Obituaries

KRYSTAL RAE FINNEY VERNON May 20, 1982 – July 21, 2014

Krystal Rae Finney (Kryssie Vernon) of Los Alamos (formerly of Roswell, NM) passed away in her sleep July 21, 2014.

Born May 20, 1982 in Lawton, Okla., she is survived by her husband Mark Vernon; her mother and father, Leandra and Herb Finney; brother, Andrew Finney; sister, Adair Buck; niece Ashlee Marie Buck, brother in-law Roger Buck; grandparents, Clif and Billie Mann; aunt and uncle, Gae and Sonny Mann, and niece Sunny Leanne Mann; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Joyce and Carl Vernon, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill and Tracey Read More

WILLIAM FRANK HICKS Oct. 11, 1925 – July 16, 2014

William Frank Hicks, 88, died Wednesday July 16, 2014 at his Montrose, Colo., home.  Bill was born Oct. 11, 1925 in Hollis, Okla., to Homer and Lottie Hicks. 

In 1943 Bill enlisted in the Air Force and served in the European Theater during WWII. In 1949 he married his wife Mickie and moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico where he made careers as a firefighter and a laboratory technician. Bill was a Past Master of the Los Alamos Masonic Lodge. 

Bill is survived by his wife Mickie, daughter Deb (Steve) Vining, son Les (Charlotte) Hicks, four grand Read More

EMILY MARES-LANG July 21, 2014

My beloved Wife, Emily Mares-Lang, 73, a native of Taos, NM, went to be with the Lord on July 21, 2014.

She died at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico of a head trauma after a reckless driver hit her while she was walking.

Emily grew up on La Loma in Taos surrounded by her three sisters, Mom and Dad and neighbors who were all called Tio and Tia. As a young woman Emily was a talented seamstress who taught herself ine tecnniques of making her own cloths.

Family and friends knew her as a person who was totally generous, kind, thoughtful, and charitable. She cherished her Read More

MAX BRINKMAN (aka Maxene Beckman) Dec. 20, 1925 – June 30, 2014

Max Brinkman of Eagle, Idaho passed away peacefully on Monday, June 30, 2014 at the age of 88. She was born in San Diego, Calif., Dec. 20, 1925.

She was a longtime resident of Los Alamos and worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for more than 20 years.

Max was an avid tennis player. Once during a tennis match, Max fell and hurt her wrist but didn’t stop playing until she had won the match. Later she discovered she’d broken her wrist. She also loved to ski and taught her two granddaughters ages 2 and 4 to ski.

Max is survived by her three children, Read More

SIMON A. BERGAUER Feb. 20, 1917–July 20, 2014

Simon “Sy” A. Bergauer entered into his well deserved rest on July 20, 2014 at the age of 97.

Sy was born February 20, 1917 to Simon and Katherine Bergauer in St. Louis, Mo. Growing up he enjoyed baseball, fishing and just being outdoors with his brother, sister and friends. 

Sy was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Edward Bergauer, a sister, Emma Bergauer, a nephew in law, Rod Slocum, a grandchild Rodney Bergauer and a grandnephew, Ricky Wells.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Olive Mae Bergauer, son Timothy and wife Rhea, grand-son Read More

GILDA MARGARET KAVE May 28, 1946 – July 14, 2014

Gilda Kave of Los Alamos, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2014 at the age of 68.. She was born in Paterson, N.J. May 28, 1946,  She was a longtime resident of Allentown/Bethlehem Pa. and moved to Los Alamos in 1979. She was a nurse at Los Alamos Medical Center for more than 20 years and most recently was a nurse at Aspen Ridge. 

She was preceded in death by her mother, Regina Verzino (Noti) and her father, William John Verzino. She is survived by her four children, Jill Mayo, Gina Smith, Anthony Kave and Dominic Kave; her brother, William Verzino Read More

ARTHUR SUMNER NICHOLS April 14, 2014

Arthur Sumner Nichols Jr., 85, died April 14, 2014 of natural causes following a long illness.

Art, a longtime resident of Los Alamos was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Mary and his sister Patricia Nagel. He is survived by his children: Mary K. Nolte; Arthur S. Nichols; Patricia Ricci; Joe Nichols; and Jane Nichols. Grandchildren: Meaghan Nolte, Alexandra Nichols, Spencer Nichols, Kirk Rohrig, David Ricci, Sarah Nichols and Matthew Nichols and his sister Claire Howard of Mashpee, Mass.

Art was a teacher at Los Alamos High School in the 1950’s Read More

DAVID W. STEINHAUS July 29, 1919 – July 9, 2014

David W. Steinhaus, 94, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2014. David was born in Neillsville, Wis., July 29, 1919.

His service in the army began in 1945. David’s military decorations included a Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Army Commendation Ribbon, and World War II Victory Ribbon. He was married to his loving wife, Jean, on January 1, 1949, in Hancock, Md. David earned a PhD in Physics at Johns Hopkins University in 1952.

Dave’s career included working at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Read More

MELANIE FRETWELL June 25, 2014

Melanie Fretwell, 71 of Holmes Beach, Fla., passed away on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 from cancer.

She was born in West Germany and was the only member of her family to emigrate to the United States. While living in Manhattan Beach, Calif., she met James H. “Stretch” Fretwell. After she moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico and married Stretch, they raised two sons Bruce and Kirk (now 45 and 44 years old, respectively).

An energetic and social person, Melanie found a great challange in starting a travel agency in Los Alamos. Thanks to her vision, Pajarito Travel Read More

WENDELL GOFFE ARMOUR April 22, 1922  – June 26, 2014

Wendell Goffe Armour, a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army who served in World War II and the Korean War, died June 26, 2014 in Los Alamos, N.M. He was 92.

Armour died of old age, family members say. He was born April 22, 1922 in Paris. After his parents divorced, Armour moved to the United States and was raised by relatives of his American father. He attended South Hills High School in Pittsburgh, lettering in track. 

After graduating, Armour entered the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving in the South Pacific and Hawaii during World War II.

He Read More

JOHN R. DUMMER Oct. 30, 1959 – June 21, 2014

John R. Dummer made the longest day of the year his last day, but he was all about living life with gusto. Making people laugh was a gift and his passion.

John loved Los Alamos and was happy in the mountains and his small town. He embraced adventures and each was enjoyed with the enthusiasm of a little boy … rappelling off Peggy Sue Bridge, rafting rivers, motorcycling with friends, scary acrobatic skiing, taking pictures of flowers, and coaching the infamous Dummer Racing shovel racers.

He shared and recognized everyone on facebook, sent wonderful Read More

ROBERT D. KROHN Dec. 26 1919 – May 16, 2014

Robert Krohn of Los Lunas and Los Alamos passed away in May at the age of 94. Bob was born on December 26, 1919 in Milwaukee, Wis., to Hugh and Pauline Krohn. He attended the University of Wisconsin for both undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics.

Bob was offered a job at Los Alamos in 1943 to work on the Manhattan Project. He married Barbara Ann Rockwell, his college sweetheart, in 1943. He was one of the few scientists to witness the testing of the atomic bomb at Trinity Site on July 16, 1945. A decade later, Bob was the Task Commander for the explosion of Read More

BECKIE (BRADFORD) DIVEN Jan. 6, 1918 – June 17, 2014

Beckie (Bradford) Diven was born in Globe, Arizona, in 1918 and died in Albuquerque, New Mexico June 17, 2014. She was raised in Pasadena, California, and worked her way through college as a camp counselor in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and loved the outdoor life. 

After graduation, she worked at Caltech. While there, she helped develop a quartz fiber system for oxygen meters used in submarines. In 1943 she was asked to go to Berkeley and then to Los Alamos to help develop a quartz micro fiber balance for measuring plutonium. She fell in love Read More

DONALD ROSE April 6, 2014

Donald Rose, a longtime resident of Los Alamos, passed away on April 6, 2014, at the age of 91.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Elizabeth Rose. He is survived by his sister-in-law Rose McIlveen, his nephew Eric Woertz, his nieces Vicki Sue Fulkerson and Georgann Brooks and his grand-niece Elle Woertz Posten.

Don earned his Master’s degree in physical chemistry from Northwestern University and a doctorate in physical chemistry from Indiana University.

He spent two years as a supervisor of the chemistry laboratory at John’s Hopkins Read More

VICKI JO BIGGS June 11, 2014

Vicki Jo Biggs, 63, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away of natural causes Wednesday, June 11, 2014. She was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and May Belle Harman. 

Vicki was a resident of Los Alamos for 26 years. She was a dedicated special education teacher for 32 years and was a member of the White Rock United Methodist Church, where she played in the English Hand Bell Choir and was a member of the Church quilting group. 

Vicki also was a member of the Chapter AK, PEO Sisterhood. She enjoyed hiking, boating and she traveled extensively with her husband Read More

JOE ASA MARINER Sept. 3, 1923 – June 10, 2014

Joe Asa Mariner, 90, – soldier, scientist, musician, husband, and father – died peacefully at his home in Los Alamos, N.M., June 10, 2014, surrounded by family.

Mariner, who had lived in Los Alamos for 57 years, was born Sept. 3, 1923, in Jacksboro, Tenn., the son of George Washington Mariner and Nora Katherine Queener Mariner. He graduated from Jacksboro High School as valedictorian  in 1941.

He was in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946, during World War II, serving  in New Guinea and the Philippines. He spent more than 30 months in the South Pacific, Read More

DOROTHY K. HULL Jan. 1, 1922–June 2, 2014

Dorothy K. Hull, known by family and friends as Dot, passed away on June 2. Born on January 1, 1922, in Roanoke, Va., she was 92. 

Dot married Robert E. Hull on March 17, 1944 and settled in Ft. Thomas, Ky.  They raised three children there in the greater Cincinnati area. Dorothy was a fun-loving, outgoing, person with a great sense of humor.  She managed their fairly modest income wisely.  As a result of growing up during the depression, she knew how to stretch a dollar, but we never wanted for anything (besides a pony). 

She enjoyed Read More

THOMAS INTRATOR Feb. 5, 1952–June 3, 2014

Thomas Intrator of Los Alamos died at home on June 3, 2014. He will be sorely missed as a wonderful friend, mentor, father and husband.

He was born on February 5, 1952 in New York City to Joan and Charles Intrator. Thomas moved to Los Alamos with his family in 1999 to begin plasma physics research in P-24 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Previously he had been at the Nuclear Engineering research faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Tom’s lifelong guiding principle was to make the earth a better place than he found it. Survivors include his Read More

DONNA HILL Jan. 6, 1931 – May 31, 2014

Donna Hill died peacefully on May 31st, 2014 after many years of illness. Donna Marie Lord was born to J. Donald and Agnes Lord on January 6, 1931 in Ellsworth, Maine. She attended the University of Maine and what is now Husson College where she obtained an RN degree. Donna served at Eastern Maine General Hospital as Head Nurse on the surgical ward.

She married her husband, George Hill, in 1952 and supported him for his last two years in college. They lived in St. Albans, West Virginia for eight years and then moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1962.

Donna loved flowers Read More

DENNIS L. SCHOLFIELD July 15, 1941 – May 19, 2014

Dennis L. Schofield, 72, former Los Alamos resident and graduate of Los Alamos High School class of ’59, recently passed away at his home in Colorado. 

A memorial service for Dennis will be held at Overlook Park in White Rock at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7 followed by a reception at the home of Doug and Phyllis Pippin, 76 Hacienda Dr. in White Rock. Read More

NORA SODERBRG Jan. 29, 1918 – May 28, 2014

Eleanora Soderberg of Los Alamos died Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at the Sombrillo Nursing Facility.

She was born Jan. 29, 1918 in Ferry Hill, Sunderland, England. During World War II she was a staff sergeant in the British Army. While on leave in London, she met and later married Harold Soderberg.

In 1946, she emigrated to Brooklyn, N.Y. to be with her husband. They moved to northern New Jersey and lived there untill 1976. When Harold took an early retirement in 1976, they moved to Los Alamos.

Survivors include her daughter Marian Kirchner and grandson Geoffrey Read More

FILADELFIO A. MIERA May 24, 2014

Filadelfio A. Miera, 94, of Taos, passed peacefully into his Heavenly Father’s care on May 24, 2014 after a long and healthy life.

He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many leadership capacities as a faithful servant to his family, congregation and community. He served in the 3rd Marine Division in the Pacific Theatre during WWII in Okinawa, Saipan and Iwo Jima. He was a long-time rancher, an avid hunter and letter carrier for 35 years in Los Alamos.

Filadelfio was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, Read More

ROBERT D. STUART April 26, 1916–May 8, 2014

Robert D. Stuart, Jr., believed to be the oldest living Los Alamos Ranch School graduate, has died at the age of 98.

The former Ambassador to Norway, long time chief executive of the Quaker Oats Company, and leader in civic and business affairs for more than 60 years, died May 8, 2014 en route from France to the United States with his beloved wife Lillan.

Whether business, politics, or philanthropy, Ambassador Stuart’s consistent ambition was to live up to the title of his privately published memoirs: Making a Difference. By all accounts, he did. Read More

ALICE KENNEDY WESTERVELT May 21, 2014

Alice Kennedy Westervelt, 89, a member of the Los Alamos community since 1955, died Wednesday, May 21, 2014 as a result of a fall.

She was preceded by her husband of 51 years, Donald and her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Mary and Mary’s sons, Matthew and Mark; son, Donald, Jr., daughter, Kimberly and husband Lorin, Kim’s son, Jason, and Jason’s son, Austen; son, Geoffrey and his wife Charlene and their children, Daniel, Kate and Michael; and son, Robert and his wife Anya and by her cat, Pinstripe.

A memorial service will be held Read More

MELVIN BROOKS May 12, 2014

Melvin L. Brooks, 96, a longtime resident of Los Alamos, passed away on May 12, 2014 of natural causes.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alma C. Brooks. He is survived by his son James Brooks and Janet Patten of Alligator Point, Florida; daughter Marcia De Leon, son-in-law Roger DeLeon of Edgewood, New Mexico; daughter Marla Brooks and grandson James Brooks of Los Alamos.

Mel was a senior leader during the golden age of nuclear weapons science from the Manhattan project under Robert Oppenheimer and through the leadership of such giants as Norris Bradbury, Harold Agnew Read More

GLENEDITH PLUMLEY Jan. 8, 1928–April 27, 2014

Glenedith Plumley passed away April 27, 2014 after a long illness. She was born to David and Erma Fluty Jan. 8, 1928 in Cassie, W.Va. She grew up in Fluty Lick, Ky. and married Bert Plumley of Beckley W.Va. Oct. 16, 1953.

They made their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1960. Through the years, they enjoyed many adventures traveling, camping, fishing and hunting. She had a special fondness for rocks, plants and birds and she could identify almost all of them by sight. She was a self taught seamstress and enjoyed sewing from scratch. She loved spending Read More

SANDRA DIANE LARSON July 19, 1956–April 16, 2014

Sandra Diane Larson, age 57, passed from this life on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. She was born in Los Alamos on July 19, 1956, to Bob & Mary Larson. She was their only child, and lived with them most of her life. 

Her mom died when she was 27 years old, and Sandra and her dad continued to live together and take care of each other for the next 19 years. They lost their home and all their possessions in the Cerro Grande Fire in 2000, and Bob died the following summer.

Sandra had a unique and special outlook upon life. No task was considered menial. Every Read More

FRANCES SUTHERLAND Feb. 23, 1932–April 11, 2014

Frances Sutherland passed away on April 11, 2014. She was born on February 23, 1932 in Brussels, Belgium to Rene Beyersdorf and Mathilde Bloch Beyersdorf. Although they lived in Belgium, they were Swiss citizens. In 1940 they left Belgium and moved to the United States.

Frances graduated from Great Neck High School and Russell Sage College in New York. In 1955, she married Dexter Sutherland. They moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1962.

She went by many alias’s: Frances, Franny, Frannie Belle, Fran, Mom, and Granny. Frances truly never met a stranger and Read More

BOYD ALLEN SHERWOOD Oct. 11, 1933–April 8, 2014

Boyd Allen Sherwood, age 80, went to meet his Lord and Savior while being surrounded by his family on Tuesday, April 8, 2014. Boyd was proceeded in death by his parents, brother, Gerald, and sister in-law, Gayleen.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Lou; son, Daniel of Long Beach, Calif., daughter, Kim of Los Alamos, NM; son and daughter-in-law, Allen and Sherri of Los Alamos; grandchildren, Danielle and Michelle Frybarger of Los Alamos, brother and sister-in-law, Curtis and Patti of Tuscon, Ariz., and many other family members and friends. Read More

MYRON GORDON SILBERT April 14, 1929–April 5, 2014

Myron Gordon Silbert (Mike) passed away peacefully on April 5, 2014 with his family at his side.

He was born April 14, 1929 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mike earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin before serving in the Army Chemical Corps in Europe. He then earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago and his PhD from the University of Wisconsin.

He married Ruth Morse on December 17, 1955. Ruth and Mike met at a picnic in Los Alamos in 1955 where he was working as a student. After receiving his PhD, Mike and Ruth returned Read More

JOHN BUCHEN June 5, 1924–March 28, 2014

John Buchen, 89, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away at home on Friday, March 28, 2014. John was born in Denver, Colo., on June 5, 1924 to Frank and Rose Guadanola Buchen.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jerry Buchen; granddaughter, Sarah Buchen and sisters, Margaret and Annabelle. Mr. Buchen is survived by Barbara, his loving wife of 67 years; his children, Terry (Jim) Hoffman, Katy (Frank) Fuchs, Tony Buchen, Tina Buchen; daughter-in-law, Lynne Buchen; 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

He served in the Navy at Wright Field and taught radar Read More

MYRTLE E. SNOWDEN Dec. 11, 1923–March 18, 2014

Myrtle E. Snowden, 90, formerly of Los Alamos passed away at her daughter’s home in New Braunfels, Texas on March 18, 2014. She was born Dec. 11, 1923 in Scranton, Pa., to George and Bessie Newell, and grew up in Binghamton, NY. She enjoyed gardening, reading and Jazzercise.

Myrtle was a WWII Vet, entering the Navy in 1944. While stationed in San Francisco, Calif., she met and married Luis Pacheco in 1946 and they moved to Santa Fe. They then moved to Los Alamos and had three children, Charles, Elizabeth and Susanne. They divorced in 1954. In 1957 Read More