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POPPAS, GEORGE JR. On Saturday, June 21, 2014 at age 91, George went to be with His Lord. He had been a resident of Albuquerque, NM since 2005 and prior to that, had lived in El Paso, TX for 27 years. George lived many other places in the US and abroad while serving with distinction in the US Army and Civil Service. George leaves behind a large and loving family to include: daughter, Candace Leas and her husband, Larry of Sandia Park, NM; his two granddaughters, Jessica Marie Victor and her husband, Manolo of Santa Fe, NM, and Kari Nicole Ackerman of Albuquerque, NM; three great-grandsons, Logan, Tristan, and Ethan Victor of Santa Fe, NM; sisters, Freda Tranbarger of Los Gatos, CA, Willie Warren of St. Petersburg, FL, Grace Kingseed and her husband, Dale of Kokomo, IN, Vanetta Beckman and her husband, George of Moneta, VA, and Phoebe Carter and her husband, Lee of Kokomo, IN; brothers, Tom Poppas and his wife, Betty of Kokomo, IN and John Poppas and his wife, Marianne of Piedmont, CA; brothers-in-law, Mayo Nielsen of Salt Lake City, UT, Robert Miller and his wife, Eunice of Zephyrhills, FL, Paul Love and his wife, Connie of Kokomo, IN, Charles Love and his wife, Terri of Kokomo, IN, George Love and his wife, Loralee of Greentown, IN, Jerry Love and his wife, Lynn of Kokomo, IN, and Gerald Love and his wife, Stephanie of Kokomo, IN; as well as multiple nieces and nephews and their children. LTC Poppas was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Susie Marie (Love) Poppas; his parents, George and Mary (Phipps) Poppas; sisters, Marylou Miller, Bea Nielsen, Anna Kleiber, and Dorothy Mast and her husband, Max; and brother, Ed Poppas and his wife, Anne. George was born in Sheperdsville, IN February 23, 1923, moving to Kokomo, IN with his family as a young boy. He was one of 13 children born to George and Mary Poppas. He enlisted in the Army at age 16. He retired as a LTC after 26 years of distinguished service, serving in both WWII and the Korean War with valor. He was a pilot in the Army and flew single-engine fixed wing artillery spotter planes in WWII and Korea. He was also qualified as a helicopter pilot. He was a life-long member of the Independent Christian Church serving as an Elder for many years. Most recently, he was a member of Ridgecrest Christian Church in Albuquerque, NM. He loved to play bridge and 3 No Trump was his favorite bid. He was an award winning table tennis player, an eloquent historian with an incredible memory, and a mean man to meet with his yo-yo. He was an amazing and Godly man, father, son, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, father-in-law, uncle, friend, and patriot and the world is a poorer place without him. Psalm 100 v. 5: For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. There will be a Memorial Service celebrating his life on Saturday, August 23, 2014, 10:00 a.m., at the Manzano del Sol Chapel, 5201 Roma Ave. NE in Albuquerque. His ashes will be transported to Kokomo, IN for final interment at Crown Point Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ridgecrest Christian Church 5300 Eastern Ave, SE Albuquerque, NM 87108. Please visit our online guest book for George at
www.FrenchFunerals.com FRENCH - University 1111 University Blvd NE 505-843-6333
THOMPSON, RICHARD LEE Age 71, of Moriarty, NM passed away on June 28, 2014. Richard was born June 17, 1943 in Albuquerque to Herman and Bernice (Merchant) Thompson. He was a lifetime resident of Moriarty. Richard was preceded in death by his parents and son, Kevin Lee Thompson in 1980. He is survived by his daughters Kym Peters and her husband David of Phoenix, AZ, Debbie Thompson of Moriarty, NM and Tami Owings and her husband Craig of Helsinki, Finland; brothers Donnie Thompson and Bobby Thompson; eight grandchildren; and his beloved dog "Buddy". Cremation has taken place.
THACHER, PHILIP DURYEA Age 77, a resident of Albuquerque since 1965, passed away peacefully at home after a 15 year battle with Parkinson's disease. He is survived by his soul mate and loving wife of 51 years, Aija; daughter Nara of Albuquerque; son Jeff and wife Kelly of Fort Worth, TX, and their children Larisa, Kyra, Connor, and Jenna; brother John H. Thacher and wife Caroline of Ojai, CA, and their sons Peter, Sherman, and Tom and their families; brother-in-law Maris Purgailis; and numerous cousins and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Helena. Phil was born in Palo Alto, CA, on January 13, 1937, and grew up in the Sierra Nevadas, where his father was a civil engineer building dams and tunnels. He graduated from Thacher School (a boarding high school started by his grandfather in Ojai, CA), received his B.S. in physics from CalTech, spent a year in France on a Fulbright Scholarship, and received his Ph.D. in physics from Cornell University, where he met his wife while folkdancing. In 1965, they moved to Albuquerque, where he worked at Sandia National Laboratories for almost 40 years, the last few years as an independent contractor. In addition to English, he also spoke Latvian, French, and Russian, as well as reading German. His interests and activities included folkdancing, camping, hiking, soccer, swimming, horseback riding, CalTech glee club, reading, clarinet, mineralogy, and life-long learning. He was active in Planned Parenthood and Sierra Club, as well as supporting numerous family planning, environmental, educational, health, social, and cultural organizations. Phil will be sorely missed by all who knew him. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, July 26, at 2:00 p.m. at FRENCH - Westside Chapel, 9300 Golf Course Rd., NW., with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Planned Parenthood of New Mexico (719 San Mateo Blvd, NE, 87108) or New Mexico Parkinson's Disease Coalition (1740 Miracerros Pl, NE, 87106). Please visit our online guestbook for Philip at 
SILVA, DANIEL (DANNY) JOSEPH age 45, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, July 10, 2014. Danny is survived by his wife, Kimberly; children, Thomas, Gracie and Nicholas; parents, Daniel P. and Angie Silva; sisters, Jennifer L. Silva and Tommy McManaway, and Cynthia M. Silva; brother, Dominic R. Silva and companion, Ashley Springer; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joe and Cathie Moya; nephews and nieces, Anthony, Angelyce, Santiago, Macy, Mia, Raymond, Sam, and Vincent; many aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins and friends. Visitation will be Monday, July 14, 2014 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 5415 Fortuna Rd. SW from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. with a Communion Service at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Eddie Gutierrez, John Silva, Randy Gutierrez, David Silva, David Montoya, and Rick Moya. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike O'Donnell, Kenneth Bourguet, Leroy Montoya, and Tony Hidalgo. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy, 620 Lomas Blvd., NW, 87102. Please go to 
SHUNK, EDWARD R. May 22, 1933 - July 10, 2014 After a brief illness, long time New Mexico resident, Edward "Ed" Shunk, stepped across, embraced into God's peace and radiance, surrounded by his family. Born in Livingston, MT, Ed obtained a degree in Engineering Physics from Montana State University. While working for RCA in Philadelphia, he off-handedly answered an ad in a physics journal culling for a mysterious place called Los Alamos. Thus, the newly minted physicist entered into the vast realms of Cold War Nuclear Physics. He began his 44 year Los Alamos career with converting standard munitions, such as artillery and mortar shells, into nuclear-capable weapons. After an injury on a firing range, Ed turned to the Crock-Croft Walton Accelerator; en route to a Master's degree doing neutron cross sections. This sealed his true oeuvre': the intricate technical craft of making detectors for both above and below ground nuclear testing in Nevada. This evolved into Ed's working with critical assemblies for Q Division. His ultimate favorite, however, where he finished out his Los Alamos career, was making detectors for Mars probes. His engineering skills were superlative, of the highest level; yet at the same time he possessed a deep simple, yet complex, wonder and awe about and for anything in the physical world; rainbows, sundogs, halos. All ranges of atmosphere optics were a passion. Avocations were bicycling, hiking, rock-hounding, and petroglyphs. He was a life-long, master airplane modeler. Always humble, understated; he was crazy-smart, yet possessing the common touch; the physicist can dream it, but someone has to make/machine it. His character was that rare, wonderous meeting of awe and amazement/the spiritual with the physical world, making things that in turn, reveal the wonder and awe He will be sorely missed. He enjoyed an active retirement with his wife, Constance, in Tijeras, outside of Albuquerque. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joann, and son, Edward Jr. He is survived by his daughter, Katherine, and sons, Carl and John, all of Denver, CO, and acquired daughters, Deborah of Sacramento, CA, Lezlie of Indianapolis, IN, Kathrine of Santa Fe, NM, Cara, of Kennewick, WA and Amanda of Saratoga, CA. He also leaves numerous grand and great grandchildren. Memorial and interment will be at a later date at Guaje Pines Cemetery in Los Alamos. Donations/ gifts in memorial, may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 2501 South Pedro NE, Suite 116, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Please visit our online guestbook for Ed at 
SANCHEZ-RENNER, THERESA JEANNE Theresa Jeanne Sanchez-Renner, age 55 of Rio Rancho and Santa Fe, NM, passed away on June 28th after a long battle with cancer. Theresa was born in Albuquerque, NM on April 7, 1959 to Priscilla and John Sanchez. She grew up in Albuquerque with her two sisters and three brothers, Johnny, Vicki, Jaime, Carl, and Nora. Theresa became a well known hair stylist and owned her own hair salon, Notorious, in Santa Fe, NM. She was a special soul who was immensely loved by all who knew her. She shared so much joy with her family and friends and lived her life with loving kindness in her heart. Theresa is survived by her husband Gregory Renner; her three daughters, Arika Sanchez; Annie Sanchez, and Erika Everett, her four grandchildren whom she loved dearly, Keali'inoa, Nakea, Kaikala, and Ella Rae; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and goddaughters. There will be a celebration of life at Los Poblanos in Albuquerque on Sunday, July 13th at 4pm.
POPPAS, GEORGE JR. On Saturday, June 21, 2014 at age 91, George went to be with His Lord. He had been a resident of Albuquerque, NM since 2005 and prior to that, had lived in El Paso, TX for 27 years. George lived many other places in the US and abroad while serving with distinction in the US Army and Civil Service. George leaves behind a large and loving family to include: daughter, Candace Leas and her husband, Larry of Sandia Park, NM; his two granddaughters, Jessica Marie Victor and her husband, Manolo of Santa Fe, NM, and Kari Nicole Ackerman of Albuquerque, NM; three great-grandsons, Logan, Tristan, and Ethan Victor of Santa Fe, NM; sisters, Freda Tranbarger of Los Gatos, CA, Willie Warren of St. Petersburg, FL, Grace Kingseed and her husband, Dale of Kokomo, IN, Vanetta Beckman and her husband, George of Moneta, VA, and Phoebe Carter and her husband, Lee of Kokomo, IN; brothers, Tom Poppas and his wife, Betty of Kokomo, IN and John Poppas and his wife, Marianne of Piedmont, CA; brothers-in-law, Mayo Nielsen of Salt Lake City, UT, Robert Miller and his wife, Eunice of Zephyrhills, FL, Paul Love and his wife, Connie of Kokomo, IN, Charles Love and his wife, Terri of Kokomo, IN, George Love and his wife, Loralee of Greentown, IN, Jerry Love and his wife, Lynn of Kokomo, IN, and Gerald Love and his wife, Stephanie of Kokomo, IN; as well as multiple nieces and nephews and their children. LTC Poppas was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Susie Marie (Love) Poppas; his parents, George and Mary (Phipps) Poppas; sisters, Marylou Miller, Bea Nielsen, Anna Kleiber, and Dorothy Mast and her husband, Max; and brother, Ed Poppas and his wife, Anne. George was born in Sheperdsville, IN February 23, 1923, moving to Kokomo, IN with his family as a young boy. He was one of 13 children born to George and Mary Poppas. He enlisted in the Army at age 16. He retired as a LTC after 26 years of distinguished service, serving in both WWII and the Korean War with valor. He was a pilot in the Army and flew single-engine fixed wing artillery spotter planes in WWII and Korea. He was also qualified as a helicopter pilot. He was a life-long member of the Independent Christian Church serving as an Elder for many years. Most recently, he was a member of Ridgecrest Christian Church in Albuquerque, NM. He loved to play bridge and 3 No Trump was his favorite bid. He was an award winning table tennis player, an eloquent historian with an incredible memory, and a mean man to meet with his yo-yo. He was an amazing and Godly man, father, son, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, father-in-law, uncle, friend, and patriot and the world is a poorer place without him. Psalm 100 v. 5: For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. There will be a Memorial Service celebrating his life on Saturday, August 23, 2014, 10:00 a.m., at the Manzano del Sol Chapel, 5201 Roma Ave. NE in Albuquerque. His ashes will be transported to Kokomo, IN for final interment at Crown Point Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ridgecrest Christian Church 5300 Eastern Ave, SE Albuquerque, NM 87108. Please visit our online guest book for George at 
NELLOS, BASIL NICHOLAS Age 73, a resident of Albuquerque since 1958, died on Friday, July 4th, 2014. He is survived by his son, Nicholas Basil Nellos; granddaughter, Tyler Eden Nellos; grandson, Beau Jagger Nellos; and former wife, Cynthia Ellen Nellos, all residing in Albuquerque. He is also survived by brother, George Nellos and wife, Christine; brother, Ernest Nellos and wife, Juanita; brother, Constantine Nellos and wife, Jan and many nieces, nephews and wonderful close friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Nicholas George Nellos and his mother, Joanna Nellos. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor's Degree in the school of Arts and Sciences. He owned and operated the Lobo Men's Shop located at 2120 Central SE in Albuquerque since 1963. A Memorial Service will be Monday, July 14, 2014, 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Deacon George J. Collaros at FRENCH - Lomas. Inurnment will be at a later date in Fairview Memorial Park at 700 Yale Blvd SE. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church or at 
MILLER, JAMES L. Passed away on June 1, 2014 at his home in Stratford, OK. He would have been 54 on June 22nd. He is survived by his mother and stepfather Jan and Ray Holder of Belen; his father Larry (Lawrence) Miller of Stratford; devoted sister Faye Miller Pokletar and husband Robert; and two beautiful nieces, Maya and Camille in Oceanside, CA; as well as many cousins and friends in the Albuq area. James was born and raised in the North Valley of Alb, where he attended Griegos Elementary, Garfied Junior High and graduated from Valley High. He lived for ten years in CA working and managing a specialty wood shop, then moved to OK where he established his own shop for the past ten years. James was a successful Custom Cabinet maker and took great pride in his work, evidently getting his love of woodworking from his grandfather and great-grandfather. Always with a smile and a friendly greeting, anyone who met him loved him. We gave him life and he lived it "His Way". We miss him terribly and he will always be in our hearts. Cremation has taken place.
JIMINEZ, WILLIAM PAUL &Quot;BILL&Quot; Passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 after a long illness. Bill was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Sally Jiminez and his five brothers. He is survived by his daughter, April; grandsons Dominic Jiminez, Isaiah and Noah Vargas; an unborn granddaughter Shealynn Jiminez-Gurule; brother R.C. Jiminez and wife Hope; sisters Rachel Fernandez and husband Robert, Linda Key and husband Andrew, Anna Gustafson and husband Steven; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Bill grew up in Albuquerque and graduated from Sandia High School. He worked mostly construction in the Albuquerque area. He was a great Vikings fan and loved his precious cat "Sammie". Cremation has taken place and a Mass will be held at Sangre de Cristo Catholic Church, 8901 Candelaria NE, on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 9:15am.
HIBBERT, SHIRLEY Age 83, a resident of Albuquerque for 67 years, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. She is survived by her daughters, Debbie Shafer and husband, Robert, Linda Giesler, and Dianna Torres and husband, Larry; grandchildren, Lindsey Giesler and boyfriend, Lorenzo Garcia, Jackie Giesler and boyfriend, Adam Campos, and Cory Morgan; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Garcia, Madison Garcia, Christopher Lopez, and Gabriel Romero; and brother, Johnny Bayler and wife, Mindy. Mrs. Hibbert was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Eddie Walker; her second husband, Jim Blair; and her third husband, Bob Hibbert; and her sons, Jackie Walker and Bill Walker. Shirley was active at the Los Volcanos Senior Center. Cremation has taken place and Shirley's life will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, 10:00 a.m. at FRENCH - University. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Should friends desire, contributions may be made to Alzeimer's Association, New Mexico Chapter, 9500 Montgomery Boulevard NE, Suite 121, Albuquerque, NM 87111. Please visit our online guestbook for Shirley at 
HAUER, KAY Kay Hauer passed from this world on April 9th as gracefully as she lived, with two of her three daughters by her side. Kay was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas and lived most of her adult life in Albuquerque. She was a wonderful mother and devoted grandmother. Kay was an avid dancer, loved gardening, and supported the Jaycees in Albuquerque for many years. She retired from the University of New Mexico, Earth Data Analysis Center in 1999. She is survived by three daughters, Mauri, Grechen and Holly; four granddaughters, Maggie, Jesse, Eliza and Abby; and one sister, Sue. In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to the Alzheimer's Association, or the charity of your choice.
GURULE, SALLY age 93, was born on June 1, 1921 in Veguita, New Mexico and passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2014 at her home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete Gurule; daughters, Libby Gurule and Cecilia Abeyta; sister, Bella Salas. Sally is survived by her sons, Louis Gurule with Sophie, Ray Gurule and wife, Nancy; daughter, Rose Castanuela and husband, Pete; seventeen grandchildren; thirty three great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; as well as many other family members and friends who loved and will miss her. Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 309 Stover Ave. SW. A Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 7:00pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 10:00am. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th St. NW. ABQ. 343-8008.
