Maria Rosa ("Rose") Sandoval

Sandoval, Maria Rosa “Rose”

On December 19, 2018, the Lord took the loveliest of flowers, Maria Rosa Sandoval (“Rose”), to be with Him in His heavenly garden. Rose was born November 16, 1927, in Lumberton, NM to Venceslao and Maria Aleja Suazo. After graduating from Española high school, Rose worked in Los Alamos for the US War Department contributing to the Manhattan Project. It was there she met her husband of 50 years, Ildefonso E. Sandoval. In 1947, they moved to Albuquerque and resided there for the remainder of their lives.

Rose was a devoted mother and grandmother and the cornerstone of her family home. Her creative mind and industrious hands seemed to effortlessly and perfectly accomplish everything she attempted, including cooking, crocheting, sewing, drawing, painting, and gardening. Rose was a member of Holy Ghost Parish for 60 years and sang in the church choir. She shared many gifts; the greatest was her steadfast faith.

In 1966, Rose began a career in military and aerospace electronics at Gulton Industries. She was highly commended for her skillful and conscientious work on critical mission circuit boards and her contributions to the success of space shuttle missions, satellite launches and US military defense projects. Rose was the first woman at Gulton to be promoted to data systems production supervisor. She retired in 1995.

Rose was preceded in death by her spouse, Ildefonso E. Sandoval and their first child, Richard Ernest; parents and siblings Jose Enrique, Venceslao, and Abel Suazo and Rebecca Serna; and grandson Patrick Penrose. Rose is survived by children R. Ernest Sandoval (Linda), Patricia A. DeMar (John), Loretta C. Sandoval (Ty), Cecilia I. Sandoval (Steve), all of Albuquerque, and Daniel A. Sandoval (Tammy) of Anchorage, AK; 11 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; 4 great, great grandchildren; aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces.

Rosary recitation at 5:00 p.m.,  on Tuesday,January 1, 2019, at FRENCH- University in Albuquerque. Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m., on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 619 Copper Ave NW in Albuquerque. Interment to follow at 2:15 p.m., January 2, 2019, at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

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