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DeWitt Erk, M.D. (Bud) and devoted wife Zelda inseparable in life and now in eternity. Bud died November 20, 2003 after an accident at his longtime Albuquerque home. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on December 3, 1922. His parents were H. DeWitt Erk and Helen Marie Schiff Erk. His precious wife of 47 years, Zelda preceded him in death May 28, 1997. Family survivors are Cindy Babione of Valentines, VA and Gail Nichols of Ft. Meyers, FL. Also surviving is Mrs. Helen Schiff, widow of Bud's uncle Col. A.C. Schiff, Jr., USAF Chaplain Corps, recently deceased, and sister-in-law, Maria "Chita" Goodman of Albuquerque. Chita was invaluable in the care of Bud and his beloved wife Zelda over the last 30 years. After Zelda's death, Bud was adopted into the family of Patrick and Laura Earl and the extended family of the Earls and the Glovers, Max and Johanne. Bud became known as "Papa Bud" to little Titus, 3 1/ 2 years old now, who helped Bud immensely to recover from the loss of his beloved wife Zelda. Other family members include Kenny Phillips of Sandia Park, and from Florida, Sharon and her daughters, Joline and Michelle. Bud was educated in the Columbus, Ohio public schools and graduated from North High in 1942 and immediately matriculated at Ohio State University in a pre-medical course of study. He enlisted in the Army Reserve and continued his undergraduate studies as a Private, USA Reserve. An R.O.T.C. member, he attained the rank as Sgt. Gun Captain (105-mm gun). As a young man he received National Champion Awards in small bore marksmanship and accomplished a perfect 400 w/ 24 x's, as well as many other Junior Championship Awards. Bud and Zelda met in 1948 at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit. She was an X-Ray Technician and he was an intern; they married in 1950. During the Korean War period, Zelda joined Bud in Germany where he was serving in the U.S. Army First Infantry Division. After a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Cleveland Ohio, they moved to Albuquerque in 1956 where he started private practice with Zelda working side by side in the office. Bud skillfully and compassionately cared for many women of Albuquerque and New Mexico, as well as delivering many babies at Presbyterian and St. Joseph's Hospitals in nearly 30 years of medical practice. Bud was a founding member of the La Mesa Medical Group. Zelda was a longtime member of Hadassah, traveling to Israel in 1972 with that organization. She was also active with the Civic Chorus. Bud was a lifetime member of the NRA, the Army's 1st Infantry Division, New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, NRA Whittington Center Founders Club, The Right to Work Legal Defense Fund, The New Mexico Zoological Society, and a generous philanthropic contributor. Bud spent many years biking, hiking, and traveling our country and around the world including hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro. Memorial celebration for Bud and Zelda will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 12, 2003 at Sunrise Funeral Options, 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE with a reception to follow at the same location. Inurnment will be at 2:00 p.m. the same day in Santa Fe National Cemetery with God's Blessing of an Honor Guard provided by American Legion Post 49. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made at one of the following: NRA Whittington Center, Raton, NM; New Mexico Museum of Natural History; The New Mexico Zoological Society; The Right to Work Legal Defense Fund; The Civic Chorus or American Legion Post 49. Sunrise Funeral Options 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010
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