Obituaries

RENATE ZINN Dec. 1, 1931 – Jan. 11, 2023

Renate Zinn, neé Meerkamp, was born Dec. 1, 1931, in Dortmund, Germany. She died peacefully at El Castillo Life Plan Community Jan. 11, 2023, of critical limb ischemia.

Renate overcame being bombed in her home during WWII, escaping the Russians on the Eastern Front in a boxcar, surviving on her own in postwar Germany from age 15, and the death of her beloved son Jeff in 1975.

She emigrated to NYC in 1953 and married John Zinn on Veteran’s Day, 1954. She gave birth to their first son, Kai, in 1955 in Berkeley, CA and to Lennard and Jeff, in 1958 and 1961 in Los Alamos, Read More

MARY AGNES OLGUIN May 15, 1928 – Jan. 6, 2023

Mary Agnes Olguin, 94, decided that it was time to join her loved ones in heaven on January 6, 2023.

Mary (known to her family and closest friends as Inez) was born on the family dairy farm between La Veta and Walsenburg, Colorado by the beautiful Spanish Peaks on May 15, 1928.

Mary and Al moved to White Rock, New Mexico in September of 2003 to be closer to their daughter and her family. Mary’s time was spent doing alterations for clients throughout White Rock and Los Alamos.

In 2018, Mary went to live at Beehive Homes in White Rock. She was predeceased by her husband, Read More

Ramon N. (Ray) Garcia September 30, 1935 – January 5, 2023

Ramon N. Garcia was born in Pojoaque, NM to Elizario Sr. and Estefanita Garcia. He was a 1954 graduate of Pojoaque Valley High School where he served as President of the Student Council, officer in the Future Farmers of America, and in the Letterman Club as a member of both the basketball and baseball teams.

After graduating from high school, Ramon worked for the Santa Fe County Treasurer’s office and Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory prior to being drafted in the United States Army where he served overseas in Germany as a Staff Sargent. After Read More

ALLEN LEE BOWMAN Jan. 19, 1931 – Oct. 14, 2022

Allen Lee Bowman “Al” passed away peacefully on October 14, 2022 in Green Valley, Arizona.

He was born on January 19, 1931 in Arlington, VA to John Dee Perry Bowman & Loula Elizabeth Flanagan.

Al graduated from high school at the age of 16 because he was able to skip part of 4th and all of 5th grade. Al often attributed this fortuitous event to his obsession with reading, which he did every chance he had.

After high school, Al attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA where he met the love of his life, Margaret Maxwell Braddock. As the Read More

RONALD HARRISON Jan. 21, 1943 – Jan. 7, 2023

St. GEORGE, Utah – Ronald Harrison, 79, passed away January 7, 2023, on his way home from Arizona. He was born January 21, 1943, in Gallup, New Mexico to Edwin and Paula Harrison. He married Judy Kerns on February 8, 1964, in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Ron grew up in Los Alamos and worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory for 36 years. He loved playing tennis, softball, baseball, and bowling. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and motorcycle riding. He was a Christian man who loved serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ron is survived by his wife, Judy; Read More

RONALD JOSEPH MARTINEZ Sept. 7, 1954 – Dec. 31, 2022

Ronald Joseph Martinez was born Sept. 7, 1954 and was called home to be with our heavenly father Dec. 31, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was a life-long resident of Cuartelez, NM. There he built a beautiful life which he will forever be remembered by.

Ron was preceded in death by his loving parents Jose E and Aurora Martinez of Cuartelez, brother Larry Martinez, and god-daughter Amanda Archuleta.

Ron is survived by his beautiful wife of 48 years Doreen Martinez, his loving children LouAnna and Ronald Martinez, daughter-in-law Cynthia Read More

BARBARA ‘BOBBIE’ JEAN GIBSON Nov. 18, 1932 – Jan. 2, 2023

Barbara “Bobbie” Jean Gibson of League City, Texas passed away peacefully on January 2, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Bobbie was born November 18, 1932, to William E. and Christine M Reccius in Louisville, KY.  She graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio in 1953 specializing in music and education.

Bobbie was happily married to Calder A. Gibson in 1957 after he graduated from seminary school. Following many pastoral callings, Bobbie and Calder lived and served in Wantaugh, NY;  Bridgehampton, NY; Watermill, Read More

MARY FRANCES NAFFZIGER Feb. 15, 1931 – Dec. 23, 2022

A resident of Los Alamos since 1958, Frances was a beloved teacher and fixture in the Los Alamos music community.

She was born in Salisbury, North Carolina Feb. 15, 1931, to Hannis Woodson Thompson and Lillian Boger Thompson. She admitted to being “a bit of a tomboy,” and chose to enroll in a physics class in high school rather than home economics, which the girls were supposed to take.

After high school she entered Greensboro College with a major in organ. When she graduated in 1953, she was already married to Richard “Dick” Naffziger, as he was shipped Read More

RAY ALBERT WALLER March 4, 1937 – Dec. 28, 2022

Ray Albert Waller, 85, Retired Professor and Researcher, died Wednesday, December 28, 2022. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Thursday, January 5, 2023, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 am, Friday, January 6, 2023, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

Ray was born March 4, 1937 at home near Grenola, KS to Clarence and Dorothea Waller, who preceded him in death. He attended a one room schoolhouse in Cloverdale and graduated from Cedar Vale High School in 1955. He went on to graduate from Southwestern Read More

LEO WILLIAM BECKSTEAD Feb. 9, 1949 – Dec. 24, 2022

On December 24, 2022, Leo William Beckstead, beloved husband and father, passed away.  

Born on February 9, 1949, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Leo was the youngest of six children to Merrill “Jake” and Vera Beckstead. Leo was very athletic; he loved playing basketball and was a track star. He graduated from East High School in 1967 and went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science in Metallurgy in 1971 and a PhD in Metallurgy in 1975, both from the University of Utah.

In 1972, Leo married Lorene Smith in the Oakland Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Read More