Felix Torres Jr.

Felix Torres Jr, a great historian, age 84 passed away April 19,2025 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 15, 1940, to Felix C. Torres and Maria Herrera in a small town just north of Socorro, NM called La Florida and was the oldest of 14 siblings. While a sophomore in Socorro High in 1956, Felix joined the Army National Guard at the age of 15 years and 6 months, but on record they listed Felix as being 17 years of age. Felix graduated from Socorro High School and received a Scholarship from Draughon’s Business College. In October 15, 1960, Felix married his love of his life and neighbor and Friend Margaret Torres, daughter of Frank Torres and Crecencia Lencha Gonzales. Felix and Margaret’s marriage turned into 61 years of marriage and two wonderful children, two beautiful Granddaughters and two Grandsons. In June of 1963, Felix as a Staff Sargent, and 15 years in the Army National Guard at the time, attended OCS Academy and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Reserves by orders of the President of the United States and was assigned with the Army National Guard in Socorro. Around 1969 Felix became a Captain and commander of both Socorro and Belen Army National Guard. Later in May 1970 Felix as Commander of Belen and Socorro was ordered through chain of commands by the Governor to mobilize to bring order during the UNM riot. Later around a year or so, Felix resigned his commission as a Captain and left the City of Socorro as a Gas Superintendent to start a plumbing and heating business as Torres Plumbing and Heating. While in business around 1973, the City Clerk Ken Kirchoff asked Felix if he would be willing to run the Gas Department again to control a very serious gas leak of 38% loss while his brother Jerry and his wife Margaret ran his business. Later Felix tried to go back as a Captain for 5 years in order to finish 20 years for retirement, but could not find a vacancy, so he went in as an SGT in the Army National Guard in Albuquerque, while there, he was also involved in the Santa Fe Riot in 1980. Later he transferred to the 150th Special Operations Wing, Air National Guard in Kirkland Air Force Base in Albuquerque with his brother Alfred and Jerry. The Air Guard made Felix a Crew Chief with both Alfred and Jerry as his munition crew loading munitions on the Corsair 7 jet. Felix left the unit as Chief Master Sergeant but retired as a Captain in 1985 in the US Air Force Reserves and retired in 1996 from the City of Socorro as Division Director of Gas, Street, Solid Waste and Maintenance Depts under Mayor Ravi Bhasker. Felix also retired from Plumbers Union Local 412. Felix was preceded in death by his love of his life Margaret, his parents, his stepmother Josie Mom Josephine Torres, brothers Alfredito, Alfred, Tony, sisters Jennie, Frances, Della, brother-in laws Frank Torres, Manuel Torres and sister-in-law Jackie Torres. Felix is survived by his loving children, Felix (Phil) Torres III, Tanya Rebecca Torres and husband Gilbert Santillanes; four grandchildren Alysia Marie Torres, Darrien Justine Torres, Gabriel Felix Torres and Sheldon Kyle George Gonzales, Great-Granddaughters Ava Roberta Ortiz, Amelia Dyonne Ortiz, Aria Margaret Ortiz, Alexia Rae Ortiz, Alaia Margaret Hooper, Alana Lynn Hooper, and Great Grand Sons, Sheldon Junior Gonzales, Grayson Felix Torres and Adan Sebastian Gonzales. Grandson-in-Laws, Jerry Hooper and Chris Ortiz, Angel Vasquez, Granddaughter-in-laws Chanel Mata and Keisha Armijo, . Brothers: Jerry and his wife Cindy, Chris and his wife Ruby, Tom and his wife Debbie, Douglas, and his wife Gloria. Sisters: Jennie (Lulu) Torres, Theresa and her husband Pete Del Curto, Sandra and her husband Robert Aerts, sisters-in-law Marian Torres and Loudres, brothers-in-law Miguel Torres and Lencho Vega. Funeral Services will be held on May 16, 2025,­ at the San Miguel Catholic Church, Rosary at 09:30 am. Mass at 10:00, Interment to follow at the San Miguel Catholic Cemetery (New.) The pallbearers will be Gabriel Torres, Sheldon Gonzales, Jerry Hooper, Chris Ortiz and the Honorary Pallbearers are Chris Torres and Tommy Torres.