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Jacob

Jacob Espinoza - Courtesy Announcement

d. March 30, 2020

Jacob Manuel Espinoza (Jake) of Houston, TX (formerly of Los Alamos) passed away on March 30, 2020 after a long illness. Jake was preceded in death by his father Jacob Espinoza, mother, Bernadette Gonzales, stepfather Jack Gonzales and brother Kenneth Gonzales. He is survived by his loving son, Jacob (Brice) Espinoza, daughter-in-law Natalie, and his beloved grand babies, Jacob and Gentry Mae Espinoza. He is also survived by his siblings; Judy A. Montoya of Surprise, AZ, Clifford L. Gonzales of White Rock, NM and Barbara M. Gonzales of Los Alamos, NM. He also leaves behind nieces Cyndi Montoya of Hanford, CA, Shannon Montoya of Hawthorne, CA, and nephews James Montoya of Hanford, CA, James Gonzales of El Paso, TX, Timothy Gonzales of El Paso, TX, Kenneth Gonzalez of El Paso, TX, and Christopher Gonzales of El Paso, TX.

Jake was born in El Llano, NM on July 25, 1949. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1968 before later enlisting in the United States Marine Corp later in the year.  He did a two-year tour of Vietnam (1968-1970), specifically stationed near and around the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. Once returning stateside he became a reservist and enrolled at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) where he graduated in summer of 1974 as a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity with a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and Spanish.  That same year he was honorably discharged from the military.

After graduation from ENMU, Jake started his career as a  Special Education teacher in Nogales, AZ, before transferring to Millikin, CO, upon finally resettling in Los Alamos, NM. Along with Rosemarie and Peter Shalek, he was instrumental in starting the first Group Home in Los Alamos County. In addition, he was also on the board of Las Cumbers Community Services. After teaching 6 years he left to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) as a Special Staff Member in PU-238 Processing. While working at LANL he was an avid fastpitch softball player, playing with State Farm as well as was one of the founders of the team sponsored by Trinity Bakery. Finally, he served as Quartermaster of the VFW Post 8874 in Los Alamos, NM, where he was also a member of the Military Order of the Cootie. Jake retired from LANL in 2003 .

Upon retiring, Jake moved closer to be to Brice, eventually ending up in Houston, TX. Jake loved animals, gardening  (especially in La Puebla on what he called the ‘mini farm’). Jake loved the New York Yankees, the Indianapolis Colts, the Boston Celtics, horse racing, gambling, painting, but above all else, just hanging out with Brice and his family. A celebration of life will occur in Houston, TX  with a funeral service in Los Alamos, NM and burial at Santa Fe National Cemetery with full military honors as permitted.  In lieu of flowers the family request that a donation be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Donate).

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