George Westall

George Albert Westall of Ruidoso passed from this life to be with his father in heaven on November 13th, 2010. George was born on May 1st, 1913 in Sumner, Illinois to Glen and Gladys Griggs Westall. George left Illinois with his parents at age five. The family moved 19 times in one year following the oil boom to such towns as Ranger, Hogtown, Breckenridge, Brady, and Borger, Texas . At the age of nine George was run over by a model T in Sayer, Oklahoma, fortunately the car was high enough that it passed over him and luckily he was left with only minor injuries. In 1924, George moved to Artesia and in 1926 to Maljamar.

George attended high school in Lovington, as a senior he was given an extra assignment driving the school bus daily from Maljamar to Lovington. George was a good student and a gifted athlete. He was the boxing champion in his weight class, a champion tennis player and track runner, he ran the 100 yard dash in 9.9 seconds beating the Arizona State Champion. He graduated in 1931 from Lovington High School and received a full scholarship to Rice University for athletics and academics. However, due to the depression, he was not able to take advantage of this opportunity. He and a close friend, Cecil Love, started a trapping business near Maljamar. The two started with ten traps which eventually became twohundred selling furs for several years to survive the depression. George went to work for Maljamar Oil Company in 1933. While working for the company, he met a beautiful young lady, Willah Mae Billie Joy. On July 10th, 1936 they were married in Carlsbad, NM.

George was known to be a very gifted water dowser. While in Maljamar, he and three other partners started the Caprock Water Company, which is still in business today. In 1947, Caprock Water purchased two small distribution companies in Ruidoso. One of those services was purchased from Bill Hart and the other from C.C. Chase. George and Billie moved to Ruidoso in March 1947, and started the Ruidoso Water Company. In 1948 the water company purchased the Ruidoso Gas Company. In 1949, the water company was sold to the City of Ruidoso with George retaining the gas company. In 1951, the gas company was sold to Joe Hawkins. George and Billie built and operated the Ruidoso Dairy Queen from 1953 to 1978. George also partnered with James Capps in 1958 to build a drivein movie theatre across from the Ruidoso Downs Race Track, he had several other businesses through the years.

George and Billie became members of the First Baptist Church in 1947 and remained members until their deaths all the members of the First Baptist Church were family to George and Billie. He became a deacon for the First Baptist Church in 1949. George and Billie celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at the Inn of the Mountain Gods on July 10th, 2006. The couple felt very blessed to live out their days in Ruidoso and always spoke fondly of the town.

George was preceded in death by his mother and father, two brothers, one sister and bride of nearly seventyfour years Willah Mae Billie Westall. He was also preceded in death by his daughterinlaw Shirley Westall. He is survived by his son Glen Richard Westall of Midland, TX, his daughter Georgianna and husband Charles Perry of Artesia, NM, grandchildren, Glen Rick Westall Jr. of Midland, Kyle Westall and wife Molly of Farmington, NM, Natalia Campanella and husband Tony of Tinnie, NM, Roxana Newton and husband Kevin of Artesia, and Nathan Perry and wife Traci of San Antonio, TX, great grandchildren Brandon and Vanessa Campanella, Kaleb and Erica Newton, Bradley and Jordyn Perry, and Dylan Westall. George is also survived by his great great grandchild Jaidaa Estrada.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers who assisted George over the past months, especially his granddaughter Natalia, Traci Williams, Maria Young, Jane Morrison and Judy Ulate. The family would like to request memorial donations be made to the First Baptist Church, or to a church or charity of your choice. Funeral services for Mr. Westall will be held on Friday, November 19th at 10:30 AM in the First Baptist Church, 270 Country Club Drive, Ruidoso with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

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