Tata 80
Eloy Molina's 80th Birthday, Belen, New Mexico 1/23/2003.
Eloy Molina: January 23, 1923 - May 15, 2006
Eloy Molina was born on January 23, 1923 in Belen, New Mexico. His parents were Nancenseno & Adela Molina. He is predeceased by both parents, his brothers Lawrence, Nick, Ruben and Sister Ninfa. He is survived by his wife Tommie, his brother Junior, his six children: Martha, Elsie, Annabelle, Margie, John and Ray. His ten Grandchildren: Karen and Kathy, Elaine and Eric, Tommy and Maria, Natalie and Kevin, Julie and Jessica. On top of that he is survived by 10 great grandchildren: Jeremy, Amber, Jesse, Justin, Mia, Jordan, TJ, Kayla, Andy and Cameron. These names are mentioned because each and every child, grandchild and great grandchild was very special to Eloy, and a very important part of his life.
Eloy grew up in Belen, New Mexico. Life during his childhood was rough, as it was in most of the United States during the great depression. No one had money, and everyone survived with the help of family and friends. He lived in the same area of Belen for the greater part of his life where his father worked for the Railroad and his family had a farm, where they grew chili and apples. As a teenager his parents wanted to buy their first car so they had Eloy test drive it. He had never ever driven a car before but after the drive he informed his parents that yes it was a very good car and he thought they should buy it. One of his chores was to ride into town on his horse to go to the grocery store. Luckily on his route to the store lived a pretty girl who he had met at a dance by the name of Tomasita Chavez. Eloy might never admit to being a smart man, but when he passed by Tommie’s house he would always give her brothers an apple from the farm. Those apples paid off, as it eventually lead to his marriage to Tommie on December 26, 1943. Before he was married though, at the age of 17, he lied about his age so that he could enlist in the Army and fight in World War II. After surviving the war and getting married, he and Tommie moved to Albuquerque where he was employed by the US Forest Service and they started a family. After the first two girls Martha and Elsie were born, they decided that Albuquerque was just a bit too far away from home and Tommie wanted to live closer to her Mother so they moved back to Belen and Eloy made the commute to Albuquerque for work. Eloy and Tommie kept themselves busy as they added two more girls to the family, Annabelle and Margie. As the four girls grew older and it seemed they would have an empty house along came John & Ray. Eloy was very close to all of his children and was very proud of all of their accomplishments. He could also be a very protective parent. When his oldest daughter Martha announced that she was to have a job interview with the then Senator elect Joseph Montoya, he was not very happy to learn that the interview was scheduled at night at a local hotel. Eloy told Martha that the only way she would be allowed to go was if he went with her. A very embarrassed Martha showed up at the hotel room with her father in tow, and quickly explained the situation to the Senator. They both must have made a good impression on the Senator, because soon after Martha was offered the job.
As Ray got bigger, and the girls were moving out of the house, Eloy and Tommie were soon blessed with grandchildren. Eloy, or Tata which he was now being referred to by his granddaughter Elaine. As Elaine started kindergarten he worried she would somehow not be able to find her way to her kindergarten room. Eloy found some older girls at the school and each day he would give them a dime to get her to class, every day reminding them to each take her by the hand and walk her to her class room door, not the hallway, but to her classroom.
He mostly enjoyed spending his free time with friends and family. His best friend George Campbell married Tommie's sister Sarah, and many nights were spent with them and with his sister in law Bobby and her husband Ruperto, as well as his sister Ninfa and her husband Andrew. He loved his Church and spent many hours at 'Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church' where he was head usher for many years. Tata loved to tell stories, loved to make people laugh, and always enjoyed being around his family. He was someone who would go out of his way for you, someone who would always lend a helping hand, and someone who would give you the shirt off his back. If you were privileged enough to have met him then you know what a special man he was. He will truly be missed by all.