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FLORES -- Benny Flores, 82, passed away on October 24, 2006 at his home in Santa Rosa, NM after a valiant three year fight with cancer. His passing was peaceful and he was surrounded by his children. He was born April 9, 1924 in Puerto de Luna to the home of Cipriano Flores and the former Paublita Montoya. He was reared and attended grade school in Puerto de Luna. He graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1943 and enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He was a corporal assigned to the 460th Army Air Force Base Unit as an airplane and engine mechanic. He married Florentina "Tina" Padilla on June 27, 1945 at Nuestra Senora de Refugio Catholic Church in Puerto de Luna. He attended New Mexico Highlands University and received a BA in education in 1949. He taught school in Puerto de Luna from 1948-52, in Cuervo during 1952-53, and again in Puerto de Luna serving as head teacher from 1953-67. From 1967 until his retirement in 1981 he taught at Santa Rosa Middle School. He taught school for a total of thirty-three years and his career spanned five decades, from 1949 through 1981. Benny and his family made their home in Puerto de Luna until 1959 when they moved to Santa Rosa. He lived the rest of his life in the "Lake City." He enjoyed ranching and farming in the Puerto de Luna valley. He was well known for his hard work ethic, being a teacher during the school term and doing farm work and ranching during the summer months. He also liked building houses and built the three houses in which he and his family lived. He also built several other houses in Santa Rosa near the Park Lake area. He was a lifelong member of the Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, a charter member of the Santa Rosa Knights of Columbus and a long time member of the National Education Association of New Mexico. He served on the Santa Rosa City Council for six years in the early 1970s and was elected to two terms as Guadalupe County Probate Judge. In 1996 he was chosen as "Outstanding Conservation Farmer" in the county by the Soil and Water Conservation District. He was honored by being listed in the Outstanding Secondary Educators of America in 1973. In 1942 he was a starting forward on the first Santa Rosa High School basketball team to play in a state tournament. The Lions won two games and lost two games in the tournament, which was held in Santa Fe. All the teams played in one classification at that time. He also enjoyed playing baseball and was a member of the well-known Puerto de Luna Young Farmers team in the years preceding World War II. He also served on the Puerto de Luna Spanish choir. His pastimes included farming (especially raising chile verde), playing cards with his friends, going to the Puerto de Luna Senior Citizens, and visiting with his children. His wife, Tina passed away in 1986. He married Maria Perez in Santa Rosa on August 3, 1991. He was also preceded in death by his parents; and four sisters and two brothers: Beatriz Salazar, Amalia Dodge, Leontina Chavez, Adela Espinoza, Josefina Flores, Alberto Flores, and Honorato Flores. Survivors include his wife, Maria of the family home; five daughters, Bernadette Flores, Consuelo Flores, Monica (Tom) Lopez, Renee (Patrick) Marquez, all of Albuquerque, and Susan (Cele) Rodriguez. He is also survived by his eight sons: Daniel (Lupita) Flores of Santa Rosa, Nicolas (Lissie) Flores of Plano, TX, Herman (Maxine) Flores of Plano, TX, Billy (Tracy) Flores of Albuquerque, David (Victoria) Flores of Los Lunas, Johnny (Rosemary) Flores of Albuquerque, Richard (Caroline) Flores of Santa Rosa, and Tommy Flores with the United States Navy in Hawaii. Surviving also are 30 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Arcelia Abeyta of Santa Rosa; and two brothers who live in Puerto de Luna, Victor (Otilia) Flores and Filomeno (Erlinda) Flores. He is also survived by a niece who was raised as a sister, Margie Abeyta of Santa Rosa. Other survivors include Maria's children, Javier (Carolina) Claro, Hector (Marissa) Claro, Carlos (Nadia) Claro of Chihuahua, Mexico, and Elizabeth (Antonio) DeReal of Santa Rosa. Rosary Services will be held at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. with his niece, Donna Abeyta Rivera, leading the prayers. Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Rosa of Lima Catholic Church on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Nick Nichols officiating. Burial will follow at Nuestra Senora de Refugio Cemetery in Puerto de Luna. His grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. It was his wish that all his former students, co-workers and close friends be honorary pallbearers. All Services are entrusted to the Chavez Funeral Home, 923 South 3rd Street, Santa Rosa, NM 88435 (505)472-3369. www.chavezfuneralhome.com
        Published on: Thu October 26, 2006