Billy Wayne Webb

Billy Wayne Webb, 85, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, went to be with his Heavenly Father Saturday, January 3, 2015, after a courageous six-month battle with cancer. Billy, or "Bill" as most people knew him, was born on February 1, 1929 in Mobeetie, Texas. He grew up in the small Texas town of Sunray, where he excelled in academics, athletics, and mischievous shenanigans with his brother, sister, and many close friends. He was valedictorian of his graduating class of Sunray High School, and participated in every sport the school had to offer. He went right to work after graduating from high school to help support his family, and worked his way up through a series of jobs to become an engineer. Bill spent 32 years working for Lockheed in the space program - 12 years in Houston at the Johnson Space Center, and 20 years in Las Cruces at the White Sands Test Facility. In Houston, he worked on the Saturn/Apollo Earth Orbiting missions, all of the manned Apollo missions, and the early Space Shuttle missions. He was working as an engineer and manager of the White Sands Chem Lab when he retired from Lockheed in 1995. Bill spent his retirement life tinkering on cars, fixing anything that was broken, and perfecting his golf game. He always looked forward to his weekly golf games at NMSU with his golfing buddies, as well as weekly practice sessions on the driving range. Bill met and married his wife of 62 years, Madgelene Kimball, in Amarillo, Texas in 1952. They made their first home in Anaheim, California, and later lived in Tularosa, Alamogordo, and Houston. For the last 40 years they have made their home in Las Cruces. Bill is preceeded in death by his parents, William Alvin Webb and Opal Atchley Webb; and his brother, Marvin "Mont" Webb and sister-in-law, Kay Webb. He is survived by his wife, Madgelene Kimball Webb of Las Cruces; daughter Rose Webb King and son-in-law Charles King of Friendswood, Texas; son David Webb of Las Cruces; granddaughter Elizabeth King Hegi and her husband John Hegi of Pearland, Texas; and great-grandchildren Maverick Hegi and Natalie Hegi. He is also survived by his sister, Mildred Webb Bolton and her husband, Lloyd Bolton of Godley, Texas; niece Terrie Bolton Waughtal and her husband Perry Waughtal of Houston; and nephew Billy Bolton of Godley, Texas; and brother in law Jerry Kimball; as well as many good friends and extended family members. Visitation for Bill will be Wednesday January 7, 2015 at Getz Funeral Home from 6-7 pm, at Getz Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 9 am, Thursday January 8, 2015 also at Getz Funeral Home, burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery. PDF Printable Version