SHARON MARTHA (SIBBITT) KETTWICH MD Dec. 4, 1949 – June 10, 2018

Sharon Martha (Sibbitt) Kettwich MD passed away June 10, 2018 at her ranch home in Albuquerque, NM in the presence of her loving family.

Dr. Kettwich was a physician, a commercial pilot, an artist, a businesswoman, an Arabian horse enthusiast, a wife and a mother.

Born Sharon Martha Sibbitt December 4, 1949 in Lafayette, Indiana to Dr. Wilmer L. Sibbitt, PhD Chemical Engineering (Purdue University, Indiana) and Selma D. Otte, Technical Librarian (University of Oklahoma).

Sharon lived her childhood in Los Alamos, NM complete with family picnics, hikes and horseback rides through the mountain and canyon wilderness. A graduate of Los Alamos High School (1968), Sharon received her Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the University of New Mexico (1972) with degrees in Chemistry and Biology. During her undergrad years, Sharon acquired her commercial pilot license, and in addition to working for commercial airlines, flew airplanes throughout backcountry Alaska. She was a collegiate ballerina, gymnast, UNM varsity ski team racer, an advanced German and art student and businesswoman.

Sharon obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from UNM School of Medicine (1976) then completed an Internal Medicine residency at UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX (1979). Dr. Kettwich practiced her career of medicine in NM where she traveled statewide working emergency rooms, acted as Medical Director of Memorial Hospital in Albuquerque, NM, and engaged in private practice.

Sharon married the love of her life (1981), Donald L. Kettwich MD. She cherished her life of medicine, raising her children, training/riding/breeding hundreds of world champion Arabian horses, alfalfa farming with her husband on their south valley Albuquerque ranch, reading diverse subjects, painting and creating tile art, rescuing animals, traveling and enjoying her grandchildren.

Dr. Sharon Kettwich is survived by her husband, Dr. Donald L. Kettwich, MD of Albuquerque, NM; her four children, Prof. Sharon C. (Kettwich) Ostlund, PhD of Sumter, SC; Dr. Lawrence G. Kettwich, MD of Missoula, MT; Scarlett K.A. Kettwich, MS and dental student of Oregon Health & Science University; and Selma D.M. Kettwich, BA of Albuquerque, NM; as well by her three grandchildren, Cassandra R., Harrison G., and Amara K. Ostlund; son-in-law, Major Seth G. Ostlund, BS of the USAF; her five siblings, Dr. Wilmer L. Sibbitt Jr., MD of Albuquerque, NM; Dr. Randy R. Sibbitt, MD, and spouse Deborah G. Sibbitt of Helena, MT;  Sallye L. Sibbitt, BS of Los Alamos, NM; Tina R. Sibbitt, JD of Los Alamos, NM; and John H. Sibbitt, BA of Albuquerque, NM; nieces Lori J. Sibbitt, RN and Cristina Sibbitt Fowler, MSW of Montana and many extended family.

A celebration of life memorial gathering will be held July 7, 2018 from 9-11am at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 300 Gold Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. She will be interred privately at Guaje Pines Cemetery, Los Alamos, NM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, or to the Wilmer L. and Selma D. Sibbitt Memorial Scholarship Fund, UNM Foundation, UNM, Albuquerque, NM 87131.

Sharon Martha (Sibbitt) Kettwich MD. Courtesy photo