Glenn W. Whetham

          Glenn William Whetham, 75, of Carlsbad, NM, passed away on March 5, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas.   Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at Denton Wood Funeral Home.  A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 2 p.m. at First Assembly of God Church in Carlsbad, NM, with interment immediately following at Carlsbad Cemetery.

          Glenn W. Whetham was born on September 7, 1946 to Kenneth Bradford Whetham and Gwendolyn Eliza Bradley Whetham in Wagner, South Dakota.  In 1964, he graduated from high school in Monument, Colorado.  After graduation, Glenn moved to Colorado Springs and worked until he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1966.  Glenn honorably served as an aircraft mechanic under the VF-11 command and received   a National Defense Service Medal in 1967 for his heroic efforts while on the USS Forrestal during the Vietnam War.  Glenn risked his life by removing fallen shipmates from below deck and assisting in any way needed when one-third of the flight deck and several below-deck areas of the aircraft carrier caught on fire.   After his honorable discharge in 1969, Glenn moved to Carlsbad, NM to be with his family.  Glenn met his future wife, Sharon K. Bailey, in December of 1970.  The two were married five months later on May 15, 1971.  With the birth of their first daughter, they started a family together in 1973.  Glenn worked for Kerr-McGee,  Woodul's, and lastly Skeen Furniture where he worked as a manager until his retirement thirty years later in 2011.  In 2013,  Glenn received the gift of life when he became a lung transplant recipient.  Due to this amazing gift, his life was extended an additional eight and a half years and his family and friends were able to make many more priceless memories with him. 

          In his spare time Glenn enjoyed hunting, fishing, collecting and repairing clocks, and watching the Dallas Cowboys and Cavemen baseball and football teams.  His greatest enjoyment, however, came from his kids, grandkids, and nieces and nephews.  If Glenn wasn't at home, you would most likely find him at a ballfield, basketball court, dance recital, birthday party, or attending one of their school functions.  He and his wife made every out-of-town baseball game they could and enjoyed transporting their grandson, Ryan, and honorary grandson, Trevor, to travel baseball tournaments in various cities and states.  Traveling was a very big part of Glenn's life and every summer he and his wife would load the girls up in a car and drive across the country stopping at  every museum, amusement park, and zoo along the way.  He continued this tradition with his grandkids and also with his wife after his retirement.  He also greatly enjoyed regular reunions with his Navy buddies, the Red Rippers, where they would spend countless hours reminiscing. 

          Glenn was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth B. and Gwendolyn Whetham, and in-laws Troy L. and Agnes Bailey; sister, Nita Prager; brother, Kenneth B. Whetham II; infant twin brothers and an infant sister; brother-in-law, Steve Kovacs; nephews, Bobby Bailey,  Ricky Bailey, and Glenn W. (Billy) Flores. 

          Survivors are his wife of 50 years, Sharon, and their three daughters Stacy Razo, Melissa Azzinaro and husband David, and Angela Welch and husband Tim; his daughter, Melissa Doughtie and husband John; grandchildren: Ryan and Halle Razo; Hannah (Alex), Kaylee, and Luke Azzinaro; Brianna and Jacob Welch; Jason and Tyler (Elisa) Rice; and Ren Mager; great-grandsons Alexander Rice and Elijah Cruz; sisters, Kay Whetham, Shirli Kovacs, Sheri Stephens and husband Craig, and Linda Whetham; brother, Dean Whetham; brother-in-law, Rick Bailey and wife Juanita; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. 

          Pallbearers are Ryan Razo, Jacob Welch, Luke Azzinaro, Justin Bailey, James Bailey, Nicolas Flores, Matthew Flores, Trevor Rogers, and Glenn Jaramillo.  Honorary Pallbearers are Christopher Stephens, Chris S. Pulice, Ted Flores, Skip Briley, Jim Lockett, Mike Nichols, Chuck Sanford, Norman Singletary, and Wayne Ward.

           The family is so thankful for the extra time they received with Glenn as a result of organ donation and would like to take this opportunity to encourage others to consider registering as an organ donor in memory of Glenn.