Paul William Troutt

1935 - 2017

Paul William Troutt passed away peacefully Alamogordo, NM, after a long and courageous fight against lung and heart disease on Monday, October 2, 2017, surrounded by family and friends. Paul was born in Mt. Vernon, IL on February 22, 1935 to William Amos Troutt and Juanita Keller Troutt. He married Gloria Mae Elkins, on June 25, 1954. He enlisted for three years in the US Army Reserve. He started his career as a salesperson for John Hancock in Waukegan, Illinois, and rose to District Manager of the El Paso, Texas Office. He was an independent insurance contractor for a few years after he retired from John Hancock. He also was an avid tennis player and umpire, and served as an umpire at the US Open for many years. He eventually settled into the life of a country gentleman on his ranch in Tularosa, NM, where he lived until he passed away.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Charles Ray (Rip) Troutt, Norman Lowell Troutt, and sister Virginia Wethington, his in-laws, Ross Joshua Elkins, Helen (Bridges) Elkins, sisters-in-law Dolores (Elkins) Goree, Juanita (Elkins) Carthy, Norma (Elkins) Potter, and brothers-in-law, PFC Kenneth (Ross) Elkins (deceased WWII), and Dale Wayne Elkins.

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Gloria, his sons, Jeffery and Helen (Galbraith) Troutt, Christopher and Mary Beth (Sledge) Troutt, Grandchildren Brittany (Troutt) and Diallo Riddle, Ashley Troutt, Rebecca (Troutt) and Naashukwa Richey, Hannah Troutt and Samuel Troutt, as well as his great-grandchildren Felix Riddle, Calvin Riddle, Desmond Riddle, Hania Richey, Mariko Richey, and Rebecca Richey's unnamed daughter, who is expected to join the family any day now. He is also survived by numerous other beloved family and friends.

His family recalls him as a hard-working and loving father, husband, and friend. His intellect and sense of humor were unparalleled, as was his natural ability to support and encourage his family and friends. He believed in every member of his family, rejoiced in their many accomplishments, and was the man to talk to when things were tough. He recruited and mentored numerous people into the insurance business; many went on to great success. There are too many to name, but they know who they are.

A celebration of Paul's life will be held at his beloved Troutt Ranch 23355 U.S Highway 70
Tularosa NM, on Saturday November 25, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, mourners are requested to make a donation in Paul's name to the American Lung Association