Patricia Tombaugh

Patricia ("Patsy") Edson Tombaugh, November 7, 1912 – January 12, 2012; age 99. Patsy Tombaugh, a resident of Las Cruces for 66 years, died Thursday, January 12 at the Arbors of Del Rey. She was born in 1912 in Kansas City, Missouri to James O. and Irene Edson. Patsy also resided in Lawrence, Kansas; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Pasadena, California prior to moving to Las Cruces in 1946. While both were attending Kansas University (KU) in 1934, she married Clyde Tombaugh who had discovered the planet Pluto in 1930 at Lowell Observatory. In 1939, Patsy graduated from KU with a degree in philosophy. In the 1960's, she attended NMSU to extend her education in elementary teaching. In 1945, both Patsy and Clyde taught at UCLA in California. She taught elementary school in Las Cruces at South Ward, Central Elementary, Valley View, and Conlee under Principal Miss Nees. Patsy worked for several years in data reduction at the Physical Science Laboratory on the NMSU campus. Patsy was very active in our community. She served as PTA president and Brownie Leader at South Ward prior to teaching there. She was an active member of the Women's Improvement Association (WIA) and University Women (AAUW). She helped start both the Las Cruces Community Concerts and the Unitarian Church of Las Cruces. She served as president of the UU Church many times and also of what later became the Dona Ana Arts Council. She, along with her husband and others, founded the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces. In Patsy's later years, Clyde and she went on lecture tours throughout the world to raise funds to establish a post-doctoral astronomy chair at NMSU. Patsy never lost her passions to teach and to be surrounded by children. She spoke to groups of children at area schools, particularly at Tombaugh Elementary. She was a member of her church's Covenant group, a bridge club, and Tea Group. She loved to be involved socially and to tell people about the adventures of her long life. Patsy had many talents and hobbies. She did oil paintings, sewed well, raised beautiful flowers, and loved all animals. Her happiest places to be were in the forests and deserts. She loved to go camping. Patsy greatly missed those of her family and friends who predeceased her. Patsy's father died of the Spanish Flu after WWI when she was only 6 years old. Some of the others who predeceased her were her mother Irene (1959), her husband Clyde (1997), her brothers James B. Edson and Alden Edson, and a nanny Hattie. Those surviving Patsy are two children, Annette Tombaugh-Sitze (Wilbur) and Alden Tombaugh (Cherylee), grandchildren Kathleen Willoughby, Ellen Bell (Bill), Brenda Willoughby, Shawna Blair-Thoene (Stan), and Nicky Phillips (Jeremy). Also surviving are 9 great-grandchildren as follow: Shawn Martin (Julia Para), Michael Martin (Mindy), Robert Soltero, Kyle Clifford, James Clifford, Kristen Anderson, Ashton Wiley, Payson Rogers, and Harley Rogers. Patsy is survived by one great-great-grandchild, Ava Martin in California. Others surviving Patsy are 12 step-grandchildren and their children. Some of the step-grandchildren are Aaron Pritchard (Leslie) of Guymon, OK; Kerry Szalay (Frank) of Las Cruces; and Robin Size (Nikki) of Greeley, CO. The family wishes to thank her devoted caregiver, Maria Serna of Home Instead; her other caregivers from Home Instead and the Arbors; and her many supportive friends. "We shall muddle through" was the saying by which Patsy lived, and now we will have to do so without her humor and stories. A memorial service in celebration of Patsy Tombaugh's life will be held on Sunday, February 12, at 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces located at 2000 South Solano Dr. Light refreshments will follow the service in the church's education bldg. Donations in Patsy's name can be made to the Las Cruces Symphony Assoc., Mesilla Valley Hospice, or the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces.