Deaths

• Honorable Judge Joseph Rich
• Louisa Urbina
• Margaret Cordova-Garcia
• Marty Rodriguez
• Milford Desiderio

Honorable Judge Joseph Rich

RIO RANCHO — Funeral Mass for the Honorable Judge Joseph Rich, 77, will be a 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 30 at Sacred Heart Cathedral Church. The Very Rev. Lawrence O’Keefe will officiate. Burial will take place at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 31 at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today, Aug. 29 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Rich died Aug. 26, 2007 in Rio Rancho. He was born June 8, 1930.

Rich graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1952 and later served in the U.S. Army, 25th Division in Korea. He earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati Law School in 1957 and was admitted to the Ohio Bar, Kentucky Bar, and New Mexico Bars soon after. He took a break from legal studies and worked as a special agent for the FBI in Albuquerque, Hobbs, Farmington and Gallup. Rich worked as an assistant district attorney in San Juan and McKinley Counties and opened a private practice. He was the southwest regional chief trial attorney for the Risk Management Division of the Navajo Nation and was appointed to McKinley County district judge in 1988. He retired in 2006. He was the Director of both the Gallup McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the McKinley County Red Cross, and as President of the McKinley County Bar Association.

Survivors include his sons, Joseph Rich, Jr. of Farmington, and Stephen Rich of Albuquerque; daughters, Lauren Rich of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Amy Rich of Albuquerque and Paula Rich Pruitt of Albuquerque; brother, Stephen Rich of Atlanta, Ga.; and seven grandchildren.

Rich was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara DePauli Rich; brothers, Keith Rich and James Allen “Babe” Rich; and his parents.

Pallbearers will be Louis DePauli, Michael DePauli, Vincent Marsh, Guy Marsh, Gary Marsh, Tim Adcock, Mark DePauli and Joseph Angelo Rich.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Little Sisters of the Poor, 1900 Mark Ave. Gallup, N.M. 87301 or Gallup Catholic School Foundation, 405 Park Ave. Gallup, N.M. 87301.

Louisa Urbina

MILAN — Funeral Mass for Louisa “Lucita Chavez” Urbina, 78, will be at 9:30 a.m Thursday, Aug. 30 at St. Vivian Catholic Church. Very Rev. Alberto Avella will officiate. Burial will follow at Grants Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. today, Aug. 29 at Compassion Mortuary.

Urbina died Aug. 26, 2007 in Grants. She was born June 15, 1929 in Gallup.

Survivors include her husband, Adolfo Urbina of Milan; sons, Ricardo Urbina of Gallup and Orlando Urbina of Grants; sisters, Geri Ponce of Gallup, Elina Montano of Gallup, and Rebecca Gonzales of Grants; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her son Albert Urbina; parents Juan Chavez and Perfilia Chavez; brothers, Esquipula Chavez, Sam Chavez, Arecenio Chavez, Alsimo Chavez and Pablo Chavez

Pallbearers will be Seth Urbina, Lee Urbina, Diego Urbina, John Urbina, Darick Aldez, and Jack Gimey.

Margaret Cordova-Garcia

WEST COVINA, Calif. — Funeral services for Margaret Garcia, 72, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 at Christenson Mortuary in West Covina.

Cordova-Garcia died Aug. 24, 2007 in West Covina. She was born April 25, 1935 in Wagon Mound, N.M.

Cordova-Garcia moved from Gallup to California in 1960.

Survivors include her husband, Moses Garcia of LaPuente Calif.; son, Moses Garcia, Jr. of Tucson, Ariz.; daughters, Victoria Garcia of LaPuente, Calif., Sandra Jimenez of Houston,Texas, Yolanda Ramirez of Albuquerque, and Cheryl Cordova of Gallup; 24 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Cordova-Garcia was preceded in death by her sons, David and Arthur Garcia; parents, Jose and Tomasita Cordova; brother, Reyes Cordova; sister, Ida Villanueva.

Marty Rodriguez

GALLUP — Funeral services for Marty Rodriguez, 79, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 at St. Francis Catholic Church. Rev. Eduardo Espinso, OFM will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Survivors include his wife, Socorro Rodriguez of Gallup; son, Edward M. Rodriguez; daughters, Elsa Jaramillo of Gallup, Velia Lopez of Gallup, and Delia Wilson of Terre Haute, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Rodriguez was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel Espinos and Concepcion Espinosa; son Alfred Rodriguez, sister, Andrea McDowell.

Pallbearers will be Charles Baca, Ronald Garcia, Sara Garcia, Donald Jaramillo, Juan A. Lopez, Jr., Andrew Rodriguez, David Rodriguez, and Mario Rodriguez.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Milford Desiderio

THOREAU – Services for Milford Desiderio, 45, will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 30 at the First Baptist Church in Thoreau. Pastor Edward King will officiate. Burial will follow at Grants Cemetery.

Desiderio was born Feb. 1, 1962 in Haystack, N.M., into the Chiricahua Apache Clan for the Tangle People Clan.

Desiderio graduated from Thoreau High School and served in the U.S. Army. He worked at Anderson Development, Quivira Mining, Carbon Coal and P&M Mine and his hobbies included silversmithing, hunting, horseback riding, gun collecting, music and playing the guitar.

Survivors include his sons Jesse Desiderio of the U.S. Marines, Davy Desiderio of Thoreau, Logan Desiderio of Haystack, N.M.; daughters Megan J. Desiderio of Alaska; brothers Scotty Platero of Prewitt, Harold Platero, Jimson Desiderio, both of Haystack, Jimmy Jones, Gilson Smith, both of Grants; sisters Alice Johnson, Loretta Smith, both of Haystack, Gloria Platero of Chinle, Afton Sells of Rough Rock and Zeta Laurence of Thoreau and one grandchild.

Desidero was preceded in death by his mother Mary Platero; brother Terry Desiderio.

Pallbearers will be Jesse Desiderio, Davy Desiderio, Travis Platero, Tydell Platero, Jason Platero, Therman Chee.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.