Obituaries

Connie Bush

1952-2019

Connie had a full life. She had three sons from her first marriage. Connie will be missed by the whole family.

Earlene Belle Crawford Gladwell

1946-2018

A celebration of life ceremony for Earlene Belle Crawford Gladwell will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 16, at Serendipity Fun Center,

340 Los Cerritos, NW, in Los Lunas.

Charles E. Holt III

1964-2019

Charles E. Holt III, a resident of Belen, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

He is preceded in death by his father, Charles E. Holt II.

Charles is survived by sons, Charles Holt and Tina Garcia, and Dominic Holt and Alyssa Casaus; daughters, Alexis Holt and Monique Chavez; granddaughter, Aubree Nichoel Holt; and mother of his children, Diane Holt.

Cremation has taken place. Services took place Friday, March 8, at the First Baptist Church of Los Chavez.

Please sign Charles’ online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

Maryanne Louise Howard

1944-2018

Maryanne Louise Howard, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away in Boerne, Texas, on Dec. 25, 2018.

She was born on Sept. 6, 1944, and was a longtime resident and business owner in Los Lunas before her passing.

She is survived by mother, Barbara (Bobbi) West; son, Preston Howard and his wife, Leah; son, Denny Howard; sisters, Rubye Kelly and Valerie Reser, and their husbands, Elvis Kelly and Ron Reser; and brother, Randy West. She left behind two step grandchildren, Aubrey and Brice Webb, and many adored nieces and nephews.

The family invites you to a celebration of life at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 16, at the Bosque Farms Community Center, 950 N. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society would be appreciated.

Virgil Kohlhepp

Died 2019

The world lost an amazing, beautiful, human on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Virgil Kohlhepp was one of the nicest, funniest and most brilliant humans on the planet.

He was loved by everyone and always had a huge smile on his face even though he was working so hard to save the world and make it a better place. His laugh was so infectious and lit up the world.

The love he had with his wife was something that every fairy tale story would be based on. He will be sorely missed on this planet by everyone who was honored to come in contact with him.

Virgil was a true genius and his contributions to society from life-saving devices, space probes and protecting our national security cannot be overstated.

Virgil, age 58, a resident of Peralta, is survived by the love of his life and care-taker, Jenna Kohlhepp; mother, Shirley Irvin; Laura Merrill and her husband, Mike; John Kohlhepp; Anne Steele and her husband, Mike; Jane Humphrey and her husband, Greg; nieces and nephews, Forrest Merrill, Mykel Cord, Molly Merrill, Chris Humphrey, Ian Merrill, Victoria Fitzgerald, Ryan Humphrey and Susannah Steele; three grand-nephews, one grand-niece and many cousins with whom he was close.

No services are scheduled at this time.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Los Lunas Chapel, 2211-D Main St., 866-9992, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

Bill Marez

1946-2019

On Feb. 20, 2019 a man of integrity, great faith and love of God and family won his battle with cancer. He is now enjoying his heavenly home in the presence of his Savior.

Bill was born on Oct. 21, 1946, in Grants, and was a resident of Los Lunas. He was a member of Calvary Chapel Rio Grande Valley for more than 20 years.

He was preceded in death by parents, Abel and Juanita Marez; grandparents, Frank and Josefita Marez; brothers, Orlando and Lawrence Marez; sister, Wilma Rivera; and sister-in-law, Louise Silva. He was followed to heaven three days later by his beloved father-in-law, Luis T. Silva.

After graduating in 1965 from Grants High School, he proudly served in the Navy aboard the USS Zellars-777. After a second tour, he was sent to Vietnam, where he served for one year.

Bill was a miner and driller in Grants and in Ponca City, Okla. He worked for the New Mexico Highway Department, and later retired as captain from Central New Mexico Correctional Facility after 20 years of service. He then went on to serve as bailiff for Judge Violet Otero.

Bill was a rare combination of someone who had a love of life and a firm understanding of what was important — a love of God and living a life with those you love, treating others with respect and dignity, and being a dad to everyone who needed a “dad.”

Of all the people he touched, his proudest achievement was his family. He married the Love of his life, Lora Silva Marez, who supported him in all his glory during his heyday, and lovingly supported him during their last days together; being married 48 years and having four children, Shawn (Tricia) Marez, Liana (Mike) Nasci, Jolene (Tony) Fantauzzi and Billie (Everett) Padilla.

He had 14 grandchildren, Jerika (Trent), Mylon (Daphne), Carlo, Destiny, Shaylee, Nevaeh, Kyle, Makayla, Jacob, Enzo, Torah, Trinity, Giovanni and Rhema; three great-grandchildren, Isabella Rayne, Wyle and James.

He is survived by his brother, Raymond (Norma) Marez; sisters, Rachael Chapman, Lorraine (Lance) Poole, Linda (Bobby) Baca; sister-in-law, Irene Marez; mother-in-law, Billie Silva; brothers-in-law, Steve (Angela) Silva, Scotty (Carrie) Silva.

The urn bearers will be Mylon Chavez and Carlo Pillado. The honorary urn bearers will be the rest of his grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at Calvary Chapel Rio Grande at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 16. Interment will be held privately at Santa Fe National Cemetery at a later date.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., 864-4448, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

Jonathan Reid Mowrer, J.D.

Died 2019

Jonathan Reid Mowrer, J.D. , a long-time resident of Meadow Lake, passed away at the age of 66 on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

He spent many years working with the Los Lunas Schools district as a teacher and also worked at UNM-Valencia campus as a professor of mathematics. Jonathan retired from teaching and has since enjoyed low-key days at home, spending time with his wife, camping, fishing and the peacefulness of being outdoors.

He was devoted to learning. This touched all aspects of his life, whether it was achieving his many degrees, teaching or developing the skills to be the ultimate do-it-yourselfer. Jonathan had a passion for service to the people in his community and used his many gifts to bless all those in his life.

He devoted himself to mentoring his students, helping those in need, sharing his faith and love of the Lord to reach people’s hearts, and was a long-time contributor to the News-Bulletin.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Sid and Marilyn Mowrer, of Ashland, Ohio.

He is survived by Maria Mowrer, his wife of 21 years; and his two children, son, Artimus and wife, Megan Mowrer, and daughter, Sarah and husband, Anthony Martinez; four grandchildren, Michelle Martinez, Mateo Barela, Dante Barela and John Anthony Martinez; sister, Michelle Kucic, of Ohio; as well as many nephews and nieces.

Services will be held Saturday, March 16, at Grace Fellowship in Los Lunas in the main auditorium. A viewing and visitation starts at 9:30 a.m. with the service starting at 10 a.m., led by his friend, Pastor Clifford Chavez. A reception will follow at the church.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Los Lunas Chapel, 2211-D Main St., 866-9992, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

Raymond John Olver

1942-2019

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Raymond John Olver, age 76, a resident of Los Lunas since 2005, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

He was born on April 2, 1942, to Jack and Elizabeth Olver, in Carbondale, PA. Raymond served in the U.S. Air Force from 1960 to 1964 with an honorable discharge.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Olver.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Maria M. Olver; his mother, Elizabeth Olver; daughter, Michelle M. Crowley; ex-son-in-law, Mike Crowley, and their son, Franklin; daughter, Lisa M. Bockisch and husband, Bernard, and their children, Sarah, Nathan and Rosie.

He will be interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Luis T. Silva

1923-2019

Served his country. Served his family. Served his God.

Luis T. Silva drew his last difficult breath on this Earth and his first breath in Heaven in the early morning of Feb. 24, 2019.

Our family lost our hero, but we take comfort in knowing that his faith in Jesus Christ, that he demonstrated with every deed, has now been rewarded when he heard those words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant: You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: Enter into the joy of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:21)

Luis was born in his beloved Belen on June 29, 1923, to Gregorio and Eutimia Silva, who preceded him in death. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family of 12 siblings, Salvador, Maria, Justiniano, Julianna, Piedad, Juan, Samuel, Graviel, Elifas, Adeline and Henry.

He was welcomed at the gate by the cheerful smile of his loving daughter, Louise Silva, and the memorable handshake of his son-in-law, Billy Marez, who preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife and life partner of 68 years, Audelita (Billie). She cared for his needs right up to his final moments by always making sure that he ate and that he was always warm in his bed!

He is also survived by his daughter, Lora Marez, who has endured the heartbreak of losing both her husband and her father in this most difficult week; his son, Steve Silva and wife, Angela; and his son, Scotty Silva and wife, Carrie.

The legacy of a great man is in his family as he was survived by 12 grandchildren, Shawn (Tricia) Marez, Liana (Mike) Nasci, Jolene (Tony) Fantauzzi, Billie (Everett) Padilla, Genelle Gallegos, Joshua (Adriana) Gallegos, Jeremiah (Marie) Gallegos, Jessica Silva, David (Robin) Silva, Theresa (Daniel) Schmitz, Andrea Silva and Thomas Silva. He was also survived by 29 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren with a few more on the way!

Luis T. Silva skipped his high school graduation at Belen High School to enter the service of his country and served in the European Theatre of Operation in World War II as a combat engineer with the 922nd Engineers Aviation Regiment. The defining moment of his life came in the early morning of June 6, 1944, when just three weeks before his 21st birthday he became part of a landing force that would change the course of world history.

This single moment shaped his life and future as it did for each and every one of us! He was a proud U.S. Army veteran and spoke with great clarity about the details of his service in World War II to anyone that would take the time to listen. The United States has lost a true hero who loved his country and his flag and willingly sacrificed to serve both.

Luis loved his family and recently stated that his biggest blessing was having the “greatest family in the world!” There was not a gentler person that you will ever meet and very few who can say that they never had a single enemy.

He only spoke positive things about people and refused to engage in gossip or bashing of others. He greeted you with warmth and listened and remembered everything that you shared with him. At 95 years of age, he had a vivid and active memory that most of us would love to have at our age now.

He was a devoted husband and an example of unconditional love. His children were perfect in his eyes and he provided us with a great sense of security and love. He sacrificed everything for us and never asked for anything in return.

His grandchildren and even great-grandchildren were the truest joy of his heart and he loved sharing “war stories,” showing them how to make adobe, putting them to work or just spending time with them! His family was the only thing that ever really mattered to him and he is missed by them more than he could have ever know.

His faith in Christ was real and it totally changed his life. It was never expressed by his mouth but rather it was lived in every part of his life! His faith, like everything else in his life, was consistent and unwavering. He prayed faithfully, read his large-print Bible, and attended church weekly. His love was the closest to the love of Christ — unconditional!

If God’s promise is true that; “the meek shall inherit the Earth” (Matthew 5:5), then Luis truly inherited much in this life and the next!

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, March 15, at Calvary Chapel Rio Grande in Belen. Interment will be held at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:15 p.m., Monday, March 18.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., 864-4448, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

Noreen Boliver Wilkerson

1927-2019

Noreen Boliver Wilkerson passed away Friday, March 8, 2019, at Cuesta Manor in Albuquerque.

Born to Willie Blackwell and Owen Boliver on Sept. 27, 1927, in Plainview, Texas, she was the third of eight children. At the age of 3, she moved with her parents and three siblings to western New Mexico to homestead in what later became Fence Lake. She began school at age 5 and graduated in 1948 after marrying and starting her family.

She was married to Norman Lee Chick, and to this union was born a daughter, Rosie Marie. Norman passed away on Feb. 15, 1951, in Gallup. She later married Aubrey Wilkerson, to which was born another daughter, Janice Gay.

The family settled in Farmington in 1956, where they lived until 1980. They lived in Belen until 2007 when they moved to Albuquerque for health reasons and be near their daughter, Janice.

Noreen was preceded in death by her parents, Willie “Toddie” and Owen; husband, Norman Chick; second husband, Aubrey Wilkerson; three sisters, Joyce Boatman, Mildred Townsend and May Hill.

She is survived by her two daughters, Rosie Tibbit (Bob) and Janice Jewell (Jerry); five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren; sister, Katy Dobbs; brothers, CA Boliver, JR Boliver and Calvin Boliver; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, March 13, at FRENCH – University. Interment followed at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made in Noreen’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association or a Veterans Organization of your choice.

Please visit our online guestbook for Noreen at FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH – University, 1111 University Blvd. NE, 843-6333.