Virginia R. Martinez

Virginia R. Martinez, 69, of Grape Creek, passed away surrounded by loved ones in her home on Thursday, October 20, 2016. She was born in Del Rio, Texas on January 6, 1947. In her younger years, she was an avid horseback rider. Virginia worked for a number of years in the janitorial services industry, eventually achieving the supervisor status. Her work ethic standards were higher than most. Virginia was known for her ability to communicate honestly with people on any level. You always knew where you stood with Virginia. She enjoyed spending time quilting, working jigsaw puzzles, tending to her roses or just being outdoors in general. Her family was her joy, especially her children and grandchildren. She has spent the last 28 years with her love, Alejandro Martinez. He finally got her to marry him in their home on Saturday, October 15, 2016, just days before she left this world. Their love was inspirational to many couples in the family who aimed to model their own love story from. Virginia was a member of the Grape Creek Family Fellowship Church. She will be remembered and missed greatly by all who knew and loved her.

Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, Felix and Catalina Rodriguez; 1 grandson; 1 sister; and 2 brothers.

Survivors include the love of her life and her husband, Alejandro Martinez; children, Freddy Santiago, Sr. and his wife, Delores, Rosa Alice Stanford and her partner, Dave Shepard, Roger Santiago and his partner, Michelle Hernandez, Pennie Braxton and her husband, Troy, and Marissa Santiago; grandchildren, Freddy Santiago, Jr., Celynda Christine Patterson, Savannah Kapri Ochoa, Sabrina Santiago, Stacy Santiago, Brandy Leigh Stanford, and Virginia Brooks Stanford; several great grandchildren; siblings, Senovia Samaniego, Abel Rodriguez, and Marivel Contreras; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Per Virginia’s request, the family asks that no one wear all black to her services. Virginia wanted to be the only one in black and for everyone else to wear something brightly colored, such as her favorite color, purple.

There will be a time of visitation following the Celebration of Life Service on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 4:00 PM in the Johnson’s Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will be conducted at 10:00 AM on Monday, October 24, 2016 in Johnson’s Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens with John Barron, Troy Braxton, Billy Hurado, Freddy Santiago, Sr., Freddy Santiago, Jr., and Roger Santiago serving as pallbearers. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and photos as well as sign the online guestbook at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com . Arrangements were especially handled for the Santiago-Martinez family by Johnson’s Funeral Home of San Angelo.