REVEREND ALFRED F. SWEARINGEN JR., 83, died Friday.
He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. He attended Yale Divinity School where he studied with a distinguished faculty that included Richard Niebuhr, Kenneth Scott Latourette, William Muehl, and Alfred Luccock and was ordained in 1946. He served congregations in New York, New Jersety and Corpus Christi, Texas, where he served for 25 years. After his retirement in 1981 he served seven congregations as an interim minister specialist.
A strong advocate for adult education, he became well-known for his creation of adult curriculum and study groups. As the civil rights movement developed in Texas, he helped found interfaith alliances and interfaith clergy leadership that eased the way for full civil rights to be peaceably introduced in South Texas. During the '60s and '70s, he continued his activism, work for adult education, and advocacy for the arts.
In Santa Fe, he founded a men's symposium that met monthly at Ghost Ranch-Santa Fe and sang with the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus. Throughout his career he remained devoted to music, particularly opera and vocal music.
He was preceded in death by his son, Frederick Stewart Swearingen. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Flinn Swearingen; children, Carolyn Jan Swearingen of Bryan, Texas, Fontaine Scott Swearingen and wife Chris Wismer of Santa Fe, Helen Katharine Swearingen and husband Rev. Kurt Kirchoff of Haslett, Mich., Leah Joy Swearingen and husband John Millett of San Diego, Calif.; two grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at The First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Parkway Presbyterian Church Building Fund for New Construction, or the Endowment Fund Supporting Christian Education and Outreach, Parkway Presbyterian Church, 3707 Santa Fe Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78411, or Ghost Ranch Foundation, 401 Old Taos Hwy, Santa Fe, NM, 87501.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 984-8600.
Dated: January 27, 2004
RUDY VIGIL, 55, of La Puebla died Saturday after a long battle with cancer and diabetes.
He liked hunting and spending time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his father, Simon Vigil; brother, Estevan Vigil; sisters, Bernie, Consuelo and Paula Vigil, and Gaby Martinez.
He is survived by his companion, Flora Maestas of La Puebla; son, Simon Vigil and companion Elizabeth of Santa Cruz; mother, Maria Vigil of La Puebla; brothers and sisters, Danny Vigil and companion Judy of Chimayó, Archie Vigil and wife Patsy of La Puebla, Gilbert Vigil and companion Rosalie of Chimayó, Eva Vigil, Nellie Martinez and husband Michael, all of La Puebla, Rhonda Montoya and husband Steve of Cuarteles; and many other relatives and friends.
Cremation has taken place. A service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at La Puebla Cemetery.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, (505)747-7477.
Dated: January 27, 2004
SOPHIA M. DIAZ, 78, of La Villita died Monday.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete A. Diaz, and son, Benjie Diaz. She is survived by her children, Dorothy and husband Richard Burch and Tony Diaz and wife Fila, both of Santa Fe, Barbara and husband Jerry Abeyta of Chimayó, and Elaine and husband Jimmy Martinez of El Guique; brothers, Jose Martinez and wife Frances, Juan Martinez and wife Anita of Alcalde, Ross Medina and wife Theresa of La Villita; sister, Lorraine Martinez and husband Gilbert of La Villita; and many other relatives and friends. Mass will be celebrated at noon today at Saint Anne's Church in Alcalde with burial to follow at La Villita Cemetery. Block-Salazar Mortuary, (505) 753-2288.
Dated: January 28, 2004
MARCHAL GARCIA, 67, of Española died last Tuesday after a long illness. He was born in Gallina. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sixto and Victoria Garcia; brothers, Joe D. Arthur and Joseph Garcia; and sister, Velma Garcia. He is survived by his children, Michael Garcia of Albuquerque, Mary Ann Garcia, Jerry Luther Garcia and Ernest E. Garcia and wife, all of Phoenix; brothers, Joe L. Garcia and wife Tina of Lampasas, Texas, and Wilbert F. Garcia and wife Sara of Española; sisters, Lala Brown and husband Mike Sherman of Texas, and Louise Garcia and husband Chris of Fountain, Colo.; half sister, Lupita Salazar and husband Rudy of Hernandez; and many other relatives. Funeral services were held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Santa Cruz. Block-Salazar Mortuary, (505) 753-2288.
Dated: January 28, 2004
LOURDES GUTIERREZ, 65, of Española died Saturday. She was a longtime school teacher for Dominican parochial schools and public schools. At the time of her death, she was a CCD teacher for Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Cañada at Fairview Elementary and was teaching part-time at Holy Cross School. She devoted her life to children, and she was loved by them. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernesto and Margaret Gutierrez. She is survived by her daughter, Consuelo Meza and husband Sergio of Albuquerque; brother, Ernest Gutierrez of Velarde; sister, Angela Salazar of Albuquerque; and many other relatives and friends. Visitation for family and friends will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. at Block-Salazar Mortuary. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Cañada with burial to follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery. Block-Salazar Mortuary, (505) 753-2288.
Dated: January 28, 2004
PAUL A. LEDOUX, 74, of Los Cordovas died Monday.
He was a veteran of the Korean War.
He was owner and operator of Northern Rainbow Electric.
He is survived by his wife, Elia E. LeDoux; children, Len, Loretta and Joe LeDoux; sister, Margie Rogers, all of Los Cordovas; and two grandchildren.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at the same church with burial to follow at 2:30 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, (505) 758-3841.
Dated: January 28, 2004
MASAMI "MAS" JOHN BROWN, 16, of Taos died Sunday. He was a student at Taos High School.
He is survived by his father, Francis "Cisco" Brown; mother, Katharine Yamazaki; brothers and sisters, Yuki Romero and wife Andrew of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Taro Brown of Portales, Mari Brown of Albuquerque and Diana Brown of Taos; and many other relatives and friends.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church.
A mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the same church with burial to follow at Talpa Cemetery.
Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, (505) 758-3841.
Dated: January 30, 2004
CAROL J. LINN, 49, of Santa Fe died Monday after a long struggle with cancer.
She was employed with the U.S. Forest Service for the past 25 years.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga., 30368-2454.
She is survived by her husband, Larry Linn; stepdaughter, Christine Scharpenberg and husband Jon; children, Alex, Megan and Jordan; parents, William and Eleanor Johnson; brother, Robert J. Johnson and wife Nancy; and many other relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. today at Berardinelli Family Chapel.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 984-8600.
Dated: January 30, 2004
MARIA FLORIDA MEDINA, 83, of Talpa died Thursday.
She is survived by her children, Shirley Ann House Vigil and husband Daniel of Albuquerque, Roberta "Bobbie" House Velasquez and husband Lt. Col. Enrico Velasquez of Ranchos de Taos and Ben House of Talpa; granddaughter she raised as her own, Melinda House Sanft; six grandchildren; and brothers, Raymundo and Abel Medina.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at the Talpa Capilla.
Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the same place with burial to follow at Talpa Cemetery.
Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, (505) 758-3841.
Dated: January 30, 2004
KATHLEEN I. NORDHAUS, 84, of Los Alamos died Wednesday at Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
She was a 50-year resident of Los Alamos and a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church since 1959.
She is survived by her husband, Emil Nordhaus; daughter, Carla Riepe of Edgewood; son, Emil E. Nordhaus and wife Marjorie of Watsonville, Calif.; sisters, Caroline Siemer of Satellite Beach, Fla., and Inez Cate of Las Vegas, Nev.; and many other relatives.
Cremation has taken place.
A graveside service will be held at a later date.
McGee Memorial Chapel Mortuary, 983-9151.
Dated: January 30, 2004
ANTONIA T. ANGEL, 93, of Santa Fe died Tuesday at home of natural causes.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fransico A. Angel; and parents, Tiburico Trujillo and Dorothea Guiterrez.
She is survived by her son, Philip J. Angel; three grandchildren; and other relatives.
A service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Berardinelli Family Chapel with burial to follow at 1 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 984-8600.
Dated: January 31, 2004
