Wanda H Bullock

Wanda Bullock, 78, of Las Cruces was taken into the arms of her loving Savior and Lord on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Memorial Medical Center following a brief illness. She was preceded in death by three sons, James Gregory, Jon Jeffrey, and Philip Rodney; her parents, Earl J. Hough and Ola Marie Hough, her sisters Maxine Terwilliger, Lola Presson, and Nancy Craig. Wanda is survived by her adoring husband (also her high school sweetheart) of 59 years, Jim Bullock; son Paul of Las Cruces; daughter Rebecca Bullock Reeves of Austin, TX; brother-in-law Charles Terwilliger, of Fort Smith Arkansas, many precious nieces and nephews, and her beloved bichons, Byron and Casper. Wanda was the cornerstone of her family--no wife was ever more loving, devoted, supportive, and encouraging than she was to Jim, serving also as his gentle critic as occasionally necessary. Jim openly acclaims her as his hero, his tower of strength, and the love of his life. She cherished her children and was always there for them with love, with wise counsel, she was their help in every need, their cheerleader in every endeavor, always knowing the right thing to say and do and doing it with a passion. She was upbeat and possessed a great sense of humor, a delight to be around. To Wanda, everybody was important. Her love, caring, and generosity just overflowed--whether to friends or those she did not even know. Wanda was born on August 13, 1937 at Fort Smith, Arkansas and lived in Arkansas in her early years. She was the valedictorian of her senior class at Mansfield High School, Mansfield, Arkansas. After getting her Ph. T. (Putting Hubby Thru) degree at Oklahoma State University, the family moved to Las Cruces in 1972. She began her college education at New Mexico State University, first just taking course after course for the sheer joy of learning. She then settled on nursing as a major field, completing the LPN program at NMSU in 1976 and then finishing her nursing education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas College of Allied Health Professions. At UNLV, she was named to the National Dean's List and inducted into Phi Kappa Phi. Wanda was a retired Registered Nurse and nursing was truly a mission for her. She believed the "patient always comes first", treating them with loving care and ministering to both their physical and spiritual needs. She initially worked as a staff nurse (pediatrics and medical-surgical) at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. Upon returning to Las Cruces in 1978, she was employed at the NMSU Student Health Center before accepting a position at what was then Eastwood Hospital in El Paso. She established and then headed Eastwood's Pediatric Unit for several years. In 1982, Wanda was a part of the small team which established the Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces. Working on a volunteer basis, she helped in putting together the start-up staff and navigated the paperwork maze to get the fledgling organization off the ground. In 1983 she was employed part-time as Clinical Administrator and Patient Care Coordinator for Hospice-there were no funds at that time to pay full-time staff. From 1983 through 1985she devoted 50 to 60 hours per week and was available 24 hours a day by either phone or beeper to her terminally ill patients, all this while employed only on a part-time basis. Although her employment assignment was administrative, her greatest fulfillment was in providing care for her patients, treating them as family and helping them to maintain as much quality of life and personal dignity as possible during their final days. In 1985, hospice had developed to the point where it could hire full-time staff and compensate its nurses and other caregivers and Wanda resigned her position. She continued to present volunteer training programs and served on the Mesilla Valley Hospice Board of Directors until 1988. In 1985, Wanda was selected to receive the Whole Enchilada Deserving Citizen Award and was parade honoree in the Whole Enchilada Fiesta parade for her charitable and civic activities, primarily for her pioneering work with Mesilla Valley Hospice, the award citing that her "loving dedication to the Mesilla Valley Hospice served as a remarkable example of her unselfish devotion and caring to members of our community". Wanda made numerous presentations to schools and civic groups on such topics as the grieving process, death and dying, and coping with crisis situations. She also participated in workshops for single adults to help them cope with problems associated with being widowed, divorced or separated. Her other service activities included work with the Nevada State Mental Health Center, Southwest Mental Health Center, and the Las Cruces Open Door Center. Wanda wan artist, specializing in oil paintings, mostly landscapes. She was widely read and enjoyed quilting, crocheting-always making afghans for someone. She had so many interests but would make it clear that computers were not her thing. In addition to her love of family and dedication to nursing, a central focus of Wanda's life was serving her Lord. She was a very active member of First Baptist Church, Las Cruces and rejoiced in being a part of that loving and Christian family. She had a great love for God's Word and taught Sunday Bible classes for over 50 years as she served the Lord at FBC and in various churches wherever they lived at any point in time. At First Baptist Church, she also worked with the Acteens program and led the Singles program for many years, teaching bible studies monthly in her home. In 1988, Wanda was named an Outstanding Alumna of the NMSU College of Health and Social Services. Some three dozen deserving nursing students are beneficiaries of the Wanda H. Bullock Nursing Scholarship which she and husband Jim have funded since 1988. Wanda is a Nightingale Circle Member of the NMSU School of Nursing and is featured on the Nursing Wall of Honor in the College of Health and Social services. In 1998 Wanda was designated a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International Foundation for her "Service Above Self" record of humanitarian, civic, and educational activities. She and Jim are longtime supporters of NMSU and are members of the NMSU Foundation's Presidents Council. The family wishes to express its thanks and deepest gratitude to: the physicians, nurses, staff, auxilians and others at Memorial Medical Center for their tremendous and caring efforts in treating Wanda during her illness; and to her First Baptist family, her neighbors in the Greens, her friends at NMSU, members of the Rotary Club of Las Cruces, and all who prayed for her and supported the family during her time of crisis. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make memorial gifts in her name to the Wanda H. Bullock Nursing Scholarship Fund, NMSU Foundation, Inc., PO Box 3590, Las Cruces NM 88003-3590. A memorial service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Saturday January 9 at First Baptist Church of Las Cruces with Dr. David Burrows officiating and a reception immediately following the service. PDF Printable Version