Tributes

Martinez Leonard B. "Uncle Bende" Martinez born May 29, 1928 in San Antonio, Texas went to be with the Lord on December 23, 2011 at the age of 83. He married his beloved wife Olivia Martinez on April 22, 1947 in San Antonio, Texas. Leonard was one of the founding members of St. Joseph South San Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus and was Grand Knight for 6 yrs, worked at Kelly Air Force Base for 35 years and worked for the South San ISD Police Dept. for 15 years. Leonard is survived by: daughters, Sandra Ann Martinez, Edna Martinez, Susan Harrington and husband James; sons, Ruben Martinez and Linda, Leonard Martinez, JR. and wife Ginger, Paul Martinez and wife Cynthia; sisters, Josie DeLeon, Mary Brookhouser and Dolores Bell; brothers; Mike Martinez and Antonio Mancilla; 16 grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren; and numerous other family members and friends. SERVICES Visitation will begin Wednesday December 28, 2011 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Palm Heights Mortuary with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 PM. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday December 29, 2011 at 12:00 Noon at St. Lawrence Catholic Church with interment to follow at San Fernando III Cemetery. Leonard B. Martinez was born May 29, 1928, and went to be with our Lord and his beloved Olivia December 23, 2011. He was 83 years "young". Dad was born and raised in "South San" Antonio to Guadalupe Martinez and Edna Britt Martinez. On April 22, 1947 he married Olivia Salinas. He is survived by his children: Ruben Martinez Linda Zeigler, Leonard "Chuck" Martinez Jr. wife Ginger, Sandra Martinez, Edna Martinez, Paul Martinez wife Cyndi Susan Harrington husband James. He was blessed with 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Our Dad lead such a full, beautiful life and always provided for his family even in hard times. He built our home with his own hands in the neighborhood originally known as "El Ranchito". He worked several years with the Nelson Tanning Company before beginning his 35 years as a Warehouse Foreman Dept. of Distribution at Kelly A.F.B. In the late 60's he took two tours of South East Asia for the Government which he was very proud of. In the early 70's he served as a Deputy Sheriff for Bexar County. After his retirement from Kelly A.F.B., Dad worked 15 years with the South San Antonio I.S.D. Police Department. Dad was a proud South San Bobcat. He was very devoted to his Church St. Joseph So. San. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served for 6 years as Grand Knight. He taught CCD and served in the ministry of Rosary's. Dad volunteered his time for "Project Quest" and assisted so many individuals in finding jobs. In the early years Dad Coached Little Leagueand played baseball for over 20 years with his team at Kelly. One of Dad's passions was playing billiards, and was quite a "pool shark". Dad loved music and dancing. If there was a Mariachi group near by, well, there was no stopping him from joining in! Dads' love and devotion to family flowed over to all his many nieces and nephews and was known as "Uncle Bende"to them all. Dad was very proud when a 100 year Martinez Family Tradition December 12th was handed over to him in the early 90's to continue that tradition with full devotion until this year, his last. There is so much more, but not enough room, to tell about Daddy, but those of us who were blessed to know and love him will have the honor of keeping his memory and his humor alive for generations to come. He will be greatly missed.

Tributes

Leonard B. Martinez

May 29, 1928 - December 23, 2011