Salvador B. Legarda, 95, entered eternal rest at on Friday, May 3, 2024 at Fort Bayard Medical Center. He was born to his parents, Conrado and Leonor (Barreras) Legarda in Chambarino, NM on June 3, 1928.
When he was 7 years old the whole family moved to Santa Rita, NM, bringing only clothing that they had. Salvador attended school in Santa Rita up to the 8th grade. When Salvador was 16 or 17 years old, he started working for the mines as a laborer for a few years. In 1948 Salvador joined the U.S Army and after basic was sent to Japan. In June of 1950 the Korean War started and Salvador went to serve his country. He was later discharged November 1951 and was reinstated back into Kennecott in the Laborer Track Dept and then promoted to the Powder dept. He worked with the Powder dept. till they did without trains and started haul trucks. That’s when he became a haul truck driver till he retired in 1982.
Salvador married the love of his life Soledad Tovar on February 15, 1953 and started a family Bayard N.M. Where they had five sons. Salvador was blessed with many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and many Godchildren.
Salvador was known as a little league coach for 20 years starting as an assistant with the Machinists when his oldest son started little league. From there he became the best head coach for the Bullets where he coached the rest of his sons and many well-known others and took many to state all-stars. Salvador enjoyed camping, going for rides, traveling to El Paso, Tucson, Phoenix, wood cutting, going to Casinos, playing poker, pool tournaments either at the VFW or at the Senior Citizens Center, dancing, and listening to his music. Years ago, you would always see him, his brother Alfredo, Y.B Morales, Billy Benavidez, and Tony Garcia his Bowling Team and just out having a good time bowling. Salvador was very close and enjoyed being with his brother Alfredo and his Primo Hermano Y.B Morales they were all very close in age and all grew up together from their beginning of life. They were always inseparable even to the Golden years. Salvador touched many lives along his journey in life and he will be greatly missed.
Salvador is also survived by his sons Salvador T. Legarda Jr. of Bayard, Frankie T. Legarda of Santa Clara, George T. Legarda (Sylvia) of Phoenix, AZ, Rodolfo T. Legarda (Tami) of Bayard, and Michael T. Legarda of Santa Clara; his two sisters Cecilia Hauoli of Las Vegas, NV and Ramona Giesbrecht of Atwater, CA; his 17 grandchildren, his 32 great grandchildren, and his 5 great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife; his brother Alfredo Legarda Sr., his three sisters Rita Benavidez, Beatriz Pena and Lorenza Bencomo; his great grandson Izzy Rodriguez and his great granddaughter Jacqulyn Placencio.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 10 – 11 am at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Bayard, NM. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 11:00 am led by Danny Legarda. The Funeral Mass will follow at 11:30 am at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church with Fr. Martin Okonkwo officiating. Interment with full military honors will take place at Fort Bayard National Cemetery at 1:00 pm. Pallbearers Frankie T. Legarda, George T. Legarda, Michael T. Legarda, Rodolfo T. Legarda, Salvador Legarda, III, Frankie Legarda, Jr. Honorary pallbearer is Salvador T. Legarda, Jr.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels “Trusted care for the ones you love” ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com .