- Date Of Birth: March 6, 1924
- Date Of Death: January 20, 2011
- State: New Mexico
On Thursday January 20, 2011, Frank O. Baca was taken to Heaven to be present with our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8. We are confident that God holds Mom’s husband, our father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather to be precious….Psalm 116:5 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.” Also, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those that have fallen asleep in Him.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14. He had been a patient at the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Medical Center in Albuquerque.
Frank was born March 6, 1924 in Las Palomas, NM to Genoveva Oporto and Frank T. Baca. Following graduation from Hot Springs High School in 1942 he enlisted in the Air Force and pursued an active military career during World War II where he served as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 called ‘Holy Terror’ and on his last mission the Germans shot him down and was taken prisoner for 14 months which he spent in Stalag Luft 7 and other Lithuanian and Polish prison camps. He was freed by British soldiers on May 5, 1945.
He married Lydia Perez in Bayard on July 25, 1945 and later became a businessman in Hurley where he operated the A and B Grocery Store and Three Aces Bar for many years. After the sale of those businesses he worked for Hamilton Construction and later at Kennecott Copper Corporation for 7 years. Frank was a member of The Door Christian Fellowship and enjoyed his civic duties as a member of the Bayard Lions Club, the Sheriff’s Posse and serving as a volunteer at Gila Regional Medical Center. Frank had a love for the outdoors, enjoying hunting, fishing and spending time in his garden.
Survivors include his loving wife, Lily Baca of the home; 2 sons, Elmo and wife Peggy Baca of Nipoma, CA and Jerry Baca and companion Clara Polanco of Queen Creek, AZ; 2 daughters, Pamela and husband Edward Kriegel of Anthony, NM and Michelle and husband Tom Ryan of Arenas Valley; 9 grandchildren, Tanya Caruso, Kenneth Baca, Javier Baca, Marivel Pesqueira, Jessica Brazeal, Ben “Carlitos” Uzeta, Shawn, Caleb and Lyndsay Ryan; 11 great-grandchildren, Carlos Caruso, Xoaquin, Adan and Diego Baca, Andres Gonzales, Santiago, Gabriel and Olivia Pasqueira, Aisan Ryan, Preston and Xander Ryan.
He was preceded in death by a son, Greg Baca on March 6, 1982; brother, Herman Baca and 3 sisters, Lillian Allen, Monica Armijo and Beatrice Garcia.
Serving as pallbearers will be Kenneth and Javier Baca, Andres Gonzales, Ben “Carlitos” Uzeta, Shawn and Caleb Ryan.
Honorary bearers named are Adam Perez, Jose De Hoyos, Tom Bender, Otto Rosati, Jack Hanson, Mark Sotelo, Jorge Rodriguez, Hugo Nieto, George and Greg Vannatter, Frankie Maldonado and Robert Armijo. Sister-In-Law Eva and husband Joe De Hoyos and dear friends Paulette and husband Daniel Gonzales, and Katy Chavez’ family are acknowledged for the important part they took in the care of Frank. Heartfelt gratitude to our cousins, Ricardo and Sheri Berry for writing the book on Dad’s life.
