DEL NORTE – Longtime San Luis Valley resident David M. Torrez, 82, died July 13, 2010 the Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte.

He was born on April 10, 1928 in Saguache, and graduated from Saguache High School in 1946. He married the love of his life, Joann Archibald on June 18, 1955 in Raton, N.M.

David worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a civil engineer until his retirement. Following his retirement, he returned to work for Saguache Public Health.

He loved to fish and, in his earlier years, hunt. He also enjoyed hunting for arrowheads and especially loved being surrounded by his family and taking trips with his wife to Arizona.

David served as an elder in the Monte Vista Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He enjoyed field ministry and speaking to others about the bible.

His parents, Joe and Nettie Torrez and Salvadore Sr. and Cassimera Garcia, and his siblings, Lucille Alvarez, Rosabel Lovato, Lupe Lujan, Condido Garcia, Jake Garcia and Tom Garcia, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Joann Torrez of Monte Vista; his children, Cheryl (Leonard) Garcia of Center, Dave Torrez Jr. of Santa Cruz, Calif. and Pamela (Anthony) Trujillo of Monte Vista; his grandchildren, Nicole (Jonathan) Zambrano of Colorado Springs, Casey (Lisa) Garcia of Alamosa, Joslyn (Kevin) Pochardt of Aurora, Jason (Krista) Trujillo of Colorado Springs, Michael Trujillo of Monte Vista, James Torrez of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Sasha Trujillo and Marissa Trujillo both of Monte Vista; his great grandchildren, Madison Garcia and Zoey Garcia; his siblings, Joe R. Torrez, Lela Lopez, Salvadore Garcia, Frank Garcia, Juan Garcia, Raymond Garcia, Pete Garcia, Carolyn White, Lorraine Lopez and Louise Garcia; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Friday July 16, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Monte Vista.

Arrangements were in the care of Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista.