WALTER FINLEY STEWART April 17, 1937 – March 29, 2025

Walter Finley Stewart, age 87, of Las Cruces, NM, passed away peacefully March 29, 2025 at his home in Las Cruces, NM. He was born April 17, 1937 in Hamlin, TX to Alvin S. Stewart and Minnie Marie Stewart. He was beloved by all his family members, especially his late wife, Marleen Stewart, of Las Cruces, NM, whom he married June 2, 1959.

He was raised in TX, with his five brothers. Alvin, Ronnie, Bobby, Lynn and John Stewart.

He received his BS in 1961 from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM and his MS in 1970 also from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM.

He worked at White Sands Missile Range from 1957-1961.

He worked at Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation, Canoga Park, California from 1961-1964

He worked at White Sands Test Facility from 1964-1966.

He was a Mechanical and Cryogenic Engineer in the Advanced Engineering Technology Group and Systems Analysis Group and the Condensed Matter and Thermal Physics Group and the Low Temperature Physics Group and the Weapons Engineering Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM from 1966-1993.

He worked at Astronautics Corp. of America in Madison, WI from 1985-1987.

He was a consultant to White Sands Test Facility from 1996-2006.

He enjoyed traveling, music, gardening, photography, and gametime with family and friends.

He was a Christian.

He was known for his genius mind, sense of honor, work ethics, humility, kindness, sense of humor, organizational skills and attention to detail, and most of all, love of God and family.

He is survived by his children, Vicki Mckay, David Stewart, and Sandy Santana, his nine grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., April 17, 2025 at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Las Cruces, NM.