita Garcia; and 11 brothers and sisters. He was the last of his generation. Mr. Garcia was a member of the Catholic Church, where he served as a lector, an usher and he belonged to the Holy Name Society and the Legion of Mary. He was a Veteran of the United States Army and the United States Air Force. He enlisted in the New Mexico National Guard at the age of 18, in 1941. He was at Fort Stotsenberg in Pearl Harbor with the 200th Coast Artillery when the Japanese bombarded the Islands on December 7, 1941. Soon after he was transferred to the Philippines. On April 9, 1942 General Wainright ordered his troops to lay down their arms and surrender. Abel participated and survived the Bataan Death March and served 3 1/2 years as a POW in Mukden, Manchuria. He was released in August 1945 and spent nine months at Bruns General Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico. After his separation from the service, he attended Western School and worked as a bookkeeper until he decided to make the service a career. Upon retiring from the service, he worked at the Civil Service Administration Hospital. Abel received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Asiatic, the Pacific, and the Good Conduct Medals for his achievement in the Pacific Theatre. A visitation for Mr. Garcia will be Tuesday evening from 6:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 412 Stover Ave. SW with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. by the Legion of Mary. Final visitation will be Wednesday morning from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. by Monsignor Antonio Gonzalez. Interment will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 12:00 noon with Military Honors by the United States Army. Pallbearers will be, Naim Kassicieh, John Gallegos, Tedd Romero, Ernie Lucero, Tony Macias and Dwight Lamberson. Arrangements by: Gabaldon Mortuary 1000 Old Coors Dr. SW 243-7861
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