Fred Rubio Luna

Obituary For Fred Rubio Luna

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Fred R. “Stretch” Luna on
August 22, 2024. Stretch was born on August 5, 1941, to Federico C. “Tony” and
Estefana Rubio Luna in Hillsboro, New Mexico. His parents moved to Santa Clara
(he always identified it as Central) where he attended public school and graduated from Cobre High School. He held several jobs in Central: a night marshal, as an assistant village clerk and a clerk with the village’s municipal water department. Stretch also had the opportunity to serve Grant County as a deputy sheriff. Later he also served as the district director for New Mexico Employment Services in Deming.

Stretch was a descendant of the original Mexican families who settled Happy Flats which is now part of Hillsboro. In 1967, he and Tillie Y. Lopez were married, and moved to Albuquerque, where they had a son, Freddie Lopez Luna. Stretch returned to Hillsboro where he lived with his grandmother, Romelia “Romie” Chavez Luna-Bird and his uncle Genaro until their deaths. One of his accomplishments, of which he was very proud, was his publication, Hillsboro, New Mexico: Recollections of Its Historic Buildings, Scenery, and Family History. Stretch was an accomplished artist as depicted in his sketches of Hillsboro buildings in his book. He also took great pride in placing U. S. flags on veterans’ gravesites in the Hillsboro Cemetery every federal holiday. He continued to live in Hillsboro, where he was a well-known personality in town, especially at the Hillsboro General Store and Café where he engaged in conversations with visitors as well as local residents about the history of his family. He remained in Hillsboro until 2017, when he developed serious health problems. He suffered a heart attack and simultaneously a broken hip from a fall. After a brief hospital stay in El Paso, Stretch was placed in the Sierra Healthcare/Paloma Springs facility/nursing home in Truth or Consequences. Stretch resided in the facility until his death.

Stretch is now at peace in the company of his father “Tony”, mother “Fannie”, and his beloved grandmother “Romie,” and in the home of his Lord Jesus Christ.

Family members who survive Stretch are his son, Freddie Luna; sister, Stephanie Rebecca Luna Salazar; Stretch’s special friend in Christ, Deirdre Schebeck; friends and owners of the Hillsboro General Store and Café, Ben and Doreen Lewis; and friend, Gayle P. Hector.

A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date.