Ruperto Noe Martinez

Rupe was born on November 10th, 1946 in Laredo Texas to Jose Procopio Martinez and Estella Gomez Martinez, and was a 1964 graduate of Martin High School. When Rupe hitchhiked his way out of Laredo, he had no way of knowing the distance he would travel over the course of his life. His first stop was College Station Texas, where he was a member of the Texas A&M Corp of Cadets. His time in College Station was productive, as he earned both his degree in Aerospace Engineering and the heart of his beloved wife of 52 years, Ellen Vincent Martinez. Rupe epitomized the concept of the servant heart, serving his country and family for all of his 79 years, firstly with his 23 year career in the Army. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as a helicopter pilot and aviation program manager, serving in 10 duty stations spread across 2 continents. After retiring from active duty service, he continued to serve his country through his second career at Northrup Grumman, residing in his wife’s native Kansas for many years and becoming an honorary Kansan.

Rupe is survived by his children, Captain Miguel Ruperto Martinez (USN) and Adaline Posey Saenz, their spouses Erin Dunlap Martinez and Lawrence Wayne Saenz and 4 grandchildren that Rupe believed the sun rose and set with: Ella Grace and Sofia Rose Martinez, and Starks Harrison and Evelyn Maris Saenz. Additionally, he is survived by two sisters, Rosario Martinez and Mercedes Carranco and sister in law Elaine Martinez. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ellen, and his brother Jose Antonio Martinez.

Rupe will be remembered by his family for the quiet dignity that he filled every room with. He was a natural leader, who believed in leading by example. He was known to ask his family at the dinner table “what did you do for God and Country today”, as his way to remind us to think outside of our ourselves and make sure that some part of every day was spent in service to a greater good. His firmly held belief that we owe something to the communities we are a part of will live on in his family, as we seek to follow the example he set for us until his final day.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider making a donation to Army Emergency Relief at: https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/donate/