Louis Padilla

LOUIS PADILLA, known by his beloved wife of 45 years as “My Luis”, went home to be with the Lord and be rejoined with his beautiful wife Maggie on December 7, 2021. Louis was born on July 15, 1937, in Tome, New Mexico, and was a lifelong resident of Albuquerque. He was a 1955 graduate of Albuquerque High School and joined the New Mexico Air National Guard with which he served 8 years; and he also worked for more than 30 years with the Santa Fe Railroad until he medically retired in 1992 following coronary artery bypass surgery that allowed him to spend nearly 30 years enjoying life with his family, relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret “Maggie” Giron; parents, Vicente Padilla and Lucille Kuhns; brothers, Nemecio “Steve” and Eduardo “Eddy” Padilla; sister, Bernadette Padilla; and parents-in-law, Pilar and Andreita Giron. Louis is survived by sons Gary Eric (Lillian) and Edmund Padilla, daughter Elaine Martinez (Michael), and grandchildren Jason Padilla, Maggie Martinez, Daniel Espinosa (Alicia), Ashley Glazener (Jed), and Brooke Martinez.

He is also survived by brothers Bernie Padilla (Shirley) of Barstow, CA, and Robert Padilla of San Diego, CA, and sisters Margaret Underwood of Middleton, OH, and Theresa Padilla of Clovis, NM; and he is survived by many great-grandchildren including Adelynn and Elijah Padilla, brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends from Albuquerque and Tome to California and Ohio.

When Louis married his love, Maggie, he married into a much larger family, the Giron family, which became an important part of his and his family’s lives. Following the loss of his Maggie in 2007, he spent the remaining 14 years making memories with his sons, daughter, their families, and the larger extended family. Louis and Edmund looked after each other and maintained their two homes on Cagua; he cruised across the Atlantic with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and his Martinez family where he received stamps on his passport from Portugal and Spain; he spent much time hanging out and working at Houston Wholesale car lot with Gary, visiting with the staff and customers and sharing stories of his life with anyone who would listen; and he spent time traveling with or visiting family in California, Ohio, Michigan, and Hawaii and made the annual trip to Las Vegas, NV with the Giron clan and friends. Though he made the most of his time with family and friends and even welcomed a new Maggie into his life in 2009, with the birth of his granddaughter, he still missed his lifelong dance partner and wife.

Louis was loved by so many and will be missed by his beloved family, relatives, and friends; however, we all find comfort in knowing he is dancing in Heaven with his beloved wife Maggie, and he is no longer feeling the ills of his earthly body. His Catholic faith was an important part of his life, and he was a long-time member of Queen of Heaven Catholic Church where he spent many hours tending to the shrubs and tree beds and helping count money.

Services will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at Queen of Heaven, 5310 Claremont NE, with a rosary at 9:30 am, Funeral mass at 10:00 am, and burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 1900 Edith Blvd NE.