Orlando Roberto Gabaldon

Orlando Roman Roberto Jose Federico Gabaldon was born in Carrizozo, New Mexico in 1929, and passed away on May 29, 2025. He grew up in Claunch, New Mexico on a ranch where his family grew pinto beans, traveled to shear sheep in New Mexico and West Texas. One of his favorite pastimes was to catch wild horses, to either tame them or sell them.

He moved to California for a brief time and worked at a Railroad Roundhouse, cleaning train engines and wheels. He was drafted by the U. S. Army in January of 1951. He traveled back home on a 30 day leave before shipping off to basic training. He left Carrizozo by train and was appointed Private First Class on February 1, 1952. He began his military life as a paratrooper in Camp Stewart, Georgia. He put in for a transfer to the Far East Command, with the 45th Division of the Oklahoma National Guard. He shipped out to Korea from San Francisco on the U.S.S. Walker along with 7000 of his fellow countrymen. He fought as a gunner of the only 50 caliber tri-part in his platoon. He was awarded the Purple Heart for Injury in Action fighting the Old Baldy Battle and the Pork Chop Hill standoff, which was in North Korea territory. His separation from the U. S. Army was October 22, 1952.

When he returned from Korea, he came back to New Mexico, met and married his wife, Josie. They moved to Claunch, then moved to Tularosa where he worked various jobs until he found a job at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo as a cook. In 1963 he and his wife moved to Casa Colorada, New Mexico where he began his farming and ranching. He was in his mid-40's when MRGCD (Middle Rio Grant Conservancy District) asked him to go to work for them. He worked there, in addition to farming, ranching owning a grocery store/gas station, having a propane business, shearing sheep on occasion. He retired in his mid-60's. When his wife, Josie, passed away in 2020, he moved to Manzano, New Mexico where he lived his final years in the care of his daughter and son-in-law.

Orlando is predeceased by his wife, Josie Maria Baroz Gabaldon; his parents, Lupe and Elvira Gabaldon; Brother, Erineo Gabaldon; and sister, Elizar Gallegos.

He is survived by his four children, Alfred (Donna) Gabaldon, Evelyn (Ed) Walker, Genevieve (Charlie) Benes, and David (Dave Walker) Gabaldon. Also surviving him are six grandchildren, Jerry Gabaldon, Jory Fox, Stoney Gabaldon, Aaron Fox, Kati Gabaldon and Kelsey Walker; Nine Great-Grandchildren, Brady Gabaldon, Madison Gabaldon, Cameron Gabaldon, Justice Gabaldon, Jaxon Gabaldon, Graham Gabaldon, Lane Fox, Remington Fox, Winnie Fox and one Fox to be born in October, 2025. He is also survived by two sisters, Ticha Vega and Margie (Augustine) Olguin, and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Orlando will be held on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the San Juan Veguita Catholic Church. A visitation will take place at 10:00 am. Mass will be held at 11:00 am. Inurnment will take place immediately following the services at San Juan Veguita Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com

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