Raymond E. Lenz

Death

Click on the name to obtain entire obituary

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Raymond E. Lenz, 80, Albuquerque, N.M., former Beatrice, Neb., resident, died Monday, Oct. 14, 2002. He was born in Beatrice, on June 17, 1922, the son of Edward and Elnora Lenz. He attended public schools in Beatrice and graduated from Beatrice High School in June 1940. One of his hobbies was photography and he was snapshot editor for the high school yearbook, was a member of the school newspaper staff. His Nebraska Guard unit (Company C) was mobilized in December 1940 and was attached to the 35th Infantry Division. He transferred to the Army Air Corps and served in the Pacific, African, and China Burma theaters, and had 144 missions flying the "Hump." He returned to the States after being injured in a plane crash, and then flew foreign ferry duty. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, and Joint Service Commendation Medal. After discharge from the Army in September 1945, he attended the University of Nebraska (majoring in Electrical Engineering), when he received notice to return to the Service for the Berlin Airlift, following which became a career military man. After retirement, he continued as a computer design specialist for the computers at the Combat Operations Center, HQ NORAD. He married his high school classmate Catharine Sullivan on Sept. 11, 1944.

Survivors: wife, Catharine; children, Susan Alarid of Albuquerque, Michael Lenz and wife Danella of Aurora, Colo., Virginia Lenz of Albuquerque, Margaret Bovie and husband David of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Barbara Lenz of Albuquerque; grandchildren, Jason and Michelle Alarid, Brent and Jeannette Lenz, and Timothy and Elizabeth Bovie.

Rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at French Mortuary - Westside Chapel, 9300 Golf Course Rd. NW (3 Blocks N. of Paseo del Norte.), Albuquerque, N.M. Mass of Christian Burial: 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 9502 4th St. NW., Albuquerque. Burial: 11:30 a.m. Monday at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Sante Fe. French Mortuary - Westside Chapel, 9300 Golf Course Rd. NW., Albuquerque, N.M.