Esperanza Gamboa

Esperanza “Espy” Gamboa (née Ramos) left to be with her Lord and became an angel on January 5, 2024. She passed away peacefully having spent her last days surrounded by family, friends, and love one’s.

Espy was born to Feliciano and Carolina Ramos on June 15, 1942, in El Paso, Texas. The third oldest of eight children, her siblings remember her as a fiercely loyal and supportive sister who never hesitated, in childhood or adulthood, to stand by her family. Graduating from Jefferson High School in 1960, Espy was a cheerleader, an R.O.T.C. member, and a drummer for the marching band’s drumline. Espy was in third grade when she met her future husband, Albert Gamboa Jr. The couple married on November 15, 1963. In their sixty years of marriage, they had four children, built a successful construction and land development business, Thermodyn (T-Dyne), made lifelong friends, enjoyed many trips to Las Vegas, and became grandparents and great-grandparents.

Espy’s husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren remember her as our unstoppable matriarch. Espy often recalled that, even as a child, she would tell her abuelita she intended to marry a handsome man and have beautiful children. With Albert, her childhood dream of having a big, beautiful family became her reality. As a mom, she coached her daughters’ softball team, drove countless miles to bowling, cheer, and band practices, and loved to watch her son race; with his special number “7/11.” Her home was always open to family and friends in need. As “Mia”—the name her grandchildren and great-grandchildren call her—she picked children up from school every day, always said yes to after school snacks, helped with homework (especially math), orchestrated the best holidays, and shared stories and advice. Though we, her family, grieve the loss of our irreplaceable matriarch, we know her love persists in our hearts and memories, through her stories that we continue to retell and her virtues that we continue to embrace. We are blessed to carry her legacy.

We would like extend a special thank you to Cynthia Tovar and her caregivers Lupe and Alejandra for their patience, love and everlasting dedication to our beloved mother. Espy is survived by her husband Albert Jr., daughters Nancy Gamboa (Richard), Naomi Gamboa (Bill), and Nanette Gamboa-Torres (Manuel Jr.), son Albert Gamboa III (Ruby), grandchildren Destiny Love, Samantha Cundiff, Matthew Gamboa-Lutz, Sarina Cundiff, and Carter Gamboa, great-grandchildren Schyler and Savannah Love, siblings Estella Lopez, Alicia Barrientes, Gloria Olsen, George Ramos and countless nieces and nephews. Espy was preceded in death by parents Feliciano and Carolina Ramos and siblings Carolina Gonzalez, Ignacio Ramos, and Irene Ramos.

Pallbearers will be Matthew Gamboa-Lutz, George Ramos, Richard Montoya, Bill Luttrell Jr. Manuel Torres Jr. and Adam Love.

Honorary Pallbearers are Carter Gamboa, Raul Pacillas Jr. and Adan Lopez Jr.

Services for Esperanza Gamboa

Thursday, January 18, 2024 - Visitation 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Thursday, January 18, 2024 - Vigil 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Father Alfonso Coronado

Martin Funeral Home East, 1460 George Dieter Dr. El Paso TX 79936

Friday, January 19, 2024 - Funeral Mass 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

St. Raphael’s Catholic Church, 2301 Zanzibar, El Paso, TX 79925

Friday, January 19, 2024 - Graveside Committal -1:30 PM

Evergreen East Cemetery, 12400 Montana Ave. El Paso, TX 79938