Dr. Threlkeld

William Ross Threlkeld of Roswell died Oct. 9, 2016, at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. Funeral services will be held 3:00 PM Sunday October 30, 2016 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Roswell. His ashes will be interred in the columbarium at Grace Episcopal Church in Carlsbad, beside those of his beloved younger son.

Bill was born August 4, 1936, in Lakeland, Kentucky. He grew up in Smithland, Kentucky and graduated from Livingston County High School in 1954. He attended Murray State University, graduating with a degree in mathematics and history in 1960. During his early career, Bill was employed as a computer analyst with Pan American Airways and MacDonald Aircraft. Given a chance to relocate from St. Louis to Holloman Air Force Base, he brought his family to Alamogordo where he fell in love with the blue skies and rich cultural history of New Mexico. He returned to school in 1970, earning a doctorate in philosophy of education from University of Kentucky. He then began a career in education, teaching high school mathematics in Alamogordo and Tularosa public schools. After leaving New Mexico to teach in Saudi Arabia for Sysorex, Corp., he returned in 1985 to serve as high school principal in Reserve, New Mexico for four years, then taught in the Dept. of Education at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. He also taught math in Carlsbad public schools, and served as principal of St. Edwards Catholic School in Carlsbad. After retirement, he returned to teaching for several years in Del City, Texas and in Roswell. Bill was a wise and gentle man with many talents and interests. His passion was the study of the history of early Christianity. He loved the Gospel of Thomas and the poetry of Hafiz, the Persian poet whose poems express that the presence of God can be found here on earth, and encourage us to celebrate even the most ordinary experiences of life as precious divine gifts. Though a scholar, he was also a skilled carpenter and gardener, a fan of the St Louis Cardinals and bluegrass music. His greatest love was for his family, and his heart's desire was to live to see his youngest grandson, Ross, grow up.

Preceding him in death were his father and mother Aurel and Mildred Frances Threlkeld of Burna, Kentucky; and his son Emil Threlkeld.

Bill is survived by his son Eric, daughter-in-law, Narcise, and grandson Ross of Carlsbad, and Kay, his wife of 55 years. He is also survived by grandsons Warren Threlkeld of Dallas, Texas and Thomas Threlkeld of Omaha, Nebraska, a granddaughter, Baylee Threlkeld, of Carlsbad, a sister, Ann Wiley, of West Branch, Iowa, and a brother, Gerry Threlkeld, of Cleveland, Ohio.

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