Obits 5/4

Ollie Corbin, 72

Ollie Fay Flinn Corbin, 72, died Thursday, May 1, 2003, at Farwell Convalescent Center in Farwell.

She was born June 9, 1930, in Clovis, to Arilla and John W. Flinn Jr.

She lived in Clovis, Causey, Truth or Consequences, Albuquerque and Morton and Dimmitt in Texas. For a period of time, she worked at rest homes in Morton and Dimmitt. For a long number of years, she worked as a caretaker for the elderly in Albuquerque, as well as in Clovis and Portales. She was a member of the Third and Kilgore Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include a brother, John W. Flinn III of Phoenix; and three sisters, June Barber of Albuquerque, Ila Raviart of Las Cruces and Zora Stroud of Portales.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Third and Kilgore Church of Christ in Portales. David Bennett will officiate.

Wheeler Mortuary of Portales is handling arrangements.

Alvin Romero, 43

Mr. Alvin Theodore Romero, 43, a rancher, died Wednesday, April 30, 2003, in Garita.

He was born May 11, 1959, in Las Vegas, N.M.

He grew up in Trujillo and attended Robertson High School in Las Vegas. He had ranched for 25 years at the Hage and Webb Land and Cattle Co. in Garita. He was a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and the U.S. Team Roping Championships, where he was an avid competitor. He was a member of the Center Street United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Angel Romero; his mother, Sara Romero; two brothers, Lee and Herman Romero; his grandmother, Franciel Hage; and his father-in-law, Olan Webb.

Survivors include his wife, Missie; six children; Maranda, Christina, Julianna, Sara, Olana and Alvin Chance, all of Tucumcari and Garita; his father, Pete Romero of Trujillo; six brothers; Dan Romero of Trujillo, Fred Romero and Nick Romero, both of Las Vegas, Jerry Romero of Dalhart, Texas, Richard Romero of Springtown, Texas, and Louis Romero of Garden City, Kan.; and two sisters, Irene Martinez of Las Vegas and Sarah Quintana of Pecos.

Services have been held.

Burial was at Hage-Webb Cemetery in Garita.

Dunn Funeral Home of Tucumcari handled arrangements.

G.W. Van Winkle, 76

G.W. “Rip” Van Winkle, 76, died Thursday, May 1, 2003, in Lubbock.

He was born Feb. 9, 1927, in Rogers to Albert and Sybill Horn Van Winkle.

He graduated from Rogers High School. He served with the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II. He attended college in Portales for one year and then moved to Carlsbad in 1948. He married Jeaneane Lewis on May 2, 1953. He worked for Potash Corp. of America for 24 years. In 1969, he started his own business, Kindel Systems Inc. His family said his hobbies included golfing, hunting, fishing and square dancing. He was a member of the Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Shuffles and Ruffles and the Men’s Golf Association.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and a brother, Albert Van Winkle.

Survivors include a son, Dirk Van Winkle of Petaluma, Calif.; five brothers, Wayne “Pete” Van Winkle of Carlsbad, Elvis “Buck” Van Winkle of Portales, Fred Van Winkle of Ruidoso, Bill Van Winkle of Lubbock and Jim Van Winkle of Ruidoso; and seven sisters: Joy McGaha of Clovis, Wanda Hankins of Bogalusa, La., Vera Arnold of Portales, Joann Ussery of Roswell, Helen Hester of Albuquerque, Voncille “Cookie” McGee of Elida and Janice Turner of Lovington.

He will lie in state from 3-9 p.m. today at Denton-Funchess Funeral Home in Carlsbad.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Carlsbad. The Rev. Bob Bacon will officiate.

Burial will be at Sunset Gardens Memorial Park in Carlsbad.

Denton-Funchess Funeral Home of Carlsbad is handling arrangements.

Marvin Watts, 71

Marvin Watts, 71, a former state senator, died Friday, May 2, 2003, at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe.

He was born April 6, 1932, in Portales to William Ellis and Jewel Holder Watts.

He married his wife Mary on July 25, 1952, in the Baptist Bible Chair Chapel at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ENMU. He also did advanced studies at Kansas State University and Oklahoma State University. He worked for Dow Chemical, New Mexico Military Institute, Southwest Potash, Amax and Eddy Potash. He also was active in the management of the family ranch, as well as a consultant for the potash industry. Earlier this year, Gov. Bill Richardson reappointed Watts to the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Water. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed him as federal representative to the Pecos River Compact Commission. He served as vice president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association from 1992-1995. He received the Albert K. Mitchell Award as Outstanding Republican of New Mexico in 1977.

He will lie in state from 3-9 p.m. Monday at Denton-Funchess Funeral Home in Carlsbad.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Carlsbad. The Rev. Bob Bacon will officiate.

Burial will be at Carlsbad Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Bill Travelstead, Hoyt Pattison, Homer Collier, Dale Janway, John Allen and Steve McCutcheon.

Honorary bearers will be Don Purvis, Rando Foote, Bill Phillips and Jay Mobley.

Memorial contributions may be made to Paragon Foundation, 1200 N. White Sands Blvd. No. 110, Alamogordo, N.M. 88310.

Denton-Funchess Funeral Home of Carlsbad is handling arrangements.