Don Lawrence Marketto Jr.

Don Marketto

Don Lawrence Marketto Jr., 75, Las Cruces, N.M., died Tuesday at his residence after an illness.

Born in Indianapolis, he was the son of Clemth and Don Lawrence Marketto Sr.

He grew up in Greencastle, where he wsa drum major of the marching band and valedictorian at Greencastle High School. He graduated in 1953 from DePauw University with a bachelor of science degree. He was active in Beta Theta Pi fraternity and was on the college basketball, baseball and golf teams. He graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1958 with an M.D. degree. He completed his internship at UCLA School of Medicine, Harbor General Hospital, Torrence, Calif. He completed his residence in obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor University School of Medicine Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas.

In 1962, he moved his family to White Sands Missile Range where he was a captain in the U.S. Army. He practiced medicine at Las Cruces for 31 years until retiring in July 1995. He was a Diplomate of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology; a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; a member of the American Fertility Society, American Laparoscopy Association, Christian Medical Association, American Medical Association; and past president of both the Dona Ana County Medical Society and the OB/GYN Department at Memorial Medical Center.

He and and his wife were communion ministers at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral for many years. In 1990, they joined the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Southwestern Lieutenancy USA, and were elevated to the rank of Knight and Lady of the Grand Cross. They vacationed each summer at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado, where he served as a board member.

He married his wife of 48 years, Nigel Marketto, on Aug. 29, 1959 at St. Brendan's Catholic Church in Los Angeles. She survives.

Also surviving are their four children, Leslie Ann Marketto Bowen, Don L. Marketto III, Anna Nigel Marketto, and Nicholas Robert Marketto; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Regina Fulmer.

A rosary is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Las Cruces, N.M. A funeral mass will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church with the Most Reverend Ricardo Ramirez officiating.

Funeral services were arranged by Getz Funeral Home, Las Cruces, N.M. To sign the online guest book, go online to www. GetzFuneralHome.com.