Walt Eastland

Robert Walton Eastland III passed away on December 21, 2008 in the Guadalupe County Hospital. He entered this world on March 15, 1921 to Robert Walton Eastland II and Nettie Chesher Eastland in Jordan, New Mexico and went to his Lord 87 years later in Santa Rosa, NM Walt proudly served his country in World War II as a staff sergeant with the New Mexico National Guard 804th Tank Destroyer Battalion Company “C” in campaigns including North Africa and Italy. Honors received include being the first Allied unit into Rome and for service and sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty, members of the battalion were awarded the French “Croix de Guerre” on behalf of a grateful nation nearly 60 years after the war. After returning home from the war, Walt married his sweetheart Betty Lilley in August 1946 in Las Vegas, NM and started their family. They moved to Las Cruces, NM where Walt attended New Mexico State University, returned to Las Vegas and eventually moved to Melrose, NM in 1951. Living in Melrose, Walt served as Mayor for three years and entered the banking industry. In 1964 they moved to Santa Rosa, NM where he continued his banking career and retired in 1981 as a CEO of the First National Bank of Santa Rosa. Walt was later elected to the Eastern New Mexico Rural Telephone Cooperative board where he served for 21 consecutive years. Walt was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church where he served as local Treasurer and director on the UMC New Mexico Council of Finance and Administration for many years. He was an active member of Rotary International and was honored by being named a “Paul Harris Fellow” in appreciation of tangible and significant service to peoples of the world. Survivors include Betty, his wife of 62 years, and children: son Frank Eastland and wife Bernadette, Roswell, GA, daughter Pam Eastland Lund and husband Greg, Dallas, TX, and daughter Debbie Eastland, Midwest City, OK; grandchildren: Walt Benson and wife Ellen, Albuquerque, NM along with their two children Orion Walton and Alana Marie, and Raeghan Rebstock and husband Charles, Dallas, TX; sister Teresa Pickett and husband Walter; niece Lemalva Holmes Stumpff and husband David; nephew Jess (Buddy) Holmes and wife Connie; niece Minette Pickett McWilliams and husband Greg; and their families. Also left behind were dear friends and acquaintances. A memorial service will be held for Walt on Friday, December 26, 2008 at 10:00 am at the United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Methodist Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 303, Santa Rosa, NM 88435 or the charity of your choice. Walt’s cremated remains will be interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, NM. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 923 South 3rd Street, Santa Rosa, NM (575)472-3369. For online condolences log onto www.chavezfuneralhome.com.