ALFONSO B. age 80, passed away peacefully early Thursday, May 17, 2012 at his home in Placitas. Alfonso was an Air Force officer, fighter pilot and Korean war era veteran. He was born May 8, 1932 in a rural northern New Mexico homestead of Carrizo to J. Ramon and M. Amalia Sandoval. His life journey moved him and his family to Aztec NM to attend Aztec High School where he was an undefeated golden gloves boxer. After high school Al attended the University of New Mexico where Al was admitted into the Air Force Pilot Cadet Program. After a honorable discharge Alfonso returned to UNM and earned a BS in Electrical Engineering and there met Oma Erlinda Sanchez, who became his wife on April 16th of 1960. Al went onto a successful career with General Electric both domestically and internationally before returning to New Mexico. During the course of his life he owned a flight school, was head of LULAC, was an active Civil Air Patrol pilot and contributor to the Hispanic community in both education and culture through board level leadership. His love of the Spanish language was reinforced in his free time as a Spanish linguist and heavy reader of Spanish Poetry. He was a beloved father and husband who will be greatly missed by all he touched. Alfonso is survived by his wife Oma; three sons Ernest and wife Marnie, Carlos and wife Jane, and Daniel and wife Andrea Sandoval; ten grandchildren; one brother, Samuel Sandoval of Kearns UT; and three sisters Viola Briones of Farmington NM, Julia Romero of Las Vegas NV, and Norleen Boshko of Las Vegas NV. A memorial celebration of Alfonso's life will be held at the Oasis Family Church in Albuquerque, NM on Tuesday, June 12th at 12:30 p.m. To leave your condolences, memories or thoughts, please visit: www.alfonso-b-sandoval.forevermissed.com
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