Hiram Hubert Martinez

Born on April 20th, 1932, in Monte Vista, Colorado, to Phoebe (Martinez) and Ely T. Martinez, Hiram served in the Army from 1951 to 1954 and the New Mexico National Guard until 1974.

He met his future wife, Esther Contreras, at a church picnic, just after he returned from serving in the Army in Germany, and they were married in 1955.

Shortly after that, he began working for the US Government in the Department of Energy as they were beginning their computer department. He learned computer programming and went on to become a Programmer and a System Analyst. He retired from the DOE in 1987.

Always active in church work, having accepted Christ at the age of 12, he was ordained as a Deacon at Bethany Spanish Baptist Church in Albuquerque, and then ordained to Preach the Gospel. He served as Pastor at the Isleta Indian Baptist Mission at the Isleta Pueblo outside of Albuquerque, Pastor at Bethany Spanish Baptist Church, Assistant Pastor at Alameda Baptist, then Interim Pastor of the Spanish congregation at Del Norte Baptist Church in Albuquerque. He also did pulpit supply work with several churches around New Mexico.

During all this time he took several Seminary Extension classes, worked with the New Mexico Southern Baptist Convention, and was able to participate in mission trips to Merida, Yucatan, and Tampico, Mexico.

In addition to church work, Hiram loved to camp and fish and taught all of us a love of the outdoors. He also loved music – a talent which he learned from his parents and passed on to each of us. He played the cornet through elementary, junior high and high school, and learned to play piano at his mother’s side.

In 2018, Hiram moved with his wife Esther to Phoenix to be near their daughters, and joined First Baptist Church Chandler, where they were faithful members of the Senior Adult class. After Esther passed away in 2020, Hiram joined Foothills Baptist Church, where he attended the Joy Sunday School class.

Hiram is survived by his four children, H. Timothy Martinez, Evangeline Burge, Elizabeth Martinez, and Naomi (Marc) Martinez-Goldstick, grandchildren Robert Burge, Eli Goldstick, and Hannah Goldstick, sister Sylvia (Robert) Dineen, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther, his parents, and siblings Eli Miqueas Martinez, Saul Martinez, Joel Amos Martinez, Charlotte Romero, Phoebe Lott, Miriam Weidner, and Ruth Mehring.

We look forward to seeing him, along with our mother, again in Glory where he now sees Jesus face to face.

Memorial Service online

9:57am AZ time Wednesday, 9/21/22

Celebration of Life Service Link for 5 days on Resi:

https://control.resi.io/webplayer/video.html?id=1f7191ad-dd0f-484c-a1ff-e5a6829b6799

Backup Plan link for Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFAy-aB0Z2U