Salvador Martinez passed away peacefully on the evening of Sunday, July 5, 2020, with family at his bedside at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He was 70.

Salvador, born Nov. 17, 1949 in Cojumatlan, Michoacán Mexico, made his American dream journey to the beautiful city of Santa Barbara, in the early 1970s. In 1984, Salvador married his wife Rosa. Together they welcomed three beautiful children to this world: Salvador Jr. (35), Andres (34), and Christina (27).

Working various landscaping jobs, Salvador eventually found his career in being an assembler in medical products and filtration systems, working there for many years until his retirement.

Loving to travel back to his motherland every May to celebrate his pueblo’s fiestas, Salvador would take his family to show them the pueblo’s traditions and lifestyle. Enjoying backyard barbecues and making his tasty tri-tip (which we will miss dearly) is where you could find Salvador a lot of the time.

A passion for reading his western short stories is where you could catch Salvador on his down time or even when he waited in line at any place. There was always a book in his back pocket.

A devoted soccer fan, Salvador enjoyed watching any soccer game on TV. He was most enthused by the Mexico National team or his favorite Mexican soccer club Cruz Azul. There was no better enjoyment than watching his boys Salvador Jr. and Andres grow up playing soccer. The love and joy of seeing his daughter Christina cheer and dance flamenco was like no other.

In addition, to his three beautiful children and wife Rosa of 36 years, Salvador could not be more thrilled when he became a grandfather and is survived by Daniel (11), Nicholas “Nico” (10), Ivan (9), Mila (3), Lilly (2), Viviana (1), and a grandson on the way. A loving brother to Juan, Isidro, and sister Maria. Preceded in death by his father Jesus and mother Ana Maria.

Viewing will be held at Pueblo Del Rey funeral service at 6 p.m. Monday, July 13. Viewing has extremely limited space. We ask that no more than 10 people in the waiting room and two to four people in the viewing room.

Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 14 at Our Lady of Sorrows.

Please remember to wear a mask for both locations and follow local rules.