Guadalupe “Lupe” Vega, 77, a longtime resident of Socorro, New Mexico, passed away on April 24, 2024, at the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM.
Lupe was born on February 26, 1947, to Alfonso and Elida (Gamboa) Vega in Berino, NM and grew up in Polvadera, NM. After graduating from Socorro High School in May of 1965, Lupe attended New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology before joining the US Air Force where he served as a Navigations Systems Mechanical Technician on b-52 bombers until his honorable discharge in June of 1970.
During his Air Force service, Lupe married his high school sweetheart, Alice (Griego) Vega, now deceased, in Lemitar, N.M. on October 21, 1967, and had their only son, Louis A. Vega on August 25, 1969.
Fulfilling a promise to his mother, Lupe returned to college and graduated from New Mexico State University in 1975 as an Electrical Engineer.
Upon graduation, Lupe, Alice and Louis moved to Taos, New Mexico, as Lupe became systems engineer for Kit Carson Electric Cooperative where he worked for 8 years. Lupe and his family returned to Socorro in 1983 where Lupe became the General Manager of Socorro Electric Cooperative where he retired in 2005 and continued to work with rural electric cooperative associations, on the Vega family farm and traveling.
Lupe was preceded in death by his wife, Alice, and is survived by his son Louis (Steve); brothers Gilbert (Patsy), Hector (Marie), Carlos, Jose “Lencho” and Robert (Julie) Vega; sisters Mary Benavidez and Elena (Milton) Ulibarri; sisters-in- law Celina Baca, Bernadette Griego, Rita (Don) Steinnerd and Emma Griego and more than 60 loving nieces and nephews.
A viewing and rosary was conducted on Monday April 29, 2024, at the San Lorenzo Catholic Church in Polvadera, New Mexico.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the San Miguel Parish in Socorro, New Mexico, and interment immediately followed at the Polvadera Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers and to honor Guadalupe “Lupe” Vega’s memory, the family kindly request that donations be made to the Vega Memorial Legacy Fund (https://nmsufoundation.org/givenow/vega-memorial) @ New Mexico State University.
