Fred S. Martinez

Fred Martinez

Sept 2nd, 1946 – Jan 1st, 2024

Fred Martinez has passed away at the age of 77.

He was born to Salvador and Eleanor Martinez in Calexico, Ca. He spent much of his childhood traveling between Calexico and his family’s Ensenada Ranch set in Guadalupe Valley, Baja California. As a child and young man, he enjoyed working alongside his father in both the construction industry and on their beautiful cattle ranch, building houses, riding horses and tending to cattle. His family moved to Santa Ana in the early 1960’s, and he spent most of his teenage and young adult life in Orange County, CA. There, he met his future wife Mirna Guadalupe Martinez, and they were married in January of 1967. They not only shared a coincidental last name but also a sincere and cherished love and approach to family life.

They were blessed with their first child, daughter Mirna Brenda Martinez, now Mirna Brenda Arenas, nine months and 1 day to the matrimonial date. You could find Fred in the Orange County area working hard as a finish carpenter or, on the weekends, racing many of his loved muscle cars in the popular drag strips that dotted the Southern California racing scene. They moved to the community of Mira Mesa in the early 1970’s and welcomed their first son, Esteban Joel Martinez.

There they made many lifelong friends and grew in a community of families that would share in birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and other celebrations. The San Diego group of couples was nicknamed “Los Compadres” and their friendships have lasted over the years even though the original group has long moved on to other parts of Southern California. Fred would speak with many of the other husbands in the group daily and keep in touch on all things current all the way to his death. Their last son, Sergio Armando Martinez was born in August of 1982 in Mira Mesa as well.

Fred and Mirna moved to Murrieta, CA in 1989 and enjoyed watching the growth of this city over the last 34 years. They witnessed the humble beginnings of this small town as it grew and flourished, eventually coined the “The Gem of the Valley”. Fred’s passion of construction and ownership of his General Contracting company, FM Construction, led him all over Southern California throughout his years and he contributed to many of the booming housing developments that have swept over the area in the last decades.

He loved taking his family on camping trips, grilling in the backyard, building and adding architectural details to his own house and those of his family members. He was always a kind face to his family, friends and even strangers. He would always offer a funny anecdote about an experience or share a memorable story that he had with all that would lend an ear or sit and visit with him. He had a great love for hot rods and classic cars and passed that appreciation down to his children through stories and countless car show attendances. He was a sincere and loving husband, a great and honorable father, a dedicated and present grandfather and fierce and reliable friend.

He is survived by his wife Mirna Martinez, his children Mirna, Esteban and Sergio, his son-in-law Dan Arenas, his grandchildren Angelica, Alex, Jaqueline, Mackenzie and Madison, his great-grandchildren Isabel and James. Rest in Peace in the Glory of God.