Obituaries

WARREN DELANO HOUGHTELING Jan. 8, 2017

Warren Delano Houghteling was someone who didn’t do small talk. He liked passion, honesty, and cared deeply. He had just attained the notable age of fifty when his heart succumbed. He died on Jan 8th, 2017, while he was exercising “the hounds”, enjoying a hike, one of the things he loved to do.

Warren was known for his love of theater, and in another life, he would have been a career actor. Instead he was a teacher, handyman, software developer, and computer programmer. His greatest job, challenge, and achievement was being a father. He gave it everything Read More

RALPH L. PHELPS Jan. 8, 2017

Ralph L. Phelps died on January 8, 2017, at age 71. He is survived by Linda H. Phelps, his wife of 44 years, and his children, Dr. Joshua Phelps of Ogden, Utah, and Jennifer Phelps of Boulder, Colorado.

Ralph was a nuclear engineer and spent his professional career in management and engineering for nuclear power plants in Connecticut, California and Nebraska. During this time he also served on numerous industry committees.

Even though originally from New York, Ralph was a bona fide New Mexican. His attachment to the state began with his being stationed at Kirtland Air Read More

CLARE HOLLINGWORTH Oct. 10, 1911 – Jan. 10, 2017

Clare Hollingworth died Jan. 10, 2017 in Hong Kong at the age of 105. She was an English journalist and author who was the first war correspondent to report the outbreak of World War II, described as “the scoop of the century”.

As a reporter for The Daily Telegraph in 1939, while travelling from Poland to Germany she spotted and reported German forces massed on the Polish border; three days later she was the first to report the German invasion of Poland.

Hollingworth was born in Knighton, a southern suburb of Leicester, the daughter of Daisy and Read More

MICHAEL E. LAZARUS March 25, 1939 – Oct. 31, 2016

Michael E. Lazarus passed away at his home in Los Alamos on October 31, 2016.

Michael was born on March 25, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York to Charles and Lottie Lazarus. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and received a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His lifelong interest in chemistry was sparked when he was given a chemistry set for his 10th birthday. He and his wife Gloria moved to Los Alamos in 1968 where he spent the rest of his career with Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Michael Read More

JEAN FURNISH Dec. 25, 1924 – Dec. 24, 2016

Jean Furnish, 91, was born on Christmas Day, 1924 and ended this earthly life on Christmas Eve, 2016.

She was born in Schenectady NY, and lived in Los Alamos from 1950-1954, and from 1959 to now. From 1954 through 1958 she worked at Stanford Research Institute in California where she met and married her husband Alfred.

In addition to her family, she devoted time and energy to the choir at Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church, choral music, and piano. Hiking, sailing, and skiing with her family were important, and she had a love for puzzles and mysteries.

She Read More

STUART WAGEMAN June 15, 1955 – Dec. 29, 2016

Stuart Wageman, 61, beloved son and brother, passed away of a cardiac event on December 29, 2016. He entered this world on June 15, 1955, in Nebraska City, Nebraska.

He is survived by his parents Carol and Bill Wageman; sister Leslie Linke; brother Steven Wageman (Shelly); nephews Nick Linke, Kevin Linke, David Linke, and Daniel Wageman; and niece Yvonne Wageman.

Stuart’s passions were simple but genuine. He deeply adored his family and pets, and delighted in improvement projects all around his home. Stu was an avid fan of the Nebraska Read More

MARJORIE WEBSTER WILSON Dec. 16, 2016

Marjorie Webster Wilson, 88, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away on Friday, December 16, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugh and Ruth Norris Webster. 

Marge attended Central High School in Tulsa and graduated from Grinnell College in Iowa in 1949 with a degree in History. She met her husband Kenneth at Grinnell and they moved to Los Alamos in 1951 where they raised their family. Marge was employed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory for 20 years as a technical editor in ESS division. She retired from the Lab in 1991.

She was an active member Read More

WALTER P. WOLFF Dec. 29, 2016

On December 29, after a long struggle with cancer and in home hospice care Walter P. Wolff died with family members around him.

Walt was born in 1928 to Edythe and Walter F. Wolff in Goodland, Kansas. He graduated from Sherman County High School in 1946, joined the Navy where he attended Naval Electronic School and was assigned to Destroyer Duty in the Pacific as an Electronic Technician. After discharge in 1948 he entered the University of Notre Dame but in 1951 was recalled into the Navy to serve in the Korean War. That same year he married Marilyn Jones in Goodland and Read More

M. MAXINE (MAX) RITTER March 7, 1929 – Nov. 8, 2016 and JAMES A. RITTER June 14, 1927 – Dec. 11, 2016

M. Maxine (Max) Ritter peacefully went to her Lord in Heaven early Tuesday morning, November 8, 2016 in Harlingen, Texas. She was 87.

James A. Ritter joined his wife of 66 years, Maxine, early Sunday evening, December 11, 2016 in Harlingen, Texas.  He was 89.

Maxine was born March 7, 1929, in Gerster, MO then spent most of her younger years in Kansas. She worked as a nurse for many years in Colorado then Albuquerque and at Los Alamos Medical Center before she joined Jim as business owner Read More

MARVIN V. HARLOW, JR. – Dec. 25, 2016

Marvin V. Harlow, Jr., passed away Sunday, December 25, 2016 after a short illness.

He was a longtime resident of White Rock, New Mexico. He was retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory where he was a scientific staff member.

Services will be held at a later date. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Marvin’s name be made to Habitat for Humanity, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, GA 31709-3498 or to a Charity of your Choice.

The Family of Marvin V. Harlow Jr. has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Read More

FELONIS MARTINEZ Sept. 12, 1925 – Dec. 22, 2016

Felonis Martinez, a resident of Vadito, NM was called home to be with our Lord and Savior on December 22, 2016.

Felonis  Martinez was born on September 12, 1925 to Procopio and Cornelia Mascareñas in Rodarte, NM. Felonis was the oldest of six children. She loved all her brothers and sisters whom she also helped to care for and raise.

Felonis graduated from the Peñasco Independent School District and went on to attend college at Adam’s State University in Alamosa, CO. It was there that she met her husband Abel E. Martinez. They Read More

FRANKIE E. MARTINEZ Dec. 18, 2016

Frankie Martinez, 25, a resident of Dixon, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 18, 2016.

He was a UNM graduate in Psychology and Communications. Frankie enjoyed fishing, camping, hiking, water activities and spending time with family and friends. He had a contagious smile and laughter, which always lit up the room.

Frankie was preceded in death by his father, Glen Martinez; special cousin, Christopher J. Martinez; grandparents, Delfin and Beatrice Martinez; grandfather, Silas Martinez; uncles, Fred, Leroy Martinez, Chris Martinez, and Paul Read More

RAYMOND PEDERSON Dec. 10, 2016

In loving memory of Raymond Pederson, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Ray was the son of Peder and Louise Pederson. He moved with his wife, Lisely, from North Dakota to New Mexico in 1954 where he worked for the Los Alamos National Labs. Here his natural inquisitiveness and hard work lead him to give his expertise in varied fields from critical assembly operation, mechanical design, computer programming, and many more areas.

Ray was a kind and gentle man who could fix almost any mechanical thing and would drop everything to help others. He had his way of Read More

KATHRYN ANN (SPELL) KISTNER Nov. 3, 1941 – Nov. 24, 2016

Kathryn Ann (Spell) Kistner was born November 3, 1941 in Flushing, Queens. She died on Thanksgiving Day November 24, 2016 of a long term illness.

She was the third child of Kathryn and Harry Spell and spent her youth and early adulthood on Long Island, NY. On October 20, 1962 she married George Edward Kistner. They had two children, Valerie and David. The family lived on Long Island except for a ten year period when they lived in the small town of Brimfield, Illinois. Kathy moved to Los Alamos in 2003.

Kathy loved life. Her favorite sport was biking Read More

DEXTER SUTHERLAND Sept. 25, 1932 – Dec. 1, 2016

Dexter Sutherland passed away unexpectedly on December 1, 2016 at age 84. He was born on September 25, 1932 in Rochester, VT to Vinal and Winona Sutherland.

Dexter graduated from Rochester High School in 1949 as Valedictorian. In his class of nine, he joked that he WAS the top 10% of the class. Dexter earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Vermont in 1953 and a Master of Science in Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1955.

Dexter met Frances in Troy, NY, in 1954 and they married in 1955. After a tour in the US Air Force Read More

ROBERT LLOYD CLAY March 31, 1923 – Nov. 28, 2016

Robert Lloyd Clay, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away on Monday night, November 28, 2016. He was 93 years old.

Robert, who was known to friends and family as “Bob” or “Bobby”, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on March 31, 1923. At an early age, the family moved to Columbus, Ohio, which he would always consider to be his home town. He was very independent as a youth and made extra money as a paper boy, delivering the Columbus Dispatch. He was so good at delivering the paper in fact, that he twice Read More

Rosalie D. Heller Dec. 2, 2016

One of the brightest lights in the Los Alamos musical world went out when Rosalie D. Heller, 85, passed on peacefully in her Los Alamos home Dec. 2, 2016. 

At her side were her husband Leon, her eldest son Peter and granddaughter Nicole.

Heller, a classical pianist who long served as artistic director of the Los Alamos Concert Association, hosted a weekly classical music radio show on KRSN. She was named a Santa Fe Living Treasure in 1989. She will be dearly missed.

The family is not planning a memorial service. Read More

CHRISTOPHER J. MARTINEZ Nov. 30, 2016

Christopher J. Martinez, a resident of Española, passed away unexpectedly at home on Wednesday, November 30, 2016.

He was preceded in death by his father, Federico Martinez; uncles, Leroy Martinez and Glen Martinez; aunts, Eileen Rodriguez and Beatrice Lucero; grandparents, Jaun and Manuelita Valdez, Beatrice and Delfin, and Mary and Rudy Sweeney.

Christopher was employed as an Electrical Field Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was a hard worker who enjoyed getting his hands dirty. He enjoyed many hobbies such as fishing, hunting, cooking, Read More

DIANA MARIANI Dec. 4, 2016

Diana Mariani of Los Alamos and formerly of North Versailles, Pennsylvania, passed away on Dec. 4, 2016.

Diana was cherished, admired and adored by many including her son, Tommy Stepan; parents, Florindo and Patricia Mariani; siblings Victor (Sandra) Mariani, Philomena (Regis) Bujakowski, and the late Gina Ann Mariani; nieces, nephews and great-niece and nephew; and many close friends.

Diana was a respected business woman and CPA. She graduated at the top of her class from Penn State University and earned her MBA from the University of Colorado. While she led a successful Read More

 RITA MAE (BACHMAN) BOWMAN Nov. 17, 1926 – Nov. 17, 2016

Rita Mae (Bachman) Bowman, 90, was born November 17, 1926, second of the three daughters of Carl Otto and Helen Cecelia Bachman of La Porte, Indiana. She entered eternal life on November 17, 2016, her 90th birthday.

Rita attended La Porte High School, graduating in 1944.  In her senior year, she won a statewide classical piano competition. She also enjoyed playing the cello in a string trio with friends. Her love of music stayed with her throughout her life, and her children remember many happy hours listening to her play her beloved Read More

SIDNEY SINGER Nov. 19, 1927 – Nov. 24, 2016

Sidney Singer, a man of extraordinary persistence when confronting problems, scientific and otherwise, died on November 24, 2016 at his home in Santa Fe.

Sid was born in Detroit on November 19, 1927, to Polish immigrants Freda and Simon Singer. He graduated from Wayne State University in 1951, then got his PhD in nuclear physics and mathematics at the University of Illinois in 1957. He had already been a summer employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and upon graduation he joined LANL for a career of 40 years. He retired in 1994 to attend to the health Read More

NANCY CDE BACA Nov. 10, 2016

On Thursday, November 10th, Nancy Cde Baca passed away from a short illness. She passed doing all her favorite things-eating a bowl of homemade, mashed potatoes and gravy, smoking a cigarette and having her favorite drink.

Nancy never liked telling her age, so I won’t start now.

Although Nancy had a limited education, it never stopped her from pursuing things she was interested in. She loved playing the guitar, and she performed along with a partner at the La Fonda Hotel and the Los Alamos Inn. She was a trap shooter, and also loved the sport of hunting.

Nancy was Read More

JOHNNY O. ATENCIO Nov. 14, 2016

Johnny O. Atencio, 76, a lifelong resident of Dixon, passed away of a lengthy illness surrounded by his loving family on Monday, November 14, 2016. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Querino and Corina Atencio; in-laws, Enrique and Frances Vigil; brothers Hector Atencio, Dennis Atencio; sister Ernestina Gonzales; nephews Orlando Atencio, Florencio Atencio; and niece Sara Vences.

Johnny graduated from El Rito in 1960 and later attended Trinidad State Junior College, CO. His career began in Los Angeles, CA, working for McDonald Douglas Aircraft. Read More

LORNA BLOSSOM MCINTYRE Aug. 6, 1919 – Nov. 12, 2016

Lorna Bossom McIntyre, 97, passed away peacefully November 12^th, 2016.

She was proceeded in death by husbands Rea Blossom and James McIntyre, Sister Louise Bennett and son Patrick Blossom. She is survived by her sister Marie, sons Rea Bruce and wife Cindy, James Michael and wife Tionne, David Andrew, Robert Quentin and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Lorna was a veteran having served in WWII as a Captain in Military Intelligence at the Pentagon in what would become the Defense Intelligence Agency.

She was very Read More

DONALD ROY FRANCIS COCHRAN Oct. 31, 2016

Donald Roy Francis Cochran, 90, of Highlands Ranch, CO, formerly of Los Alamos, NM,  passed peacefully on October 31, 2016, surrounded by his wife, Joan Cochran, and children, Jim Cochran, Robert Cochran, and Marcia Cochran Mahoney. 

Born in San Francisco in 1926 to Guy and Edith Cochran, Don went on to serve the US Navy from 1945-1946, obtain a degree from U.C. Berkeley in 1948, and finish his PhD in Physical Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 1954. He moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1954 where he worked for the Los Alamos National Laboratory Read More

SPENCER WHAYNE HILL Dec. 24, 1954 – June 19, 2016

St. George, Utah – Spencer Whayne Hill, 61, passed away peacefully at home, following a nine month battle with brain cancer, on Sunday, June 19, 2016.

He was born December 24, 1954 in Cherry Point, NC to Whayne Bryson Hill and Loma Louise Gracey-Buck Hill. Following his LDS mission to Puerto Rico, and while attending BYU, he married Pamela Jean Stephenson in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 14, 1978. They were blessed with 5 lovely children.

Over the years, Spencer’s employment has taken his family Read More

LEROY WILLIAM LUCERO, SR. Nov. 23, 1936  – Nov. 6, 2016

LeRoy William Lucero, Sr., 79, a resident of  Santa Fe, New Mexico, died November 6, 2016. He was born November 23, 1936. He is preceded in death by: Luis Lucero (Father), Bernardita Rodriguez/Lucero (Mother), Polly Ortega/Lucero (Ex-Wife), LeRoy Lucero Jr. (Son), and Jimmy Lucero (Son).

He is survived by: Daughter-Bernadette Gallegos (Spouse: Carlos) of Santa Fe; Son-Leroy Lucero, Jr. (Spouse: Sandra) of Santa Fe; Son-Marco Lucero (Spouse: Sandy) of Los Alamos; Son-Rick Muniz of Santa Fe; Brother-Eugene Lucero Read More