Robert J. Reithel

Services for Robert J. Reithel, 81 of Clovis will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 28, 1998, at the Kingswood United Methodist Church. The Rev. Ross Dunn will officiate. Burial will be Thursday, October 29, 1998 at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. Muffley Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Mr. Reithel was born October 15, 1917, in Rosiclare, Illinois, and died October 25, 1998, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.

Robert moved to Henderson County, Kentucky in his early childhood and graduated from Spottsville, Kentucky High School. He received a B.S. degree from Western Kentucky University where he was an honors R.O.T.C. graduate.

He entered the U.S. Army in 1942 and became a BAR and the Chief Bayonet Instructor for the Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was with the 76th Infantry Division, and the 304th Regiment, in Luxembourg and Germany. He was awarded the Bronze Star with V for Valor, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He retired from service on June 17, 1947 as a Lt. Colonel. Following his retirement he went on to receive an M. S. degree in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Kentucky.

In 1953 he began work as a research physicist at Los Alamos National Scientific Laboratory, New Mexico, where he remained for sixteen years and became a leader in his field of physics. He was recognized in the 1955 edition of American Men of Science, The Physical Sciences. He then moved to Clovis, New Mexico and taught Earth Science and Mathematics at Gattis Jr. High until his retirement in 1981. He was active in the chair and other activities at Kingswood United Methodist Church. He was involved in his community through the Curry County Genealogical Society, and was President of the Clovis Astronomy Club. Among his many honors he was made a Member of the Order of the Silver Beaver, the highest award given to adults by the Boy Scouts or America, and a member of the Legion of Honor of the Clovis El Desayuno Kiwanis Club. He was also a member of the 76th Infantry Division Association, and the President of the 304th Regiment Association, the Texas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution/Panhandle-Plains Chapter, the Retired Officers Association and V.F.W. Post # 3280 here in Clovis.

He is survived by his wife , Louise Emmick Reithel of the Home, two sons and wives: Robert and Sherry Reithel of Rosenberg, TX, Brian and Vicki Reithel of Oxford, MS; three daughters and their husbands: Elaine and John Anderson, of Edgewood, NM, Terrie and Larry Gilstrap, of Denver, CO, and Cathy and Chet Wyant, of Clovis, NM; one brother and his wife, Marion and Mary Lynn Reithel of Union City, TN; one foster son and wife, Shawn and Tonya Perkins of Ft. Worth, TX; twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by one son, James Fredrick Reithel, his parents, Fred and Ruth Board Reithel; and beloved uncle and aunt, Pete and Anna Board Connolly.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren and honorary pallbearers will be his many Friends. Memorial Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association or a favorite Charity.

He will lie in state at Muffley Funeral Home until services where the casket will remain closed. Military honors will be conducted by the Cannon Air Force Base Honor Guard.

Source: Santa Fe New Mexican, The (NM) - October 27, 1998