Obituaries

RAYMON (RAY) TIRSO MALDONADO

Raymon (Ray) Tirso Maldonado, 16, passed away suddenly on Monday, February 12, 2024. Born on July 2, 2007, in Los Alamos, NM, Ray was a beloved child of Victor and Dawn Marie (Kernodle) Maldonado and little brother to Arianna.

He attended Barranca and Pinon Elementary Schools, as well as Los Alamos Middle and High Schools. During summer breaks, Ray worked in his family business, stating that the best part of the job was shoveling gravel because it gave him a good workout. He recently attended Young Life and White Rock Baptist Church where he enjoyed being part of the Read More

Dr. THOMAS ORVILLE MCKOWN May 31, 1940 – Feb. 8, 2024

Dr. Thomas Orville McKown, 83, despite never having smoked, succumbed to his nine year battle with non-small cell lung cancer and was called home Thursday February, 8 2024.

The eldest of four children, Tom was born May 31, 1940 to Ira and Francis (Schiesser) McKown. He grew up in Wichita Kansas with his mother and siblings; as his parents divorced when he was only 6 years old. 

He attained an undergraduate degree at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas, his masters at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas and his Doctorate of Education Read More

ROLAND ARMAND BIBEAU Jan. 14, 1938 – Feb. 4, 2024

Roland passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family and the skilled staff that lovingly cared for him in his final years.

Born to Armand and Marguarite (Ledoux) Bibeau in Blackstone, Massachusetts, he and his sister Constance grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

He is preceded by his parents, and wife Barbara Bibeau.

Roland shared childhood stories of fishing with his father in the local ponds and the Narragansett Bay, of riding his bicycle all over the hills of Woonsocket, amateur radio, and flying model airplanes.

He graduated from Read More

JOSEPH NEWTON FRITZ Dec. 27, 1931 – Jan. 27, 2024

Sadly, Joseph Newton Fritz, after having overcome a health challenge just before Thanksgiving 2023, passed away Jan. 27 due to complications from a fall he suffered in his long-time home in Los Alamos, N.M. He was 92 years old.

Joe was born in the small coal mining community of Klein, Mont., Dec. 27, 1931, to Joe Fritz and Justina Fritz (née Stefanik). Early on, the younger Joe displayed high aptitude for academic pursuits, of which his father, who had no access to education, was extremely proud. Joe made his way from a one-room schoolhouse, through Read More

ROBERT TERRENCE “TERRY” CRAIG Aug. 5, 1944 – Jan. 27, 2024

Robert Terrence “Terry” Craig, 79, of White Rock, New Mexico, passed away on January 27, 2024. Born on August 5, 1944, in Coshocton, Ohio, Terry was a beloved brother, uncle, and grand uncle.

Terry had a passion for travel and cooking. He enjoyed exploring new places and making friends along the way. His culinary skills were admired by all who had the pleasure of tasting his creations.

Terry worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and he retired after 20 years of dedicated service.

In his younger years, Terry attended Bremerhaven High Read More

DUANE ROBERT MARR Jan. 5, 2024

Duane Robert Marr, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and uncle, was born in Adrian, MN and passed away at age 89 on January 5, 2024 in Albuquerque, NM surrounded by family.

He was preceded in death by his parents Willard and Mabel Marr and niece Karen Marr.

Duane spent his younger years delivering bread for the local grocery stores by bicycle and playing in the high school band. He graduated from Worthington High School in Minnesota, attended Worthington Junior College, then moved with his family to Oregon where he graduated from Oregon State University with Read More

JAMES WILLIAM STRAIGHT Aug. 5, 1940 – Jan. 27, 2024

James “Jim” Straight was born to Russell James and Marian (Ringer) Straight on August 5, 1940, in Wichita, Kansas. His family relocated frequently during his father’s service in the U.S. Army during WW2, eventually settling in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

He graduated from Bartlesville’s College High School in 1958, received his BS Mechanical Engineering from University of Kansas in January 1963 and his master’s degree in August that same year. He was then commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. As the top engineering student in Read More

DAVID J. WADE Aug. 31, 1943 – Jan. 29, 2024

David John Wade, 80, died at his home in La Cueva, NM on Monday, January 29, 2024.

Mr. Wade was born August 31, 1943 to David Matthew Wade and Rhea (Coleman) Wade in Saginaw, Michigan. His father was in the US Air Force, and so the family had lived in Roswell, NM and several other states before settling near Sacramento, California, where Mr. Wade graduated from Folsom High School, and attended American River Junior College.

Mr. Wade was an early adopter of computer technology. His work at the State Comptroller’s Office in Sacramento was programming with punch Read More

JACK E THALMA June 7, 1926-Jan. 19, 2024 & LAURA MAE THALMAN July 9, 1932-Jan. 21, 2024

Jack E Thalman, 97, of Las Cruces, NM passed peacefully in his home on January 19, 2024. His loving wife Laura Mae followed, passing away on January 21, 2024.

Jack was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 7, 1926. Jack loved the Boy Scouts and was proud to have been an Eagle Scout. Jack graduated from Tulsa Central High School then enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War 2 where he trained to be a tail gunner. After the war, he moved to New Mexico and worked for Mountain State Telephone and Telegraph. He enjoyed Read More

DAVID RUSSELL CHURCH May 17, 1950 – Jan. 26, 2024

“I loved practicing medicine.” For Dr. Church, being a “simple country doctor” was a true calling. He was devastated when he had to stop serving the Los Alamos community, and he missed his patients  immensely.

A bright, talented student, David was born in Los Alamos in 1950 and raised in a rich stew of science. His father James S. Church was a research chemist who was tapped by the Government to work on the Manhattan Project. Esther W. Church, David’s mother, was a biologist who taught in the schools for decades.

Dr. Church attended the University of Read More