Known as “B”, “Dad”, “Pop”, “Poppa”, “Grandpa”, “Little Louie”, “Louie”, or “Grunt”. Louie was a lion of a man with a gentle soul and a helping hand for anyone in need. In fact, he built a storied life out of protecting and advocating for others.
Born February 8, 1953, to Magdaleno and Josefina Baeza, he graduated from Burgess High School and attended UTEP before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. A proud Marine, Louie served his country from 1974-1979 with a tour in Vietnam, with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines as an 0341 Mortarman.
Louie married the love of his life, Edna L. (Lujan) Baeza, on June 24, 1975. Together they raised three beautiful children: Jay Lujan, Selena (Baeza) Lewis and Matthew Baeza.
During this time, Louie continued his service to others as a paramedic with El Paso Emergency Medical Services for 17 years, where he served as Senior Paramedic, a member of the El Paso Mountain Rescue Team, and a member of a Flight Medical Team.
In 1992, he started a new chapter of his life and began his journey with the International Union of Operating Engineers (I.U.O.E.), where he spent his career advocating for the betterment and protection of working men and women. He retired from the I.U.O.E. in 2016 and spent his precious few years of retirement hitting the open road on his beloved motorcycle or in his recreational vehicle. Either alone or with Edna, his kids, and an assortment of grandkids riding along,
Louie was always up for another adventure to see what was beyond the next horizon.Louie never let a moment of his life go unlived and he made friends out of strangers wherever he went.
He was a proud member of the Marines MC Mother Chapter, a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, the Sun City Amateur Radio Club, member of the Safety and Security Team at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, and an Honorary Member of Benavidez Patterson All Airborne Chapter.
His sense of “family” stretched far beyond his own children and grandchildren and he was a beacon of love and leadership for his extended family including his beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, all of whom share in the heartbreak of his sudden loss.
Louie is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Magdaleno and Josefina Baeza. He is survived by his wife Edna of 45 years; brothers Miguel (Melanie) Baeza, Alfred Baeza, Ernesto (Irma) Baeza, and sister Olga Baeza; his children Jay, Matthew (Whitney), Selena (Byron), and the true lights of his life, his grandchildren, Jordan Baeza, Dominic Baeza, Peyton Baeza, Amani Lewis, Amar’e Lewis, Alexis Cordova, AJ Cordova, and his Great-grandson X’zavier.
Services for Louie will be held Monday September 28, 2020 from 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel Central (formerly known as Martin Funeral Home), 3839 Montana Ave. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Final respects will be held Tuesday, September 29, 2020, from 11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., with his burial following at 1:00 p.m. at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
