Raymond W. Van Pelt

Raymond W. (Rusty) Van Pelt passed peacefully on Tuesday January 4, 2011. Rusty's passion was education first, and athletics a close second. He was born and raised in Clayton, NM , where he lettered in sports from the eighth grade through high school. He was selected as an all-state tackle and played in the North-South All-Star game. Rusty attended NMSU on a football scholarship lettering all four years. He was chosen for the Little All American Team, was selected as the Greatest Aggie in 1948, and was invited to attend training camp with the New York Giants. He received his BS in 1949 and Master of Arts in educational Administration in 1954. His teaching and coaching career began at Las Cruces High School in 1949. The Korean War interrupted his career from 1950-1952 returning to Las Cruces in 1952 to continue teaching and coaching at Court Junior High and then returned to LCHS. In 1965, Rusty became the first assistant principal and athletic director at Mayfield High School. In 1967, he became the principal and held that position until he retired in 1985. Rusty served in the US Navy during WWII and the Army in Korea. He retired from the Army National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel. Rusty was active in many educational programs as well as one of the charter members of the Las Cruces Lion de Noche service club where he served as District Governor in 1973. In 1984 Rusty was inducted into the NM Athletic Association Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Betty and four children, Barbara Salazar, Margaret Feind, Sandra Medina and Lynnette Arnold; eight grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews; Brother-in-law John Riley; Sister-in-law Vivian Van Pelt and Sons-in-laws, Zeke Salazar, Rand Feind and Mario Medina. He was preceded in death by both parents Fred and Nettie Van Pelt and three siblings: Thaddeus, Margaret, and Lee. A visitation will be held Thursday, January 6, 2011, from 5 to 7 pm at Getz Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Rev. Frank Zamora officiating on Friday, January 7, 2011, at 10 a.m. Rusty will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery with full Military Honors. Pall bearers are grandchildren Andrew Medina, Aaron and Austin Arnold, Summer and Cody Feind, and Grand nephew Tres Libby. The Van Pelt family would like to thank the staff at Casa Bella and Ambercare for the love and kindness shown to Rusty during his last few weeks. They especially thank Jill Shannon, truly an angel on earth, for her sense of humor and love shown not only to Rusty, but to Betty and the rest of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to the R.W. Van Pelt Educational Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, Attn: Trust, 425 S. Telshor, Bldg A, Las Cruces, NM 88011. PDF Printable Version