Robert Hay Lane, a 1950 alumnus with a degree
in mining engineering, passed away on April 2, 2003.
Robert was born on March 30, 1922, in Berlin, Penn. He graduated in
1940 from Berlin Brothersvalley High School, where he was editor of the
yearbook, a player on the basketball team, and a member of the Fife and
Drum Corps. He then attended New Mexico Institute of Mining and
Technology, but his education was interrupted by World War II.
He was proud to serve his country in France and Italy. He was a
staff sergeant with Bomb Maintenance Techs 683 of the 1257th Army Air
Force and the 484th Bomb Group. After his honorable discharge, he
graduated with degrees in mining engineering and geology.
He began his engineering career with International Mining
Corporation in Carlsbad, N.M. His work for IMC included living in
Canada for three years.
Bob retired from Kerr-McGee Potash Company in 1992, having moved to
Hobbs in 1965. He was active in the Masonic Lodge, Shrine Clowns, the
Presbyterian Church, American Legion, VFW Post 3274, and Fraternal
Order of Eagles. He loved gardening, hunting, fishing, attending
professional golf tournaments, and building radio controlled model
airplanes. In later years, he won many ribbons in the country and
state fairs for his needlework (long stitch and embroidery).
Robert married Catherine Clarke on Sept. 14, 1948, at First
Presbyterian Church in Socorro. Catherine was the daughter of Dr.
Clarence C. Clarke, D.D.S., and Myrtle Cedar Clarke of Socorro.
Catherine preceded Bob in death in 1993. He is survived by four
children (and their spouses): Robert Clarke Lane of Coppel, Texas;
Martha Lane of Albuquerque, N.M.; Barbara Lane of Hobbs, N.M.; and
Clare Lane Nickel of Abilene, Texas; and six grand children. He was a
devoted father as well as a loving and generous grandfather.
Dr. Adrian Marroquin died of cancer
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003, at HospiceCare Center of Boulder & Broomfield
Counties in Louisville, Colo. He was 59.
Born Oct. 2, 1943, in La Palma, Colombia, he was the son of Martin
Marroquin and Felisa Serrato Marroquin. He earned his doctorate in
atmospheric physics at New Mexico Tech in 1981.
He was a scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration for 12 years and also worked at Colorado State
University in the Cooperative Institute of Research in the Atmosphere.
He lived in Louisville for the last 14 years, after moving from Boulder
where he lived for 10 years. Mr. Marroquin was a member of Sacred Heart
of Mary Catholic Church of Boulder .
Carl Axness, who was a fellow graduate student and good friend of
Marroquin, said, "Adrian Marroquin was a very bright researcher
completely dedicated to science. From a humble beginning as one of
twelve children from a small town in Colombia, he came to New Mexico
Tech on a scholarship, eventually obtaining a Ph.D. in physics. As a
graduate student at New Mexico Tech, he was known for helping other
students in their studies, particularly those from Latin countries.
Upon graduation, he worked at both NCAR and NOAA in Boulder, Colo., in
the area of storm modeling. He remained active in research even while
undergoing cancer treatment. He contributed to the area of turbulence
modeling in storms and atmospheric transport of pollutants."
"Adrian was known for his smile and friendly manner, and he had a
keen interest in nature, taking frequent hikes in the mountains around
Boulder and providing care for the cats and squirrels in the
neighborhood of his house. Never married, Adrian nevertheless enjoyed
the opportunity to teach science to children with gifts of
physics-related toys. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him."
Ruby B. Wilkening, wife of Marvin
Wilkening, emeritus professor of physics, passed away on June 20, 2003,
one month short of her 83rd birthday.
Ruby was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Edna and James A.
Barks. She earned a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State
University and taught high school mathematics and English in Jackson,
Missouri, until her marriage to fellow teacher Marvin Wilkening in
1942. They moved to New Mexico in 1944, living for a brief period in
Los Alamos near the end of WWII. They returned to live in Socorro in
1948.
Ruby was very involved in the Socorro community. She was a
supporter of the Socorro Public Library and was active in St. Paul's
United Methodist Church, Girl Scouts of America, the Socorro Branch of
the American Association of University Women.
She was also an outdoors woman. An avid bird watcher and fisherman,
she accompanied Marvin on many hunting trips and some grueling hikes in
the Gila Wilderness. From the time they moved to Socorro to the last
months of her life, she enjoyed bird watching in the Bosque del Apache
National Wildlife Refuge. With Marvin, she enjoyed entertaining
friends, family, and Tech's foreign visitors at the log cabin they
constructed in 1956 in Catron County.
Ruby is survived by her husband of 60 years, Marvin H. Wilkening of
Socorro; daughter Laurel and her husband Godfrey Sill of Elgin,
Arizona; son Wes and his wife Mary of Albuquerque; sister Normal Palm
of Dallas, Texas; granddaughter Whitney of Albuquerque; and a host of
dear friends.
