Richard J. Antram

Richard was born on December 14, 1928, in Roswell, New Mexico. He attended St. Peter's Catholic School through the 8th grade and graduated from Roswell High School in 1946. He started to work for the telephone company, then known as Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company, in 1949 as a Lineman. His service was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army in 1950, at the start of the Korean War. He later saw combat in Korea as a "Combat Engineer" with the 578th Combat Engineer of the 40th Infantry Division. He rose from Private to Master Sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1952. Subsequently, he returned to the telephone company in Roswell.

He married Patricia Jean Gonda in 1953, of which eight children came from that union. In 1965, he was transferred to Alamogordo as Plant Manager and later assumed the title of "Manager" of the complete operation. He retired in 1983 with the pending split of the Bell System.

Richard "Dick" was active in the community through Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, United Way Chairman, Telephone Pioneers, School Board of Father James B. Hay Catholic School, and an active member of St. Jude's Catholic Church. Through the years, he sang for MANY activities in the community.

He is survived by his bride of 70 years, Patricia; sister, Joanne Gasiel (Payson, Arizona); brother-in-law, Bill Froeschle (Colorado Springs, Colorado); children, Richard P. Antram and wife, Lulu, Carolyn Brown and husband, Brent, Nancy McKeague and husband, Kelly, Peggy Moots, Sister Margaret Mary, Harry Antram and wife, Carmen, Julie Aronson and husband, Patrick, and Tom Antram and wife, Keri; 29 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2023, beginning at 6:00 p.m., with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m., at FRENCH – Westside. Mass will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023, 10:30 a.m., at Church of the Incarnation, 2309 Monterrey Road NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethlehem Monastery of the Poor Clares, 5500 Holly Fork Rd, Barhamsville, Virginia 23011.