John Buhalts Iii

John Fred Buhalts, III of Jal NM peacefully passed on to the land in the sky, February 23, 2016. He was surrounded by his loving wife Glenna, his sister Joy and daughters Jennifer & Gena. Being the typical prankster John had defied all odds before running off to join the angel's choir.
John was the eldest child of Thelma (Porter) and John Fred Buhalts, Jr., born in Enid, Ok on April 27, 1941. John's dad moved the family to Hobbs, NM in 1947, where John immediately started 1st grade. He drifted through the Hobbs Public School system and to his mother's great relief, graduated from Hobbs High School in May of 1959. John's career as a prankster started at an early age, running rampant through the neighborhood with his childhood friends. He was also known as a protector, saving his friends and two sisters with his cardboard sword, not letting any harm come to them.
John went on to attend ENMU in Portales, returning to Hobbs during a Christmas break to marry Ruby Thompson (1960-1983). After Portales, John & Ruby returned to Hobbs where their first child, Jennifer (1962) was born. John then moved his family to Carlsbad, where his son Randy (1964) was born. Eventually, John would go to work for AMAX Potash Mine (1965-1993), where he worked in the lab. Shift work at the mines can be tricky, but that never stopped John from taking his family camping, fishing and motorcycling all through the Guadalupe Mountains.
John moved back to Hobbs, NM in 1985, continuing to work at AMAX. After AMAX closed, he and a friend started Pearl Communications (1994-2000), a computer networking company in Hobbs. While doing a networking job at the library in Jal, NM, John met Glenna McCorcle. After much persuasion, they started dating and then married in February 2001. With this union John gained another daughter and son, Gena and Ross. Later that year John went to work for Murphy Pest Control (2001-2006) so he could get acquainted with Jal. His efforts paid off as he was first appointed and later elected to Jal City Council (2001-2006).
Following retirement in 2006, John and Glenna enjoyed traveling in their motor home, camping at parks, lakes and visiting family and friends. At home, John continued to remain active in their community and church. His love of music kept him busy by playing saxophone for the Jal Pep Band, as well as directing the Jal Community Choir and the First Baptist Church Choir. If you were to ask John about retirement he would respond, "What retirement, I'm going to have to get a job so I can get some days off!" John will always be remembered for his humor.
John was a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He is survived by his wife Glenna of Jal, NM, sisters: Janice Buhalts Berry (Wiley) of Plano, TX and Joy Buhalts (Merch Merchant) of Hobbs, NM; children: Jennifer Buhalts Villalpando (Perry) of Little Elm, TX, Randy Buhalts of Carlsbad, NM, Gena McCorcle Frederickson (Karl) of Roswell, NM, Ross McCorcle (Cheryl) of Coweta, OK; grandchildren: Ryan Villalpando (Dara), Randi Villalpando Storey (Ben), Amber Buhalts, Amanda Buhalts, Tye Frederickson (Ashleigh-Rae), Kara Frederickson Myers (Jacob), Halley McCorcle, Ashley McCorcle and Roy McCorcle and great grandchildren: Eva Villalpando, Nina Villalpando and Elliot Storey.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016, 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Jal, NM. John wanted us to remember those who helped him, so in lieu of flowers, please donate to one of the following: Hope House 2006 Tennessee Ave Midland, TX 79701; Star Hospice 1000 N. Dalmont St. Hobbs, NM 88240; or First Baptist Church 323 S. Alameda Jal NM, 88252.

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