Julian Romero Nunez

Julian Romero Nunez

July 4, 1922 - December 27, 2017

Born on the Fourth of July in 1922, to Severo and Abigail Nunez in Kelley, New Mexico, Julian grew up riding the range with his father, playing his guitar, and wrangling cattle during the famous Magdalena Cattle Drives. After graduating from Magdalena High School, he worked in the Kelley Mines, joined the Conservation Corps, began his studies at University of New Mexico.

In 1943, he was called to duty by the US Army during WWII. He served his country as a Cryptographer-Message Center Clerk with the 842nd Signal Company in the South Pacific.

After completing his service in 1946, he returned to the states and married Martha Chavez. In the early 1950’s, he moved to Southern California, seeking opportunities in the aerospace industry. Julian and Martha raised their four children (Magdalena, Julian, Luella and Beatrice) in Lynwood, CA, where he worked for Rockwell International/Boeing until his retirement.

After Martha’s passing in 1978, Julian was fortunate to have found love and companionship twice more. He married June Normand, and they lived in Hemet CA, until her passing. He returned to his home state of New Mexico, where he became reacquainted with high school friend, Emma Cordova. They were married, and made their home in Albuquerque, until Emma’s passing in 2013. Yearning to be with family, Julian returned to California. He made his home in Hemet, CA, where he lived out his days surrounded by family. He loved Hemet because it reminded him of the mountains of his beloved Water Canyon, New Mexico.

Julian is survived by his two sisters (Laura Geier and Benina Sanchez), 3 of his children, 10 grandchildren (Julianna Cruz, David Bernal, Anna Lopez, Tosha Nunez, Julian Nunez, Tony Hernandez, Brittney Lynch, Eros Workhoven, Venus Nichols, and Tara Garcia), 20 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and Godchildren.

Julian will be remembered for his love of family, passionate guitar playing, voracious reading and of course, his famous Nunez Family Green Chile recipe. He loved baseball and his Dodgers. He will also be remembered for never letting any of his loved ones leave him without saying how much he loved them - "Love you".

May he rest in peace, surrounded by loved ones who've been waiting for him in Heaven. He will live on - in our hearts and memories, and each time we speak his name.