Below is the text of my maternal grandfather's obituary. He died in 1961.
Santiago Baca Dies Suddenly at Home in Socorro Wed.Santiago Baca, one of Socorro’s most prominent citizens, died at his home in the early morning hours of July 19th, Wednesday.
A lifetime resident of Socorro, Mr. Baca was a retired merchant.
He was born December 27, 1907 in Socorro, the son of Rafael P. Baca and Josefita Padilla Baca. His father survives.
Mr. Baca leaves his wife Paublita Z. Baca and four children, Jimmy C., Mrs. Frances R. Baca, Miss Judy Baca, all of Socorro and Miss Josie M. Baca of Albuquerque.
His father, Rafael and two brothers and two sisters also survive: Phillip Baca of Las Vegas, N.M., Alvaro Baca of Socorro and Mrs. Ramona Gonzales of Socorro and Mrs. Eugenia Salazar of Santa Fe.
Rosary at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday nights at Steadman Memorial Chapel with Requiem Mass set for 9 a.m. Friday at San Miguel. Burial will be in the Catholic Cemetery in Socorro.
Mr. Baca contributed many years of hard work to raising educational standards in Socorro County. Trained as a school teacher at New Mexico Nor mal at Silver City and the University of New Mexico, he taught in Socorro County schools for 8 years before going into the grocery business. He was a member of the city school board for 16 years, and served on the Board of the Socorro County Schools before consolidation.
He was one of the organizing board members of the Socorro Electric Co-operative.
For 22 years he operated the “La Bajada”, a grocery store on Garfield Street, which was later the site of Scotty’s Hardware. In partnership with Mrs. Baca, he also operated Baca’s Clothiers next door to the grocery for a number of years. Honest and enterprising as a businessman, active and conscientious as a citizen, and liked and respected as a good neighbor, Mr. Baca will be missed throughout Socorro.
Source: El Defensor Chieftain, 20 July 1961, Vol. 95, No. 58, page 1.
Santiago's tombstone at San Miguel Catholic Cemetery in Socorro, New Mexico
