Magdalena V. O’Campo

We are here in CELEBRATION OF MAGDALENA: A Life of Light and Color

Magdalena, known as Maggie to family and friends, was born in El Paso, Texas where the summers are long and warm under sunny skies and the desert’s winter snow bounces the sunlight back to the skies. Although she traveled widely, she always had an affinity for the desert perhaps because of her humble beginnings in Texas. She was the firstborn of a young man Librado Valdillez and his teenaged bride, Petra Mancha. She grew up in the outskirts of El Paso, with siblings Lee, Ramona, Marcella, Dolores, Susan, Ruben and Diana Norma. She had a fairly normal adolescence and had many friends, some that developed into life-long friendships. As a teenager, she showed an aptitude for drawing, she liked to dance, enjoyed going to the movies and of course, loved Elvis. What a dream come true for her as a teenage fan when she got to lightly touch the top of Elvis’ head when he passed below her to enter the stadium for his performance.

Maggie met Danny Marquez in high school and married him after graduation. She recalled the first time he took her to meet his parents. With Danny closely behind her, she approached the front door of his home. Suddenly the door flew open and a middle-aged man (Danny’s father) asked her bluntly in Spanish “Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?” She was stunned but Danny whispered “Just say yes, just say yes”. She stammered “Yes” and he moved like a sentry allowing entrance. She had never heard such a thing or even understood it. But through Danny’s mother Paulina, she later understood that question and was able to answer wholeheartedly in the affirmative.

They had four beautiful children together – Donna Marie, Daniel Lee, Darren Steven and Debra Pauline. Each child was unique. She loved her children and raised them to know the power and love of God. She taught them responsibility through home chores, school work and babysitting. In the early days, they were with her at church witnessing firsthand her service and devotion to God in many tangible ways. Some even accompanied her to school classes or field trips. They were an extension of who she was and she juggled parenting responsibilities while pursuing higher education and perhaps an art career. It was difficult and challenging. With God’s help and the support of her mother Petra, family members and friends, her family flourished. Maggie was blessed with four granddaughters: Rachel, Rebecca, Jasmine and Jossalynn. Much later in her life, she had the privilege of caring for her aging father and leading him to the Lord before his passing.

In 1992, Maggie married Bob O’Campo, a former soldier and who had been decorated with two bronze stars and a purple heart. A carpenter by trade, he and Maggie settled into a happy life together tending to their pets and garden. He loved and admired her many talents and he himself enjoyed photography and woodworking. They complemented each other. Bob and Maggie lived in Lake Elsinore for a few years and had hoped to retire to New Mexico perhaps around Taos but she eventually settled on Ruidoso after his death in August 1999.

In service and devotion to God, Maggie made herself available to the local churches she attended. She undertook varied positions and activities such as Sunday School teacher, church treasurer, women’s fellowship leader and organizing church fundraisers from sewing aprons to making tamales. Her keen mind, social skills, teaching skills and business acumen were a blessing to all the church ministries she was ever involved in from Atwood, California to Ruidoso, New Mexico and places in-between. A pastor from Lake Elsinore said of Maggie: “She did her church work with joy and she was a joy to work with.” After her move to Ruidoso, she became involved with her local church and the Racetrack Chaplaincy Ministry where she befriended and aided stable workers, their wives and families. She taught Biblical lessons and gave lessons in English as a second language. She even taught parenting and citizenship classes. She combined her love of teaching with her love of God.

Whenever the opportunity arose, Maggie would travel. She was eager to see the world, its natural wonders and observe peoples and cultures. Her first opportunity came when she went to Germany as a soldier’s wife. She recalled the challenges of traveling on the rails with a newborn. And with laughter, recalled the first experience of grocery shopping outside the US base. No bags were provided at stores so she managed to get groceries home by putting a loaf of bread under her arm and carrying all the rest in her hands.

While in Germany, she and Danny traveled to nearby European cities and countries. In Paris, a much anticipated visit to the Louvre Museum to see works by master artists Leonardo di Vinci, Michelangelo and Rembrandt did not disappoint.

According to a newspaper interview Maggie gave, she had visited every state in the US except for North Dakota and Alaska. She never tired of visiting museums and galleries whether in California or around the world and to absorb the beauty of diverse cultures. She traveled to Mexico, Central Mexico, Bahamas, and Canada. She briefly visited Japan and Korea on her way to China. In 1986, Maggie enrolled in a unique university-sponsored summer art course in China, one of the earliest of its kind. She was impressed with the beauty of the countryside, the kindness of the people and the Great Wall of China. The trip was the highlight of her travel and art education.

Maggie was a lifelong learner and a lifelong teacher. She was an overachiever, constantly moving forward and always thirsty for knowledge. She persevered in her quest to get educated attending night classes while raising a family. She earned a BA degree in Education with a secondary Art Major and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Bilingual Education at California State University, Fullerton. She dedicated 31 years to teaching middle school, high school, community college and adult education in California. She wrote science curriculum, taught science classes often drawing her own illustrations and for two consecutive years served as either Director or Assistant Director of the school district’s Science Fair. She was acknowledged as Artist for a Teacher’s Manual at Cal State Fullerton. She garnered recognition and accolades for her teaching including District Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year and as a recipient of the coveted Golden Bell Award in Bilingual Education.

In 2004, she retired to Ruidoso where her surroundings provided further inspiration to sketch, paint and take photographs. Maggie was a good photographer and had an eye for detail - seeing the beautiful in the ordinary. Scenes that wouldn’t draw anyone’s attention, she captured in her photographs and paintings and made a presentation to us of those images.

Her art was not limited to watercolor and oil paintings on canvas. She sketched in pencil, chalk, charcoal and ink. She experimented with different mediums such as clay and wire to produce sculptures. She even enjoyed jewelry-making. Maggie participated in local art shows displaying and selling her various forms of art. She joined the Ruidoso Regional Council for the Arts and was embraced by the art community. She volunteered in planning and setting up art tours featuring local artists, many who became friends.

Maggie was intelligent and knowledgeable; wise and rational; complex and practical; gifted and talented. She had a charming smile that lit up her face and put a twinkle in her eye especially when relating a funny childhood story or a recent mishap. She was firm when circumstances required it and she’d soften when necessary. She loved talking about her students knowing that she was making a difference in their lives.

When Maggie became a new creation in Christ, her perspective changed and her faith became the sustaining source of life. Like all believers, it was a transition that lasted her entire life’s journey. She grew and was tested in her faith in many ways. She had to reconcile and let go of hurts in the past and embrace whatever circumstances she encountered, believing God would lead her. She trusted the Lord God for provision and protection – something she witnessed again and again over her lifetime and personally experienced His faithfulness and power up to the very end.

We witnessed the testimony of her life. We can truly say that Magdalena was a multi-faceted gem as her inner and outer beauty shined and sparkled through all the shades of light and color in her life. We loved her and we’ll see her again.

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:3 (NIV)

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)