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SANCHEZ -- Ernest G. Sanchez, age 85, a life-long resident of Belen, NM left this world to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 26, 2008. He was surrounded by his wife of 66 years, Libby and most of his nine children. After graduating from Belen High School and marrying his high school sweet heart, he served this country in the United States Army during WWII. Ernest entered the war during the invasion of Normandy and then spent eleven months on the front lines marching all the way to Germany. His heroic acts during those 11 months of living in foxholes was very much appreciated by his fellow soldiers and has given his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren inspiration to follow. Most of his working career he served the community by being the superintendent and general manager of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy district. He was a community leader, serving the schools and being involved in community agencies and church activities wherever he went. He presently was serving as a deacon at the Calvary Chapel Rio Grande Valley in Belen. Ernest is recognized by all who knew him as a man of integrity who had compassion upon those less fortunate than himself. Over the last 25 years his love for the Lord Jesus has been the driving force behind all his acts of kindness and compassion for others. He rarely spoke with anyone without offering a word of encouragement, a prayer, and/or a practical hand of help. He has been known as a "prayer warrior" and made it a practice to get up in the middle of the night to pray for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren every day. He was regularly found throughout the community visiting the sick and homebound. Ernest was an active "senior citizen" and participated in the annual Senior Olympics winning multiple gold medals including basketball throw, shuffle board, discus and billiards. Ernest is survived his loving wife, Libby (Moya) Sanchez; two of ten siblings, Sam Sanchez and Lucy Sanchez; nine children and their spouses, Ernest Sanchez and wife, Marylou, Sylvia Santillanes, Gene Garcia and wife, Audrey, Andy Sanchez and wife, Cheryl, Leroy Sanchez and Cecilia, Michael Sanchez and wife, Margaret, Clyde Sanchez and wife, Dorothy Jo, Dennis Madrid and wife, Carla and Albert Sanchez and wife, Linda and 46 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. All services will be held at Calvary Chapel Rio Grande Valley, in Belen beginning with a viewing on Saturday, November 29, at 9:30 a.m. with a Funeral Service to be held at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be held at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, NM on Saturday, November 29, at 3:00 p.m. Sign Ernest's online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.
        Published on: Fri November 28, 2008