Oscar Donisthorpe

Oscar Lloyd Donisthorpe
Aug. 19, 1927 - Aug. 27, 2010

Oscar Lloyd Donisthorpe, 83, of Bloomfield, passed away in Albuquerque, with his family at his side, on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, from ailments related to his lungs, (pulmonary fibrosis). Donisthorpe was born Aug. 19, 1927, in Lewiston, Mont., to Paul and Ramona Donisthorpe.
Donisthorpe graduated from Fergus County High School in Lewistown in 1944. He joined the Navy later that year and served through the end of World War II. He returned to college on the GI Bill and graduated in 1949, with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He served a one-year stint in 1950, as a social studies teacher in Helena, Mont.
Donisthorpe attended his first semester of law school at Harvard, but transferred to the University of Montana after marrying his wife, Christine. He completed his studies in 1953, graduating cum laude.
After graduating from law school, Donisthorpe and Christine moved to Albuquerque, where he studied to pass the New Mexico State Bar Exam. After passing the Bar in February of 1954, he moved to Farmington, where he began his 43-year law practice. He retired from practice in 1997. Donisthorpe was a member of the New Mexico State Bar Association and the San Juan Bar Association for 50 years.
Donisthorpe spent most of his life as a farmer, having grown up on his family homestead near Christina, Mont. As a teenager, he traveled with his dad to state fairs in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Utah and Colorado, to show hogs, winning several blue ribbons, Under his tutelage, his four children produced two grand champion and two reserve grand champion show hogs at the San Juan County Fair in the 1970s. Oscar and Christine purchased a family farm near Bloomfield in 1955, and operated it for over 40 years, raising alfalfa hay. In 1997, they sold the farm and moved to Bloomfield.
Donisthorpe was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Aztec. He was an avid follower of J. Vernon McGee's "Thru the Bible" program, going through the Bible twice in 10 years, and of the prophecy of Hal Lindsey and David Jeremiah. He was baptized in a creek in Montana in the early 1940s, by the Rev. Jantz, at a summer camp conducted by the American Baptist Association.
Donisthorpe was a member of several organizations, including the Farmington Elks Club, Lions Club, the San Juan County Fair Board, and the Hammond Conservancy District Board.
His hobbies included reading, exercise and politics as a behind-the-scenes political supporter of his wife when she ran twice for the school board, four times for the state senate and once for Republican National Committeewoman, and as a top-notch amateur political demographer. He enjoyed watching his granddaughter's nationally-ranked Piedra Vista High School softball team and her summer softball club travel team, the New Mexico Sundancers. He was a devoted fan of the San Francisco Giants.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ramona Donisthorpe; older sisters, Edith Vick and Marie Blacken; his brother, Robert Donisthorpe; and a daughter, Karen (Robert) Robinson.
Oscar leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Christine Ann Donisthorpe, of Bloomfield; children, Paul Donisthorpe and wife, Liane Kerr, of Albuquerque, Bruce Donisthorpe of Albuquerque and Brian Donisthorpe and wife, Theresa, of Farmington. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Nicole Donisthorpe of Albuquerque, Kurtis and Karysta Donisthorpe of Farmington and Andrew and Neil Robinson of Melbourne, Fla.; and one surviving member of his immediate family, his younger sister, Grace Longinotti of San Jose, Calif.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, August 30, at Cope Memorial Chapel, 404 W. Arrington St. in Farmington.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 31, at Bethel Baptist Church, 201 Heiland Road in Aztec, with Pastor Bob Schlauger presiding.
A reception for those attending the services will follow at 11 a.m.
Private interment with the family will follow at the Bloomfield Cemetery.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to The American Diabetes Association-New Mexico, 522 San Pedro, N.E., Suite 101, Albuquerque, NM 87110.
Those wishing to send condolences or fond memories, please visit www.danielsfuneral.com
Arrangements are with Cope Memorial Chapel, 404 W. Arrington St. in Farmington, (505) 327-5142.