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SANCHEZ -- Raul Sanchez, age 88, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 surrounded by his loving family at his home in Belen, NM. He was born on April 13, 1918. He attended UNM for one year then taught school for a short time in Seboyeta, NM before beginning a 37 year career in shipping and transportation at Sandia National Laboratories. He was a life-long parishioner of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church and was a former Knight of Columbus. Raul was a quiet man and determined "do-it-yourselfer," he took great pride in farming his land; he particularly loved driving his tractor and growing his signature crops, tomatoes and chile. His family remembers him scouring the newspaper every morning; encouraging his children to be independent; traveling with his wife at a moment's notice to visit children and grandchildren (especially upon the birth of a new grandbaby); taking an ice cream sundae to family and friends sick at home or in the hospital; and playing the slots at a nearby casino. He was preceded in death by his parents, Atanacio and Felicita Sanchez of Los Chavez; and six brothers, Vicente, Guillermo, Manuel Rito, Refugio, Serafin, Santiago, and Alberto. Raul is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Lucy Salaz Sanchez; three daughters, Lucille Peralta and husband, Gilbert of Spokane, WA, Georgia Ware, and her husband, Tom of Bayfield, CO, and Therese Dinehart and her husband, Mark of Los Alamos, NM; two sons, Dr. Steven A. Sanchez of Belen and Major John G. Sanchez, and his wife, Celine of San Antonio, TX; two sisters, Maria Stella Sanchez and Clorinda Gallegos of Los Chavez; brothers, Celso Sanchez and his wife, Eloisa of Belen, Herman Sanchez and his wife, Lucy of Albuquerque, and Alfredo Sanchez and his wife, Sari of Denver, CO; sisters-in-law, Eva Salaz Archunde, Maria Rita Sanchez, Refugia Sanchez, and Onesima Salaz; ten grandchildren; long-time family friend, Justin Chavez; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nephews, nieces, and friends. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made through a church or favorite charity, to a family in need, or a local hospice. The family will welcome friends for a viewing on Friday, July 28, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at Romero Funeral Home Chapel and will celebrate and honor his life with a rosary at 6:00 p.m. A final visitation will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Cemetery. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen. Visit online register at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com
        Published on: Thu July 27, 2006