Aubrey Coyle Oldham

Aubrey Coyle Oldham

Albuquerque, New Mexico

In August, 1917, Dad was born in Navarro County, Texas near Kerens. His parents were Walter Everett (Pop) and Sarah Isabelle Coyle Oldham (Belle) owned and oversaw a cotton farm there.

In 1918, the family of five, including Dad’s older siblings, Ellen and Adrian, relocated to New Mexico near Seneca. The first while, they shared a drafty, cold house with Pop’s brother and wife (Bunyan and Myrtle and children, Elliott and Vonnie Mae). Dad’s younger brothers, Lawrence and David were born later in Union County. That first year, after moving to Seneca in 1918, eight of the nine in the house contracted and survived the Spanish flu. The ninth was Aunt Ellen who at four years old, along with the least ill, nursed the others. Neighbors crossed the mile or so of pasture to leave provisions at the doorstep. Hence the family always appreciated neighbors.

Adrian stayed back a year in high school so he and Dad could share the fifteen mile Model-T commute to Clayton High School. They graduated in 1935. Those were the depression years and Seneca was near the heart of the dust bowl.

The gospel came in the early thirties. Dad accepted and followed, as best he could, the simple New Testament teachings for his entire life.

During World War II, three of the brothers were drafted. Dad made the choice of conscience to serve in any capacity, however without bearing arms. This was not without some fear or ridicule, but when his unit went to Europe, Dad was given the choice to stay stateside or go with the unit to Europe. He chose the latter and felt he’d mostly gained the respect and trust of his officers and unit.

During those war years, he married our mother, Dollie Jo Douglass, also from Union County near Mt. Dora. Mom and Dad made many lifelong friends with fellow army couples. At the conclusion of the war in August, 1945 he returned to Union County to meet his daughter, Jody (Bettie Jonell, now Mrs. Arlo Nelson originally from Sterling Colorado. Their children are Keith and Cynthia). They then farmed some of the land Pop had procured for his children near Seneca. Dale was born while they lived there. (Dale married Linda Hinderager of Idaho. Their children are Gina , Audrey and Travis).

In 1949 they purchased the Douglass family ranch and home near Mt. Dora. Janis was born in March, 1950. (Janis married Richard Atkinson from Lamar, Colorado. Their sons are Wesley and Michael).

The ravages of drought and health convinced Dad and Mom to move to Albuquerque in 1964. They left a significant portion of their hearts in the land with the neighbors, friends and family of Union County.

So, they moved on and made a rich life in Albuquerque with more neighbors, friends and family. Dad worked ceramic tile, real estate and converted the ranch business into apartments. Mom worked and retired from Sandia National Laboratories. Their home was open for the gospel and they loved that manner of life.

Mom passed away in 2015 and Dad passed away in his sleep October 14, 2020. On his last day he dressed, read his bible and the Albuquerque Journal including grocery ads. We discussed his grandkids and (you guessed it) neighbors, friends and family. On October 13 he’d mailed his ballot.

Dad was pre-deceased by his parents, siblings, and extended family of his generation except Adrian’s widow, Sherlene Wisdom Oldham. Janis passed away in 2016. Otherwise, he is survived by the others named here as well as nine great-grandchildren, cousins and a host of nephews and nieces.

A Zoom Service is scheduled at 4:30 PM, October 31, 2020.(Mountain Daylight savings Time) A slideshow will cycle until 5:00 when the service will start. To view the zoom service, if you don’t have a zoom app, go to https://zoom.us/join and download the app.

It’s suggested you register in advance.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r-2vRCPWT_md4V7W3VWWKA

The meeting number is 717 2056 0749

If you are comfortable registering, Riley will then send an e-mail with log in instructions for various devices. We hope to email the funeral leaflet. If you have questions contact rileybrowning13@gmail.com.

Likely, Interment will be in 2021, because of Covid 19 precautions.

We’d love for you to sign the guest book at French Funerals and Cremations in Albuquerque. https://www.frenchfunerals.com/