Bonifacio Archuletta

October 25, 1936 – 2026

Bonifacio Alejandro “Archie” Archuletta, 89, of Augusta, Georgia, died at his home on August 23, 2026. Born October 25, 1936, he is survived by his wife of 66 years, Maria Teresa Archuletta; four children, Teresa Nauman (Tim), Eva Soboleski (John), Paul Archuletta, and Yolanda Archuletta; five grandsons; three granddaughters; four great-grandsons; and five great-granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his mother, Senaida Archuletta Martinez, and his sister, Patricia Duran.

A visitation with family will be held at Elliott Sons Funeral Home from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, August 31, 2026. His funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 1 at 11:00 am at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, with interment of ashes to follow.

Archie came from humble beginnings. Nicknamed “Bony” as a boy, he grew up in the isolated community of Pilar, New Mexico, where he learned to hunt, fish, and work the land alongside his stepfather and uncles. Food was scarce in those years, and the memory never left him — even decades later, after a full meal, he would still ask, “When do we eat?” or “Can I have some bread?” It was one of the few things about him that never changed, all the way to his final days. Archie played basketball at Taos High School, in Taos, New Mexico, where he graduated before enlisting in the Army.

In 1957, Archie joined the U.S. Army, beginning a career that would span more than 21 years. He earned the National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Good Conduct Medal with Silver Clasp, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, and the Expert Badge for the .45 Caliber Pistol. He retired in 1978 as a Master Sergeant, then spent nearly 14 more years in Army civil service.

Archie went on to serve as a detention officer at Augusta Correctional Medical Institution. In 1996, his fluency in two languages, together with his service in the Army and as a detention officer, led to him being selected to work at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta — an honor he carried with pride for the rest of his life.

It was while stationed in Fontainebleau, France, that Archie’s life changed again. At a dance with his friend Dick Ellison, he met a Spanish woman with whom he would spend the next 66 years. No one remembers exactly when or how he learned to dance, but his family has always been grateful that he did — after a few double dates, he won her over, and the two of them never really stopped dancing. They taught their children and grandchildren the same steps, and well into their 80s, a Cumbia or a Cha Cha playing in the house was still enough to get them up and moving.

Archie loved sports without limit — basketball, golf, whatever was on. Once ESPN arrived, he watched anything, any time. He bowled avidly until his health stopped him in 2016, competing in two leagues in Augusta and many more across his military career. He won tournaments in his age group, collected trophies and badges, and took real pleasure in teaching others how to improve their game.

He left behind a legacy built on love — for God, for family, for friends. “You have to believe in God and Jesus Christ,” he often said, and he meant it. He didn’t come to know the Lord fully until he had a wife and four children of his own; it took him time to recognize the blessings God had already given him.

From 1979 onward, Archie was a devoted member of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, watching it grow from a small congregation into a large one and giving his time to it throughout. He and his wife Teresa served as communion ministers and led marriage retreats together, sharing their faith by example as much as in words.

With his wife’s love and his four children, he showed just how big love could be. No matter where his family scattered across the world, he remembered them and looked after them. From his early days in the Army to his final days, he shared everything with his family and enjoyed his time spent with them.

Archie’s love wasn’t limited to his own family. He had a way of making people feel safe around him — friends of his children trusted him enough to come to him for advice, and small children were drawn to him without quite knowing why, staring at him or wandering over to him in church or at restaurants. Even in his final years, deep into Alzheimer’s, a toddler could catch sight of him and light up. Perhaps a childhood that hadn’t always felt safe and secure was exactly what taught Archie to make sure everyone around him did.

He mostly showed his love by doing for others. He taught his children and several of his grandsons to drive — and made sure each one could maintain a car and change a tire before they were allowed to get a license. He passed on what he knew about electronics and home repair, too. In no small part because he took the time to teach them, they became responsible adults.

After his final retirement, Archie volunteered with Golden Harvest Food Bank, arriving early to stock shelves and staying late to clean up after serving meals. Whether it was formal volunteer work or helping a neighbor fix a fence, service to others mattered to him.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Golden Harvest Food Bank or your local Alzheimer’s Association.