Obituaries

EDWARD ROBERT BIRNBAUM Oct. 28 1943 – Jan. 21, 2023

Ed was born in Brooklyn, NY and spent most of the first 20 years of his life there, graduating in 1964 with a BS in Chemistry with Honors from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (CUNY). 

He earned a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL in 1968, and moved to Las Cruces, NM with his wife, Amy, to join the NMSU Chemistry Department as an assistant professor. He retired as a full professor from NMSU after 24 years and moved to Los Alamos, where he spent two years at LANL focused on the remediation of nuclear Read More

MARY VIRGINIA MITCHELL LITTLE 1923-2023

Mary Little passed peacefully into Heaven on January 14, 2023, two months shy of her 100th birthday.

Mary is survived by her son Robert Little, her daughter, Susan Bartholomew (Russell), grandsons Michael Bartholomew (Courtney) and Jacob Bartholomew (Sara), great-granddaughter Ellie, great-grandson Logan, brother Earl Mitchell (Jeanette), and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Little, parents, Rober Harris and Mary Joyce Mitchell, and brothers Harris Mitchell, Edward Mitchell (Margaret), and Clyde Mitchell Read More

MIRIUM (MIMI) LAUVER ANSPACH

Mimi was the fifth of six children born to Orville and Mary Lauver. When she was eleven years old, her father died and Mary raised the six children on her own. Mary believed strongly that girls should go to school and have professional careers.

Mimi took her mother’s beliefs seriously to heart. She earned a B.S.N. from Wittenberg University, then went on to earn her nursing degree.

In 1950, she married Paul Parker Anspach, the son of a Lutheran pastor who was a good friend of her father’s. Parker had just graduated from Divinity School at the same time Mimi graduated from Read More

WARREN CHARLES SEVANDER July 9, 1950 – Jan. 15, 2023

On January 15, 2023, Warren Charles Sevander passed on to a better place at the age of 72. Warren was born on July 9, 1950, to his adoptive parents, Warner Sevander and Hazel (Ostwald) Sevander, in Chicago, Illinois.

He attended high school in Mt. Prospect, Illinois (Prospect High School) and Chicago (Roosevelt High School), where he graduated in the class of 1968. Warren attended Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois, and ultimately earned his B.A. from Bethel College of St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1977.

Warren had a passion for the Read More

ROBIN S. MCDOWELL 1934 – Jan. 16, 2023

Robin S. (Rod) McDowell died Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, at Evergreen Medical Center in Kirkland, Washington at age 88. He died with his devoted wife and both adoring daughters at his side, loving grandchildren and sons-in-law nearby (due to visitation restrictions) or en route.  

Rod was born in 1934 in Greenwich, Conn., and graduated from high school in Stratford, Conn. He earned a B.A. in chemistry from Haverford College in 1956 and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from M.I.T. in 1961.

Having been twice a summer student at Los Alamos, he returned there in December Read More

MADELINE J. WILLIAMSON 1947–2022

Madeline passed away on December 28, 2022 after a long & fierce battle with cancer. She died at home with Birgitte and their dogs, in peace & beauty.

Madeline & Birgitte fell in love with Abiquiu and bought their property on the Chama in 2000. They built a house made for their extended pet family, the enjoyment of birds & the beauty of the river, and for music performance.

In 2008 the first season of the Abiquiu Chamber Music Festival opened and music continued to be played for twelve summers until Madeline’s last diagnosis in 2019. In that period Read More

GEORGE FRANCIS HURLEY Nov. 15, 1940 – Dec. 27, 2022

George Francis Hurley, 82, passed away peacefully at the Senior Care Center in St. Marys, GA with his wife Peggy by his side Dec. 27, 2022.

George was born Nov. 15, 1940 in Boston, Massachusetts to Cornelius and Georgia Hurley. George graduated from MIT in 1964 with a Doctoral degree in Materials Science. He worked for Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut, followed by Tyco Industries in Waltham, Massachusetts.

The family moved to Los Alamos in 1975, where George worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory until retirement in 2001. He worked various Read More

RONALD C. HYER May 25, 1936 – Jan. 13, 2023 

Ron Hyer, 86, longtime time resident of Los Alamos, passed away at his home in Pajarito Acres Jan. 13, 2023. 

Ron was born in Los Angeles, CA, and lived in many US states throughout his childhood. He went to Marquette University and received his graduate degree in physics from Louisiana State University.

Ron married Dianne Kendall LaCour and they moved to Livermore, CA, where he worked for Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. The family of five then moved to Los Alamos in 1970 where Ron was a laser physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory until his retirement. Read More

FRANKLIN JOSEPH BUNKER Jan. 5, 2023

Franklin Joseph Bunker, age 95, a resident of White Rock, NM passed peacefully quietly Jan. 5, 2023. 

Frank will be joining his loving wife Patricia L. Bunker, his son Bruce R. Bunker, parents Raymond and Hazel Bunker and his brothers Arthur and Richard Bunker on his new journey. 

Frank’s successes in life consisted of being a Senior Engineer in the Photo Instrumentation Department at the EG&G’s Los Alamos Operations. In addition to his field and laboratory work at EG&G, Frank’s background in photography included two years of special studies Read More

NELL REED WILL 1924 – Jan. 15, 2023

Nell Reed Will passed away on January 15, 2023, at the age of 98, at her home in Sebastian, Florida, surrounded by loved ones. She was a caring and devoted mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.

Nellie was born in Clayton, New Mexico, in 1924 to Harry and Cleofas Reed. Her indomitable spirit and resilient nature were due in part to the historic events she experienced firsthand, including the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and losing her brother Jack during battle in World War II, all before Nell had graduated from high school.

Nell attended Read More

DENNIS BREWSTER HAYES Sept. 16, 1938 – Jan 2, 2023

Dr. Dennis Brewster Hayes, of Cedar Crest, New Mexico has surrendered his earthly body after a short illness.

The son of Robert and Marian Hayes, he was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 16, 1938, the second of three children.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years Jan Hayes nee Gamble and his two children, daughter Denise and her husband Ryan, grandsons Nicholas and Alec, his son Doug and his wife Kathryn, his sister Barbara, and brother Bobby.

In 1957 Dennis met Jan, the woman with whom he would spend Read More

TERRANCE MICHAEL VERGAMINI Sept. 25, 1965 ̶ Nov. 20, 2022

Terrance Michael (Terry) Vergamini passed away Nov. 20, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Terry is survived by his wife Catherine Mahan Boyd, his mother Peggy Gautier, his stepmother Nora Haskins and by members of his extended family as well as friends and co-workers.

He was preceded in death by his father Phil Vergamini, his brother Tony Vergamini and his stepfather Jim Gautier.

Born in Superior, Wisconsin Sept. 25, 1965, Terry moved to Los Alamos with his family in 1971. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1983, attended Read More

JAMES ARLINGTON GRUNDL March 15, 1929 – Dec. 8, 2022

Milwaukee, Wisc.—James Arlington Grundl, 93, died peacefully Dec. 8, 2022, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Born March 15, 1929, in Milwaukee to Herman A. and Irene M. (Martina) Grundl, both of Milwaukee, he graduated with a BS degree from Marquette University and an MS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, both in physics.

In 1952 he married Elaine Ellen McGowan of Greenleaf, Wisconsin, and they moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where he worked as a nuclear physicist for the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (now Los Alamos National Laboratory). Read More

RENATE ZINN Dec. 1, 1931 – Jan. 11, 2023

Renate Zinn, neé Meerkamp, was born Dec. 1, 1931, in Dortmund, Germany. She died peacefully at El Castillo Life Plan Community Jan. 11, 2023, of critical limb ischemia.

Renate overcame being bombed in her home during WWII, escaping the Russians on the Eastern Front in a boxcar, surviving on her own in postwar Germany from age 15, and the death of her beloved son Jeff in 1975.

She emigrated to NYC in 1953 and married John Zinn on Veteran’s Day, 1954. She gave birth to their first son, Kai, in 1955 in Berkeley, CA and to Lennard and Jeff, in 1958 and 1961 in Los Alamos, Read More

MARY AGNES OLGUIN May 15, 1928 – Jan. 6, 2023

Mary Agnes Olguin, 94, decided that it was time to join her loved ones in heaven on January 6, 2023.

Mary (known to her family and closest friends as Inez) was born on the family dairy farm between La Veta and Walsenburg, Colorado by the beautiful Spanish Peaks on May 15, 1928.

Mary and Al moved to White Rock, New Mexico in September of 2003 to be closer to their daughter and her family. Mary’s time was spent doing alterations for clients throughout White Rock and Los Alamos.

In 2018, Mary went to live at Beehive Homes in White Rock. She was predeceased by her husband, Read More

Ramon N. (Ray) Garcia September 30, 1935 – January 5, 2023

Ramon N. Garcia was born in Pojoaque, NM to Elizario Sr. and Estefanita Garcia. He was a 1954 graduate of Pojoaque Valley High School where he served as President of the Student Council, officer in the Future Farmers of America, and in the Letterman Club as a member of both the basketball and baseball teams.

After graduating from high school, Ramon worked for the Santa Fe County Treasurer’s office and Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory prior to being drafted in the United States Army where he served overseas in Germany as a Staff Sargent. After Read More

ALLEN LEE BOWMAN Jan. 19, 1931 – Oct. 14, 2022

Allen Lee Bowman “Al” passed away peacefully on October 14, 2022 in Green Valley, Arizona.

He was born on January 19, 1931 in Arlington, VA to John Dee Perry Bowman & Loula Elizabeth Flanagan.

Al graduated from high school at the age of 16 because he was able to skip part of 4th and all of 5th grade. Al often attributed this fortuitous event to his obsession with reading, which he did every chance he had.

After high school, Al attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA where he met the love of his life, Margaret Maxwell Braddock. As the Read More

RONALD HARRISON Jan. 21, 1943 – Jan. 7, 2023

St. GEORGE, Utah – Ronald Harrison, 79, passed away January 7, 2023, on his way home from Arizona. He was born January 21, 1943, in Gallup, New Mexico to Edwin and Paula Harrison. He married Judy Kerns on February 8, 1964, in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Ron grew up in Los Alamos and worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory for 36 years. He loved playing tennis, softball, baseball, and bowling. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and motorcycle riding. He was a Christian man who loved serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ron is survived by his wife, Judy; Read More

RONALD JOSEPH MARTINEZ Sept. 7, 1954 – Dec. 31, 2022

Ronald Joseph Martinez was born Sept. 7, 1954 and was called home to be with our heavenly father Dec. 31, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was a life-long resident of Cuartelez, NM. There he built a beautiful life which he will forever be remembered by.

Ron was preceded in death by his loving parents Jose E and Aurora Martinez of Cuartelez, brother Larry Martinez, and god-daughter Amanda Archuleta.

Ron is survived by his beautiful wife of 48 years Doreen Martinez, his loving children LouAnna and Ronald Martinez, daughter-in-law Cynthia Read More

BARBARA ‘BOBBIE’ JEAN GIBSON Nov. 18, 1932 – Jan. 2, 2023

Barbara “Bobbie” Jean Gibson of League City, Texas passed away peacefully on January 2, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Bobbie was born November 18, 1932, to William E. and Christine M Reccius in Louisville, KY.  She graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio in 1953 specializing in music and education.

Bobbie was happily married to Calder A. Gibson in 1957 after he graduated from seminary school. Following many pastoral callings, Bobbie and Calder lived and served in Wantaugh, NY;  Bridgehampton, NY; Watermill, Read More

MARY FRANCES NAFFZIGER Feb. 15, 1931 – Dec. 23, 2022

A resident of Los Alamos since 1958, Frances was a beloved teacher and fixture in the Los Alamos music community.

She was born in Salisbury, North Carolina Feb. 15, 1931, to Hannis Woodson Thompson and Lillian Boger Thompson. She admitted to being “a bit of a tomboy,” and chose to enroll in a physics class in high school rather than home economics, which the girls were supposed to take.

After high school she entered Greensboro College with a major in organ. When she graduated in 1953, she was already married to Richard “Dick” Naffziger, as he was shipped Read More

RAY ALBERT WALLER March 4, 1937 – Dec. 28, 2022

Ray Albert Waller, 85, Retired Professor and Researcher, died Wednesday, December 28, 2022. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Thursday, January 5, 2023, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 am, Friday, January 6, 2023, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

Ray was born March 4, 1937 at home near Grenola, KS to Clarence and Dorothea Waller, who preceded him in death. He attended a one room schoolhouse in Cloverdale and graduated from Cedar Vale High School in 1955. He went on to graduate from Southwestern Read More

LEO WILLIAM BECKSTEAD Feb. 9, 1949 – Dec. 24, 2022

On December 24, 2022, Leo William Beckstead, beloved husband and father, passed away.  

Born on February 9, 1949, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Leo was the youngest of six children to Merrill “Jake” and Vera Beckstead. Leo was very athletic; he loved playing basketball and was a track star. He graduated from East High School in 1967 and went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science in Metallurgy in 1971 and a PhD in Metallurgy in 1975, both from the University of Utah.

In 1972, Leo married Lorene Smith in the Oakland Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Read More

MICHAEL ALBERT TAYLOR March 5, 1953 – Dec. 2, 2022

Michael Albert Taylor, beloved husband, father, brother, son, uncle, and friend, passed away on Friday, December 2, 2022, at the age of 69.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his wife, four children and his sisters, Marcella Hiebert (Steven) of Broomfield, Colorado; Mary Arrowsmith (John) of Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Theresa Taylor of Lakewood, Colorado.

Mike was born in Los Alamos, New Mexico on March 5, 1953, to Joseph William Taylor and Rosalie (Coffield) Taylor. Mike graduated from New Mexico State University in Read More

ROBERTA JOYCE GALLAGHER Jan. 13, 1947 – Dec. 7, 2022

Roberta has passed away in her home Dec. 7, 2022.

She is preceded in death by her father James Douglas Gallagher in 2015 and her mother Vera Joyce Gallagher in 2018.

Roberta was born in Los Alamos Jan. 13, 1947. She grew up in Los Alamos, was in the Girl Scouts and graduated Los Alamos High School. She attended Weber State College in Ogden, Utah and graduated with a degree in accounting.

In 1982 she visited her brother who introduced her to hot air ballooning. Two months later she moved back to New Mexico. Roberta had her own company ‘Pride of the Southwest’ Read More

HERALD WESLEY KRUSE March 25, 1928 – Nov. 29, 2022

Herald Wesley Kruse, a quiet man whose deeds spoke louder than his words, died at age 94- the end of a remarkable life.

He was a child of the Great Depression, born into the Midwest home of Edna and Reverend Melvin Kruse, a Methodist minister who christened him, “Herald,” calling out the hopeful beginning of an enduring private faith and life-long love of music and learning. 

Despite his humble beginnings and an ill-fated childhood experiment involving a family of snowy owls on a high branch that “let him have it” after he curiously circled the tree Read More

MICHAEL W. BURKETT Oct. 6, 1956 – Oct. 19, 2022

Michael W. Burkett, 66, died in Tucson, AZ Oct. 19, 2022. He was born in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma Oct. 6, 1956, to Seth and Martha Burkett.

As a child, Mike lived in many parts of the United States and even Germany while his father was an officer in the US Army. Mike loved sports – he was an avid golfer, bowler, and baseball player. And he loved the outdoors – hunting and fishing, in particular. Everything Mike did, he did with determination and perseverance. As a teenager in high school, his professional aspiration was to work for Los Alamos National Laboratory. Read More

TROY L. EDDLEMAN Dec. 26, 1929 – Dec. 5, 2022

Troy L. Eddleman, 92, passed away Monday, December 5, 2022 at the Kingston Memory Care unit in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Troy was born December 26, 1929 to (James) Walter and Zola (Holcomb) Eddleman, in Readstown, Wisconsin and was the fifth of seven children. Troy was raised in Readstown, WI, Broadus, MT, Hotchkiss, CO, and Claremore, OK. He graduated from Claremore High School in Claremore, Oklahoma after which he served as a Sergeant in the United States Army as a tank commander. Troy received a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Mesa College, in Grand Junction, Read More

HARRY J. ETTINGER July 20, 1934 – Dec. 12, 2022

Harry J. Ettinger: Husband, father, professional; born July 20, 1934, died Dec. 12, 2022 at the age of 88.

Harry was born in the Bronx to Morris and Pauline Ettinger, immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island. Harry graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan and earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from City College of New York. He worked in the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Institutes of Health before moving to Los Alamos in 1961 with his wife June and his baby daughter Linda.

Harry worked Read More

TERENCE MITCHELL Oct. 22, 2022

Terence Mitchell passed away peacefully at his home in Santa Fe Oct. 22, 2022. Terry was born in Haywards Heath, Sussex, England in 1937, where he met his life partner Marion Mitchell née Wyatt when they were teenagers.

Terry went on to receive his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Cambridge. Terry, advised at Cambridge by Sir Peter Hirsch, was one of the pioneers of transmission electron microscopy. He continued as a postdoctoral fellow at the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge before emigrating to the United States in 1963 and joining the faculty Read More

JOYCE A. EYSTER March 13, 1921 – Nov. 30, 2022

Joyce A. Eyster of Los Alamos, New Mexico, passed away peacefully in her apartment at Aspen Ridge Lodge on November 30, 2022.

Joyce was 101 years old, born March 13, 1921, to Robert and Esther Krenz in their farm house in rural Minnesota near the small towns of Tintah and Wheaton. She grew up on the farm with her parents and brother, James Krenz, surrounded by a large extended family. She learned to value hard work, optimistic faith in God, and the importance of being an active member of her community.

She married Eugene Eyster, also from Wheaton, on January Read More

RAMONA JESUSITA GARCIA Nov. 30, 2022

On November 30th, Ramona Garcia was reunited with her husband, Frank Garcia, in Heaven, a few weeks shy of what would have been their 68th Wedding Anniversary and her 87th Birthday.

In addition to her husband Frank, she was preceded in death by her son Lloyd Bert Garcia.

She is survived in life by her son Frank Garcia (wife Debra Garcia), son Phil Garcia, daughter Michelle Mojica, and daughter-in-law Carolyn Garcia. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren – Joseph (wife Andrea), Frances Cordray (husband Steve), Ariana Thiemens (husband Garrett), Read More

ERIC DOUGLAS HOLM Feb. 26, 1959 – Nov. 23, 2022

Eric Douglas Holm, 63, of Monument, Colorado, passed away at home Nov. 23, 2022 of pancreatic cancer.

Eric was born Feb. 26, 1959 to Molly Murphy Holm and Dale Holm in Los Alamos.

While growing up, Eric was involved with the family’s horses and the Junior Sheriff’s Posse. This involved various camping trips, many days trail riding, and performing in exhibition events at rodeos and parades, as well as regular early morning bike trips between mesas to care for the horses. In high school he was heavily involved in band and theater. He was in the all-state Read More

LYNDA (HOSAC) JUDD May 27, 1950 – Nov. 19, 2022

Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, Lynda (Hosac) Judd, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, returned suddenly to her heavenly home surrounded by her loving family.

Lynda was greeted in heaven by her daughter Rebecca (Becca) Watkins (d. Feb 6, 2022), son-in-law Trent Johnson, niece Deanna Call, and her parents.

Lynda was born May 27,1950 in Oakland, CA, to Les and Elnora Hosac.

She is survived by her husband Robert “Bob” Judd, daughter Jennifer (Scott) Newman of Los Alamos, NM, daughter Tysa (Steve) Royce of Sandy, UT, daughter Tara Johnson (Rob Read More

JAMES W. CABBELL, SR. March 6, 1931 – June 19, 2022

James (Jim) W. Cabbell, Sr., of Amarillo, Texas passed peacefully in his home from this life and on to his eternal home Sunday, June 19, 2022. He was mentally sound and lived a long, full and happy life for 91+ years. He had no regrets and did not fear death. He faithfully cared for his wife, Jo Helen, who had Alzheimer’s for 17 years before she passed in December 2021.

A memorial and celebration of life service will be held 11 a.m., Friday June 24, Southwest Church of Christ, 4515 Cornell St., Amarillo, Texas.  Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home. Read More