William E. Newman

It is with great sadness the family of William (Bill) E. Newman, Jr., 66, announces his passing on August 18, 2013 at the Advanced Care Hospital of Southern New Mexico in Las Cruces, NM. Bill (known as Everett in West Virginia) was born on September 14, 1946 to parents William E. Newman, Sr. and Helen Parsons Newman in Charleston, WV, and was brother to Alfred E. Newman. Bill graduated from Washington High School in WV. At the tender age of 17, with his mother's signature, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After several assignments stateside, he was deployed to Vietnam. He was a proud American soldier and a Vietnam veteran, 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 device, Army Commendation Medal, (1st OLC), Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal (2nd Awd), Campaigns: Counteroffensive Phase VII. He was a Disabled Veteran member, American Legion member, and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. After his military career, he transitioned to a civil servant at White Sands Missile Range as an Environmental Test Operator conditioning missiles for missile firings. He retired with more than 34 years of service in 2002. Never a boring guy, his early hobbies included raising and riding horses, raising goats, pigs, cows, racing and working on cars, enjoying fun and drinks with his "rowdy" friends, welding, making crafts, camping, fishing, and later on spending time watching his grandchildren's sporting events. A contradiction of words, he was feisty, sometimes grouchy, apologetic, compassionate, generous, humorous, wise, and loving. To him, family was most important above all. To our family, he was our rock, strength, and protector. Bill is survived by his loving wife Olga Trujillo Newman, devoted daughters Verna Ann (Wayne Sikes), Angel (Paul Gamboa) and Billie Jean Newman (David Medina), grandchildren Nica Garcia (Juan Jimenez), Christopher Newman-Orona, Michael, Joshua, and Kayla Naranjo, and Dario and Diego Gamboa, great-grandchildren Stevie Raelynn Jimenez and Adyn Orona all from Las Cruces. He is also survived by his four-legged friends Max, Tiger, Henry, and Henrietta. From West Virginia, he is survived by his brother Alfred (Shelley) Newman and loving family. He is also survived by many special nephews and nieces in NM, brothers- and sisters-in-law Leo and Merlinda Hernandez, Henry and Bea Trujillo, and Lee and Rosella Trujillo, special friends Vernon (Jenny) Couch, Art (Fina) Narvaez and family, and Henry (Espy) Rodriguez, as well as many other friends. Other relatives live in Oklahoma, West Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, and Florida. He was predeceased by his parents, many special aunts and uncles, his brother-in-law Charlie Trujillo and mother-in-law Genevieve Trujillo. His advice to all was to "always protect three things in life: (1) Your faith in God, (2) Your name, (3) Your family; everything else comes and goes." A memorial service for "Bill" will be 10:00 a.m., Monday August 26, 2013 at Getz Funeral Home 1410 E. Bowman Ave, where inurnment will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery where he will be laid to rest. PDF Printable Version