Lupe Martinez, 73, of Waco, Texas passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2017.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am this Friday, June 2nd , at Lake Shore Church of Christ, 2800 Lake Shore Dr., with burial at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday, June 1st, from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. At OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd.

Lupe was born January 22, 1944 to parents Anestacio and Cipriana N. Martinez in Coolidge, Texas. He attended Coolidge schools, and lived in the Waco area his entire life, with the exception of a couple of years seeking his fortune in the Motor City of Detroit. There's no place like home though, and so Lupe returned to settle in Waco, where he worked at Owens Illinois Glass plant for 25 years, and then for Cargill Foods for 11 years before retiring in 2011.

Lupe Martinez was a loving and lovable patriarch, revered by his close-knit family. He was the cool dad, the cool grandpa, the one everyone wanted to hang out with. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God”, is from Jesus' sermon on the mount, and this was also an apt description of Lupe's nature, gently imploring others to cool down when emotions were running high, or a conflict brewing. He was the sturdy rock of his family, the go-to for whatever they needed. If he couldn't solve a problem, he somehow always “knew a guy” that could deliver. When most men might be relaxing a little after retiring, Lupe used his additional free time to do that much more for his family, for what was obviously a labor of love for him. Besides this legendary work ethic, Lupe loved family and fun, and enjoyed life to its fullest. He was a Dallas Cowboys fan, and enjoyed attending Texas Rangers games, even though he rooted for the Yankees, and could most often be seen wearing their logo on his cap. He enjoyed traveling, and in recent years he was blessed to get to do a lot of it, usually with his main partner-in-crime, Stevie. Since “retirement”, Lupe has kept busy being a doting grandpa to his 19 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren, as well as working part-time at the Waco Airport and performing numerous errands and favors for friends and family. Together with old friends, he had been working on solving the world's problems over coffee at McDonald's most weekday mornings. Always a dog lover, he enjoyed relaxing at home with his best furry friend “Bear”. Lupe was a very loving person, and was well-liked by everyone, with his easy going manner and generous spirit, but most of all he was a loving husband and Dad. We have no doubt that Lupe is sharing a cold one with Jesus, both of them wearing Yankees caps, and seated around a table laughing, sharing stories, while periodically checking out the T.V. on the wall, which is set to the Martinez channel, allowing him to look in on his family. Though we are going to miss him dearly, we take some comfort in knowing who has him now.

Lupe was preceded in death by his parents, Anestacio and Ciprana N. Martinez, his step-mother Maria Martinez, his mother-in-law Lola R. Jimenez, his brother Willie Martinez and sister Reyes Martinez, his unborn baby boy, and unborn grandchild. Until they reunite, Lupe is survived by the love of his life, wife Anna, and his children Maria Cecilia “Sissy” Martinez, Monica Martinez and son-in-law Ross Sardaneta, Yolanda Martinez & son-in-law Mark Zylberfuden, Richard Martinez and daughter-in-law Donna Navarro, Steven Martinez, Lolita Martinez Lopez and husband Steve Lopez Jr., and Sophia Martinez and fiance Willie Starts III, as well as former wife Georgia “Mary” Martinez, sisters Gloria Guzman, Anita Lopez, Janie Martinez, Florence Sustaita, Julie Moreno and husband Robert, Cecelia Olivarez and husband Erasmo, Carol Perez and husband Mark, brothers Ted Martinez and wife Diane, and Ignacio Martinez and wife Monica. Lupe is also blessed to be survived by his grandchildren Lupe “Lupito” Olivarez, Tony Olivarez, Joseph “Bubba” Olivarez, Roman Olivarez, Vanessa Perez, Rebecca Perez, Christopher Perez, Jessica Martinez, Kayla Martinez, Richard Martinez Jr., Zoey Morgan, Kaelyn Morgan, Willie Starts IV., Jayceon Starts, Adrian Starts, Michael Zylberfuden, Sarah Zylberfuden, Mya Zylberfuden, his 18 great grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are: Stevie Martinez, Lupe Olivarez, Steve Lopez Jr., Willie Starts III, Joseph Olivarez, Chris Perez, Roman Olivarez, and Eric Perez.
Honorary Pallbearers are: Richard Martinez, Maria Cecilia Martinez, Monica Martinez, Yolanda Martinez, Lolita Martinez Lopez, Sophia Martinez, Angel Reyes, Anthony Olivarez, Richard Martinez Jr., Sarah Zylberfuden, and Mya Zylberfuden.

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