Search Results

SIBBITT -- Mrs. Selma D. Sibbitt, of Los Alamos, passed away Thursday, December 2, 2004 after a lengthy illness at the home of her son, John H. Sibbitt in Albuquerque. Born Selma Doris Otte November 9, 1922 in Okarche, Canadian County, OK to the German immigrant parents Rev. Theodore Carl Otte, a Lutheran pastor, and Martha Amelia Kubisch. Mrs. Sibbitt was 7th of 11 children. Mrs. Sibbitt attended the Lutheran elementary school and the public high school in Okarche, OK, and was an Oklahoma high school basketball star. During World War II, she attended the University of Oklahoma, vigorously supported the war effort on campus, and matriculated in 1944 with a Bachelor of Library Science degree. While working as a technical librarian at Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, OK she met Dr. Wilmer L. Sibbitt, Sr., whom she later married in Atlanta, Georgia on Sept 12, 1947. While playing with the company basketball teams at Phillips Petroleum, Inc in Oklahoma and Clinton National Laboratory in Oakridge, TN, she earned the title of All-American Basketball Player. Dr. Sibbitt's career led the couple to Clinton National Laboratory in Oakridge, TN, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, Ramo-Woolridge Corp., Redondo Beach, CA, and finally in 1956 to Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in Los Alamos, where Mrs. Sibbitt spent the remainder of her life at home as wife, home maker, and mother of six children. She was very active in the Ladies Aide of Grace Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, and was an expert on flowers and floral arrangements. Her husband, Dr. Wilmer L. Sibbitt, Sr., preceded her in death on September 9, 1982. Her siblings Ruth H. Geihsler, Ernst A. Otte, Edwin A. Otte, Luella M. Otte, Theodore C. Otte, Adeline M. Veideman, Gerald P. Otte, and Robert A. Otte also preceded her in death. Mrs. Sibbitt traveled extensively with her children until she became ill with aortic stenosis, a heart condition that has restricted her to her son John's home for the last 12 months in Albuquerque. She is survived by her children Sharon M. Kettwich, MD and husband Donald Kettwich, MD of Albuquerque, Sallye Lou C. Sibbitt of Los Alamos, Tina R. Sibbitt, JD of Albuquerque, Randy R. Sibbitt, MD and wife Debby of Helena, MT, and John H. Sibbitt and Wilmer L. Sibbitt, Jr., MD both of Albuquerque, and her grandchildren Lori A. and Cristina R. Sibbitt of Helena, MT, and Sharon Cassandra, Lawrence Gerhardt, Scarlett A., and Selma D. Kettwich of Albuquerque. She is also survived by two older sisters, Mrs. Mildred E. Lechner of Ft. Lawton, OK, and Mrs. Lorraine D. Duffy of Houston, TX, as well as 31 nephews and nieces and many other extended family members. Funeral services will be held December 7, 7:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 300 Gold Ave. SE, Albuquerque, with a reception directly afterwards at her son's house, Dr. Wilmer L. Sibbitt, Jr. 3509 Hannett NE, Albuquerque. She will be interred privately next to her husband at Guaje Pines Cemetery, Los Alamos, NM. Friends may visit French Mortuary, University Blvd. NE, on Monday, December 6, from 3-7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wilmer L. and Selma D. Sibbitt, Memorial Scholarship Fund, UNM Foundation, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333
        Published on: Sun December 05, 2004