Patricia Gail Sundheimer

Patricia Gail Sundheimer, a resident of Rio Rancho for eight years, left her earthly home for eternity with Jesus in heaven early Thursday morning, July 26, 2018. She is survived by daughter, Sherryl Bussell and husband, Gary of Plano, Texas; son, Craig and wife, Cheryl of Albuquerque; son, Doug and wife, Kelly of Fredericksburg, Texas; son, Brian of Artesia, New Mexico, and her daughter-in-law, Lynn Fanning of Artesia, New Mexico. In addition, she was known as “Grandma Sun” to nine grandchildren: Mark Bussell and wife, Katie of Marion, Iowa; Greg Bussell and Paul Bussell of Plano, Texas; Jay Sundheimer and wife, Tomi of Las Cruces, New Mexico; Amanda Coppedge and husband, Kenny of Las Cruces, New Mexico; Sunny Gould and husband, Jeremy of Fredericksburg, Texas; Kelsy Sundheimer of Fredericksburg, Texas; Kyle Sundheimer of Portales, New Mexico; and Kaitlyn Rand and husband, Jonathon of Artesia, New Mexico; as well as twelve great-grandchildren: Jenna, Lucy, Natalie, Judah, William, Silas, Ezra, Wesson, Keyleigh, Luna, Ella, and Emrie.

Patricia was born to Paul and Elizabeth Arnold on March 1, 1935 in Denver, Indiana, and was known as “Patty” to her school friends. After her marriage to John Sundheimer in 1953, she moved to Wabash, Indiana, where Sherry and Craig were born. Another move brought the family to La Porte, Indiana, where Doug and Brian were born. The Sundheimers were then transferred by General Telephone Company in 1961 to Hobbs, New Mexico, where Pat worked as a telephone switchboard operator. After John and Pat divorced, Pat worked for the City of Hobbs as administrative secretary to the city manager and later as personnel director. After her children were grown, she moved to Odessa, Texas, where she began a career in the insurance industry with Employers Insurance of Texas, later moving to Houston and Dallas. While residing in a one-bedroom apartment in Dallas, Pat adopted two cats, Zeke and Zach, and was then adopted herself by two other cats, Zephyr and Zolie, who were her faithful companions throughout the remainder of her life. Late in her career, she was employed as a medical billing specialist by HeartPlace, a collective of cardiac physicians. Upon her retirement in 2010, she moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, enjoying a variety of local restaurants, concerts and shows, and baseball games with the Albuquerque Isotopes. Pat was a member of Cottonwood Church and attended a weekly LifeGroup, to which she regularly brought her famously delicious green-chile deviled eggs. For the past three-and-a-half years, she was a member of First Baptist Church of Rio Rancho, where she actively participated in the “Live Inspired” fitness ministry, regularly attending the Seniors workout group, was active in the “Seasoned Saints”, and enjoyed hearing the Church Choir at Sunday worship services.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Pat's life will be held Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Rio Rancho, 3906 19th Ave. SE, Rio Rancho NM 87124. If desired, memorial gifts may be directed to the Live Inspired Ministry of First Baptist Church of Rio Rancho at the address above, so that this ministry may continue to impact the lives of many others like Pat to keep fit and live a healthy, active lifestyle.