John Wortman

Graveside services are scheduled for 10:00 am, Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at South Park Cemetery for John F. "Bud" Wortman, 88, who passed away on Monday, July 31, 2017 at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell. Reverend Stephen Deutsch of the First Presbyterian Church of Dexter and Hagerman will conduct the service.

Bud was born December 24, 1928 in Dexter, New Mexico to Frank Wortman and Anna Wattenbarger Wortman who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his sister Norma Jean Brodie, his brother Robert Wortman, and his first wife, Jean Losey Wortman.

Bud was raised on the family farm in Dexter and graduated from Dexter High School in 1946. He attended college at New Mexico Military Institute, where he graduated in the first four-year college class in 1950. In his graduating year at New Mexico Military Institute, he was the Regimental Commander of the cadet corps. After college, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and served in the 2nd Armored Division in Germany. While in Germany, he met Rosemary Anderson whom he married in 1953. In December 1953, Bud was separated from active duty and assigned to the Army Reserve. After 32 years in the Army Reserve, he achieved the rank of full colonel.

Upon completion of his tour of duty in Germany, he returned to Dexter in December 1953 with Rosemary to join the family businesses. Bud and Rosemary operated the family businesses for nearly 62 years until her death in 2015. Bud then continued the family farming operation until his death.

Bud and Rosemary have two sons: John F., Jr. (Johnny) and his wife Missy of Las Cruces, and David P. Wortman and his wife Lynne of Longview, TX.

He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Jacinda Juarez and her husband Jose Luis of Albuquerque, Danielle Dody and her husband Jesse of Charlotte, North Carolina, Allan Wortman of Austin, Texas and Jennie Wortman of Dallas, Texas, and Jacob and Christina Aguayo of Las Cruces. Bud has three nieces, Pamala Stark and her husband John of West Des Moines, Iowa; Sallie Wortman and husband Arthur Estes of Ft. Worth, Texas and Meriel Brodie of Raleigh, North Carolina. He has two nephews, Rob Wortman and Rusty Wortman, both of Tucson, Arizona. Bud is also survived by one sister-in-law, Jean Wortman of Tucson, Arizona.

Bud was a devoted husband and a loving and dedicated father to his two sons. He was a prominent citizen of Dexter and was passionate about his involvement in social and community activities that was demonstrated through his service in the New Mexico Masonic Organization where he became Grand Master in 1979 and his membership in the Shriners Organization and Rotary International. Bud was committed to supporting the Dexter Public Schools where he served as a member on the School Board for multiple years and continued to mentor numerous school children for years thereafter.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Dexter, 201 W 5th St, Dexter, NM 88230.

The family expresses sincere gratitude to all of Bud's caregivers, especially Dilly Brady.

Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home
910 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Monday, August 7, 2017
2:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Service

Graveside Service

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
10:00 am

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203

Memorial Contributions

First Presbyterian Church
201 W 5th St
Dexter, NM  88230