Joseph H. Zamora

Joseph Herman Zamora, age 96, of Rio Rancho, NM., went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.  He celebrated his 73^rd Wedding Anniversary on June 4^th and spent his final days with his beloved wife Elizabeth and surrounded by family before he passed peacefully at home.

 Joseph was born in Taylor Springs, NM, to Reymundo and Aurora Zamora on Saturday, August 14, 1926.  The family moved to Cimarron, NM, where Joseph graduated from middle school.  Joseph moved to the San Francisco Bay area with his sister Margaret Zamora and graduated from Oakland Technical High School.  After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy to serve his country in WWII and was honorably medically discharged after contracting rheumatic fever.   Joseph enrolled at the University of New Mexico to pursue a degree in education.  During his time at UNM he endured a recurrence of rheumatic fever and was treated at the Veterans Hospital in Albuquerque where his nurse and future wife Elizabeth Baca cared for him during his recovery.  Joseph and Elizabeth were married on June 4, 1950.  Joseph was accepted to Stanford University and they moved to Palo Alto, CA, where their sons Joseph and Brian were born.  Joseph graduated with a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree from Stanford and taught in Oakland for several years where their son Kenneth was born.  They moved the family back to New Mexico where they welcomed one more boy Eric.  Joseph taught at Wilson Junior High School for 24 years before retiring from Albuquerque Public Schools.  Joseph and Elizabeth moved to Rio Rancho in 1980 and spent their retirement years gardening, taking care of his car collection, enjoying their family and being faithful members of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

Joseph is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Elizabeth Zamora, as well as, 3 sons Brian (Kit Faubion) Zamora of Fremont, CA, Kenneth (Josephine) Zamora of Corrales, NM, Eric (Sharon) Zamora of Highlands Ranch, CO and daughter-in-law (Kathy) of Arvada, CO; 9 grandchildren Dr. Abigail  Zamora of Houston, TX, Sarah Zamora of Walnut Creek, CA, Emily Zamora of Fremont, CA,  Molly Zamora of Palo Alto, CA, Katy (Anthony) Zamora of Washington, DC, Stephenie Zamora of Placitas, NM, Rebecca (Stan) Scannell of Rio Rancho, NM, Steven (Anna) Zamora of Elizabeth, CO, Dr. Valerie (Thomas) Zamora-Rzepka of Highlands Ranch, CO, Daniel Zamora of Denver, CO; 5 great grandchildren Caleb Scannell, Eric, Vivian, and Joseph Rzepka and Nolan Zamora.  He is also survived by his stepsister Flora Martinez.  Joseph was preceded in death by his eldest son Joseph Anthony Zamora.

Please join us in celebrating Joseph’s life. Visitation will be on Monday, June 19, 2023, 5:00 p.m., with Rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. at Daniels Family Funeral Services - Sara Chapel, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM. 

Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, 10:30 a.m. at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1502 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM. Interment to immediately follow at Vista Verde Memorial Park, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM.  A reception will follow.