|
James L. (Jim) Whitlow, 79, lifelong resident of Albuquerque, beloved husband and uncle passed away at his home on Tuesday, July 8, 2003. He is survived by his loving wife, Cherrill; sister, Nancy Wright and her daughter, Debbie; nephew, Gary L. Whitlow and wife, Beryl; nieces, Marsha L. Hamilton and husband, David, Cindy B. Suppona and husband, Roger and Judy B. Jones and husband, Brian; and numerous great-nephews and great-nieces. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marianne Whitlow Burnam; and brother, Robert L. Whitlow. James was born on October 29, 1923, at the Women's and Children's Hospital on Central Ave. Early schooling for Jim was at Albuquerque s North Fourth Street School, a few blocks from the family home on North Sixth Street. He attended Washington Junior High and Albuquerque High School. Jim played first trumpet in the original Albuquerque Symphony. He joined the U.S. Army Air force during World War II. He was stationed for a time at Albuquerque s Oxnard Field, then eventually was transferred to Palm Springs. In the Army Air Force Band there, Jim became the trumpeter for military personnel burials at Forest Lawn in Los Angeles. After World War II, Jim returned to Albuquerque and earned his Master of Music degree at UNM. Jim s teaching experiences began at Los Alamos Junior High School while Los Alamos was still a closed city, and Ernie Pyle Junior High. Mr. Whitlow taught at UNM as the trumpet specialist in the Music Department until his retirement as Associate Professor of Music in 1978. His music career included graduate study at UCLA, Rochester and Paris. Along with his music teaching, Jim did clinician work in music in New Mexico; he was a trumpet clinician at Disneyland s National Music Convention, and he taught at Wisconsin s Summer Band Camp. Jim conducted many clinics at Hummingbird Music Camp during the years, and he was summer band camp clinician at Hobbs for 25 years. He was instrumental in starting the first New Mexico Brass Ensemble, in which he played first trumpet. In addition, Mr. Whitlow became an accomplished artist and later taught painting for 20 years at Ghost Ranch with his painting teacher Maurice Loriaux. He also served as president of the New Mexico Art League, thus demonstrating a permanent commitment to painting. Jim s paintings have been shown over the years at College of the Southwest, Western Michigan University, where he also taught a series of humanities classes, the University of Southern Colorado, and the University of New Mexico. Jim Whitlow has given many private painting lessons in both watercolor and acrylic and taught workshops in painting in New Mexico, California, Texas and Wyoming. Jim organized the Whitlow Watermedia Seminars, and with his wife and associate painter and teacher, Cherrill, has taught many workshops in watercolor and acrylic. Jim was given an excellence award by the North Central Association for accreditation of Schools, New Mexico, and lectured in humanities at Truth or Consequences High School and Rio Grande High School. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Education from UNM. Jim s philosophy of the arts basically states that the beautiful is what is important. Cremation has taken place and interment of cremains will be held Friday, 11:30 a.m., at Santa Fe National Cemetery, with Wayne Sharp officiating. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to New Mexico Music Educators Association Scholarship Fund. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333
|
