Ruth Marquez

Ruth Marquez passed away on October 7, 2014, at home in Pagosa Springs, CO at the age of 92. A rosary will be said Friday, October 10, 2014 at 6pm, the Mass will be held Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 10am, both at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs. Burial will occur at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 2:15pm.
Ruth was born to Benjamin and Manuelita Espinoza on April 12, 1922 in Espinoza, CO. She attended Loretto Academy in Santa Fe, NM and received both her BA and MA in Education at Adams State in Alamosa, CO. 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 Alamosa, which her Spanish Club competed in every year, where they always place 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 Ed 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 Jitter Bug 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, CO, and son Richard Marquez of Santa Fe, NM. She has numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.