Official Obituary of
Billie Ray "Bill" Bridwell
August 28, 1936 ~ February 25, 2019 (age 82) 82 Years Old
Billie Bridwell Obituary
A Celebration of the life of Bill Bridwell will be held at 10:00 AM, Sat., Mar. 2, 2019 at First United Methodist Church in Portales with Rev. Laird Cross officiating. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Kenneth Windsor, Nathan Windsor, James Robertson, Richard Scott Robertson, Eddie Cain, Richard Glen Robertson and Bo Conklin serving as pallbearers. Donnyi Massey, Web Smartnick, Ronnie Mitchell, Elwin Hullett, Bill Wood, Gene Moore and Bill Walker will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Billie Ray Bridwell was born August 28, 1936 in Pumphrey, Texas to the home of Flor and Leon Bridwell, and died peacefully after a lengthy illness in Roswell, New Mexico on February 25, 2019 at the age of 82 years, 5 months and 28 days.
Bill graduated from high school in Winters, Texas and went on to attend McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. It was there that he met Elain Riley. They were married February 17, 1962 in Abilene. They moved to Rogers, New Mexico where Bill was assigned as pastor to the Dora and Inez churches. They later moved to Portales, and Bill went to work at Roosevelt County Electric Co-op as a meter reader. He was employed there for 28 years, retiring in 1990. Through the years, Bill also had several businesses, including Portales Janitorial Cleaning Service and a janitorial supply company.
Eventually, he sold his businesses and went back into ministry, becoming the pastor of the Grady church. In addition, he also served as chaplain for the Farwell Convalescent Center.
His wife, Elaine passed away on December 7, 1997. In 1998, he went to the Sacramento Methodist Assembly where he was to receive an award. While there, he met Loretta Robertson, who was the Administrative Secretary for the camp. They were married on August 29, 1998. They made their home in Portales until 2010 when Loretta retired from ENMU. At that time, they moved to Roswell, where they were living at the time of Bill's death. After moving to Roswell, Bill began leading a worship service on Sunday mornings at Peach Tree Village.
His deep faith led him into counseling, writing devotions, and simply loving his fellow man, as well as his family and many friends. Bill served as Lay Reader in the Portales congregation for many years, and also served as Conference Lay Director for the Methodist church for 9 years. Through the years he had served in a number of other capacities within the Methodist Church. He was a strong Christian man, and would willingly witness to virtually anyone about his faith. For enjoyment, Bill liked to watch sports and he was an avid Dallas Cowboy's fan. Bill had a ready smile and seemed to always think of others before himself.
Bill is survived by his wife, Loretta of their home; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Richard and Kathy Robertson of Carlsbad, New Mexico and Sean Robertson of Albuquerque; three daughters and a son-in-law, Cynthia Robertson of Lampasas, Texas, Denise and Ken Windsor of Portales and Donna Cypert of Roswell, New Mexico; six grandchildren, James and Richard Scott Roberson, Tarynn and Anja Simington-Robertson, Nathan and Stacy Windsor and Rachel Windsor. In addition to his wife, Elaine, Bill was preceded in death by both of his parents, his brother, Wayne Bridwell, his uncle Bobby Bridwell, and Elaine's parents, Raymond and Birdie Riley.
Service
2019-03-02 10:00:00
First United Methodist Church
PORTALES, NM
Interment
Portales Cemetery
PORTALES, NM
Billie Ray Bridwell was born August 28, 1936 in Pumphrey, Texas to the home of Flor and Leon Bridwell, and died peacefully after a lengthy illness in Roswell, New Mexico on February 25, 2019 at the age of 82 years, 5 months and 28 days.
Bill graduated from high school in Winters, Texas and went on to attend McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. It was there that he met Elain Riley. They were married February 17, 1962 in Abilene. They moved to Rogers, New Mexico where Bill was assigned as pastor to the Dora and Inez churches. They later moved to Portales, and Bill went to work at Roosevelt County Electric Co-op as a meter reader. He was employed there for 28 years, retiring in 1990. Through the years, Bill also had several businesses, including Portales Janitorial Cleaning Service and a janitorial supply company.
Eventually, he sold his businesses and went back into ministry, becoming the pastor of the Grady church. In addition, he also served as chaplain for the Farwell Convalescent Center.
His wife, Elaine passed away on December 7, 1997. In 1998, he went to the Sacramento Methodist Assembly where he was to receive an award. While there, he met Loretta Robertson, who was the Administrative Secretary for the camp. They were married on August 29, 1998. They made their home in Portales until 2010 when Loretta retired from ENMU. At that time, they moved to Roswell, where they were living at the time of Bill's death. After moving to Roswell, Bill began leading a worship service on Sunday mornings at Peach Tree Village.
His deep faith led him into counseling, writing devotions, and simply loving his fellow man, as well as his family and many friends. Bill served as Lay Reader in the Portales congregation for many years, and also served as Conference Lay Director for the Methodist church for 9 years. Through the years he had served in a number of other capacities within the Methodist Church. He was a strong Christian man, and would willingly witness to virtually anyone about his faith. For enjoyment, Bill liked to watch sports and he was an avid Dallas Cowboy's fan. Bill had a ready smile and seemed to always think of others before himself.
Bill is survived by his wife, Loretta of their home; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Richard and Kathy Robertson of Carlsbad, New Mexico and Sean Robertson of Albuquerque; three daughters and a son-in-law, Cynthia Robertson of Lampasas, Texas, Denise and Ken Windsor of Portales and Donna Cypert of Roswell, New Mexico; six grandchildren, James and Richard Scott Roberson, Tarynn and Anja Simington-Robertson, Nathan and Stacy Windsor and Rachel Windsor. In addition to his wife, Elaine, Bill was preceded in death by both of his parents, his brother, Wayne Bridwell, his uncle Bobby Bridwell, and Elaine's parents, Raymond and Birdie Riley.
Service
2019-03-02 10:00:00
First United Methodist Church
PORTALES, NM
Interment
Portales Cemetery
PORTALES, NM
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