Ruth Marquez

Posted
obit---Marquez,-R-obit-croppedRuth Marquez passed away on Oct. 7 at home in Pagosa Springs, at the age of 92.

A rosary will be said Friday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m. The Mass will be held Sat., Oct. 11, at 10 a.m., both at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs. Burial will occur at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 2:15 p.m.

Ruth was born to Benjamin and Manuelita Espinoza on April 12, 1922, in Espinoza, Colo. She attended Loretto Academy in Santa Fe, N.M., and received both her BA and MA in Education at Adams State in Alamosa. She taught in the San Luis Valley for 13 years then in Pagosa Springs for 28 years. She taught many courses in Pagosa including Latin, Spanish, English and library. She founded Pan American Day’s competition at Adams State, in which her Spanish Club competed in every year, where they always placed first or second. She was active in the American Legion Auxiliary and other community organizations. She was very involved in her church, making bulletins, teaching religious education classes, and serving as Eucharistic Minister and reader. She volunteered at a preschool and was instrumental in beginning the first Head Start class in Pagosa Springs in 1965. Ruth was runner-up for Colorado teacher of the year in 1975. She enjoyed jitterbug dancing, was extremely witty, a scrabble enthusiast and loved lemon bars.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Reuben Marquez and her son, Reuben Marquez Jr.

She is survived by her daughters Arlene Marcus and Mary Kaye Mayo, of Pagosa Springs, Ruth Marquez-West, of Aurora, and son Richard Marquez, of Santa Fe. She has numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.