Theodore "Ted” Martinez, 73, passed away on the morning of September 7, 2018, at his home in Colorado Springs. He was born on July 9, 1945 in Gulnare, Colorado to Leonardo and Mary Inez Martinez and lived in Aguilar, Colorado while attending school there. He was a longtime resident of Colorado Springs since 1970 and worked as a welder, sheet metal fabricator, auto body repair manager, and fiber optics installer. He retired in November 2015 from Lockheed Martin as a Fiber Optics Installer within Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base after serving over 20 years of civil service at NORAD, Peterson Air Force Base, and the Air Force Academy.

His previous occupations include a welder at Denver Equipment from 1970-1975; auto repairman at the Air Force Academy; Auto Body Repair Manager at Peterson Air Force Base from 1975-1988 in Colorado Springs; sheet metal fabricator from 1988 to fiber optics installer through 2015 at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base. He completed four years of military service in the Navy and served in San Diego 1966-1968, with a 9-month Mediterranean Tour on the U.S.S Everglades in 1968 while serving in Ft. Lauderdale and completing service in Charleston, South Carolina 1969-1970. He studied business management through the G.I. Bill and received an associate degree in Business Management.

Ted loved his family and friends very much and lent a helping hand to a loved one in need whether it was financially or spiritually. His nicknames were “Ted”, “Teddy”, and “Ted E Bear.” He was a mentor to many and loved to teach and share his knowledge. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his family especially during holidays and celebrations as he most recently celebrated his 73rd birthday with his wife, children, and grandchildren at home. Some of his favorite past times were to watch talented artists on "America's Got Talent" and "The Voice", and to relax outside during the pleasant temperatures facing Pike's Peak from his front yard sipping on sweet tea and conducting business on his laptop computer. He enjoyed listing to Jimmy Swaggart and Tom Jones, watching Walker Texas Ranger, Cheech and Chong, SNL, and Mad T.V. He liked to make people laugh, smile, and feel welcome in his home. He was always willing to help others in need. Before his battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, he was a health and fitness enthusiast and worked out at the gym at least three times a week, he enjoyed bike riding, hiking, racquet ball, barbeque, grilling, making green chile and salsa, reading books about better health and his King James Bible and devotions for encouragement. He was an expert carpenter, sheet metal fabricator, welder, and painter which enabled him in completing home improvement upgrades as well as a new garage for future projects. He was also an expert in auto body repair and provided services from his home throughout the decades. He imparted his expert advice about home and auto repair to anyone in need of it.

He professed his faith and was grateful for his salvation through Jesus Christ and he provided words of encouragement and wisdom to anyone in need of it. He was a rock of strength as a spouse, brother, father, grandfather, and friend.

He is survived by his wife, Roberta Garrison; younger brother, Joe Martinez; sisters, Pat Sanderson, and Liz Davis; eldest daughter, Gwendolyn Selina & son-in-law, Ron Stevens; son, Theodore Marty Martinez; daughters, Toni Ann and Summer Lee Garrison; grandchildren: Gracie Rae, Alana Lee, "Theo" Marty, Jr. Martinez, Tiffany Lee, Ashley Marie Torrez, Vince, Alex, Skylar Palomino, Starla Garrison, Quinn, and Mya Mae Hunter; and great-grandson, Giovanni Eduardo Torrez. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was greeted in Heaven by his brother, Marshall, who passed away on May 23, 2018; his niece, Jacqueline Rene, who was born September 7, 1970 and passed away on August 15, 2017; and his youngest daughter, Melody Mae, who went to be with the Lord Jesus on October 16, 2009.

He is dearly loved and greatly appreciated by his family and friends for all that he did to contribute to their livelihood and success. He will be deeply missed, yet we have a hope to see him again through the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2018 at Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 East Fountain Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80910. The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 22, 2018 also at Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel.

A reception will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the VFW 4051, 430 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.

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