Orlando Lawrence Martinez

Orlando was preceded by his father Ignacio Sr. and mother Querina Martinez and brothers and sisters: Joseph, Ignacio Jr., Roberta, Tonita, Margret, Ellaisa and his adopted younger brother Abel.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years Barbara, his son Erick, his wife Gia, and granddaughter Elliana (8).

Orlando loved his family. When he was able, many times a year, take his family over old Wolf Creek Pass to visit his mother in Durango. He doted on Erick as a child at every opportunity, and as an adult would end every phone call to his son with "I Love You 3 times", one for Erick, one for Gia and one for Elliana. After his mother passed, he was very close with his brother Abel and would talk with him almost daily, even if just to catch up on the weather. Likewise, with his cousin Fidel (Oracio) who regularly came from San Luis (near Alamosa) to visit him in Pueblo.

Orlando graduated from Durango High School in 1959. Then immediately served in the Air Force as a special weapons mechanic and was honorably discharged as a Buck Sergeant. He had many adventures that he would happily share about his time in Texas and Morocco, where he learned some French. While in Morocco he would take opportunities to visit Spain and Germany.

He was employed at several places throughout his career. He spent some time in Utah where he met a friend who taught him Greek. He worked at Boeing in Washington and lived at a dormitory in Seattle very near where he ultimately met Barbara. After getting married to Barbara in Denver, he worked for Martin Marietta where he proudly supported launching the Viking Landers to Mars from Cape Canaveral, Florida as a computer operator. Returning to Colorado, the family moved to Pueblo after Erick was born, so that he could be closer to Tonita’s family and started working at the Colorado State Mental Hospital as a mainframe computer operator in 1976, and eventually retired there in 2002 working the medical goods warehouse.

For those that knew him, he was kind, often cheerful and loved jokes and playful teases. Orlando loved good food, sharing stories, oftentimes more than once, mostly about his family and various adventures in life. He liked West Highland terriers and had several small dogs including Lambe, Curly, Lambe (the 2nd), Tilly and now Bella. He enjoyed garage sales and created many collections influenced from his youth, including cast iron toys, leather bomber jackets, and German beer steins.

Orlando survived several major medical issues including two aneurysms and two different lung cancers. Despite beating his cancers, the chemo and radiation treatments took a toll on his energy and strength, and was on oxygen the rest of his life. For those that met him then, you would see the pulse oximeter around his neck. He used this to great effect to entertain his granddaughter Elliana when she was small.

He was a dedicated Catholic and loved the Lord Jesus. He was Baptised at Sacred Heart Church in Durango and Married at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Denver. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Meadows from its very start. He was a long time member of the Knights of Columbus where he built many friendships.

Orlando’s final months were spent in a hotel following a small house fire. While there, he received the Holy Eucharist every Friday. He was in hospice, and blessed with Last Rights. He died peacefully in the morning after a brief coughing spell.

A mass for Orlando will be held February 14th at 10 am at Our Lady of the Meadows Catholic Church

23 Starling Dr, Pueblo, CO 81005