Search Results

GENTA -- Nan Genta, 92, a longtime resident of Alamogordo, NM died Thursday, December 22, 2005, in Alamogordo. Nan was born July 3, 1913 in Wadesboro, NC to Charles Emery and Maude (Gaddy) Porter. She married Norman S. Thayer in 1931, a veteran of World War I, and he died in 1940. She went to work for the U.S. Public Health Service in Jacksonville, FL as a dental nurse. She met Tony Genta, a sailor, and they married in 1943. While Tony served the Navy in the Pacific, Nan moved the family to Raton, NM, where Tony's parents lived, and went to work for the New Mexico Department of Public Welfare. In 1946 Tony returned from duty and they moved to Albuquerque while he attended the University of New Mexico. After he graduated, the Gentas moved to Alamogordo in 1951 and Nan again went to work for the Welfare Department. Nan later went to work with telecomputing at Holloman AFB, from which she retired in 1985. She then worked part-time at the former Sweetbriar Dress Shop. Nan was committed to community service, and was involved in many organizations. She was very active in the Democratic Party; a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary where she was chairman of the Girl's State program from 1950 to 2002; the State President of the American Legion Auxiliary in 1955; the first president of the Hospital Auxiliary in 1958, and recipient of their Member of the Year award in 1996; a founding member in 1976 and last president in 2002 of the Sunshine Auxiliary at Betty Dare Good Samaritan Nursing Center; the former chairman of the Mayor's Bicentennial Committee; a former Girl Scout leader; a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and A.A.R.P.; the State President of the New Mexico Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs in 1965; a former member of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce; and a devoted member of First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years beginning in 1951. Nan also had been a longtime election judge, and for several years helped deliver apples to each school teacher in Alamogordo for the Apple for a Teacher program. She was active at the Alamogordo Senior Center where she offered the daily prayer at noon and served on the Nutrition Committee. Nan also was very learned in Parliamentary procedure, which served her well in all her community involvement. She was recognized by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program as Volunteer of the Year for 1998; was named by Sertoma to receive the Service to Mankind Award for 2003; and was named one of the first Women of Merit by the Alamogordo Daily News in 2001. Survivors include a son, Norman Thayer, Jr. and his wife, Martha of Albuquerque; two daughters, Dolores Griggs of Alamogordo, NM and Natalie Clark of Naugatuck, CT; 11 grandchildren, Pamela Norton and her husband, Rick Macklin of Las Cruces, Kenneth Clark of Waterbury, CT, Norman Clark and his wife, Maria of New Britian, CT, Gary Clark of Naugatuck, CT, Diane Reed and her husband, Jim of Terryville, CT, and Jennifer Mazzeo and her husband, Mark of Naugatuck, Murray N. Thayer and his wife Annette, Tanya Noel Thayer and Nancy Rich, all of Albuquerque, Ron Griggs and his wife, Joan of Alamogordo, and Jeff Griggs of Los Angeles, CA; a stepdaughter, Evelyn Miles of Goode, VA; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a sister, Marie Lowery of Leesburg, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Norman Thayer, in 1940; her second husband, Tony Genta, in 1991; a brother, John R. Porter; a sister, Mamie Clyde Porter; a stepdaughter, Martha Deruntz; and a son-in-law, Jim Griggs. Funeral Services will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in the First Baptist Church, 11th St. and Michigan Ave. in Alamogordo. Interment will follow in Monte Vista Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ron Griggs, Reid Griggs, Jeff Griggs, Murray Thayer, Jason Moore, John Green and Rick Macklin. Honorary bearers will be Kenneth Clark, Norman Clark, Gary Clark, Jim Reed, Mark Mazzeo, Paul Norton and Clif McDonald. Friends may call Tuesday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Hamilton-O'Dell Funeral Home in Alamogordo. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Baptist Childrens Home, P.O. Drawer 629, Portales, NM 88130. To send a tribute to the family, please visit www.mem.com.
        Published on: Tue December 27, 2005