Joe Melendez, 78

Mr. Joe Melendez, 78, of Santa Barbara County, Calif., died Wednesday, May 21, 2003.

He was born on April 26, 1925, in Roswell, to Eduardo and Urbana Juarez Melendez.

He was educated in Roswell Public Schools, Eastern New Mexico University and University of New Mexico, earning a bachelor of science degree in geology in 1952. He was employed by Western Geophysical Company and Delco Electronics, from which he retired in 1982. During World War II he served his country in the U.S. Air Force.

He was preceded in death by a son, Daniel.

He is survived by his wife, Cleo Gray; four children, Paul, Marc, Carla and Chuck; four brothers, Ishmael, Fil and Eddie, all of New Mexico and Manuel of Washington, D.C.; two sisters, Grace and Ruth, both of New Mexico; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends.

Services have been held. Arrangements were by Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels of Santa Barbara, Calif.

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