Leonard Cutrell

CUTRELL, LEONARD E. “BUD”- Leonard E. “Bud” Cutrell passed away on June 29, 2019. It was his wish that his remains be cremated. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 5, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., at Westminster Presbyterian Church located at 2801 W 4th St., Roswell, NM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Roswell Humane Society.

Bud was born January 15, 1935, in Scott City, Kansas, to Lenard E. and Alma E. Cutrell, who preceded him in death. He grew up in La Junta, Colorado, where he was active in scouting as a Koshare Indian and in high school athletics. Bud was senior class president and graduated as an honor student from La Junta High School in 1952. After high school he attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he overcame a broken back in a 1953 car accident to become a varsity wrestler. After graduation in 1956, Bud taught and coached at Aurora High School in Colorado.

Bud married Sharon Lee Marquardt on April 20, 1957, in the First Presbyterian Church of Austin, MN. She survives him at the home. Other survivors include his son C. Porter Cutrell of Roswell, and granddaughter Stephanie Cutrell of LosAngeles, CA; daughter Heather Megan Houseworth, son-in-law Derek, and granddaughter Alexandra of Kalispell, Montana. He often commented that the smartest thing he ever did was to marry Sharon and was extremely proud of his son, daughter and granddaughters.

From 1957 to 1978 Bud served his country in the U. S. Navy. During his Naval service he served aboard various ships, in overseas assignments and at shore stations. These assignments included duty in Vietnam as Officer-in-Charge of support detachments, and off the coast of Vietnam aboard the USS Taussig (DD746) and USS Midway (CVA-41). Bud attained the rank of Commander and received numerous awards including the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with star in lieu of second award, Navy Commendation Medal with star in lieu of second award, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, and Meritorious Unit Citation. He was qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and Small Boat Commander.

Bud taught for Roswell Independent School District from 1978 until 1998, and coached wrestling until 1992, sometimes at Roswell High and sometimes at Goddard High. His first two years in Roswell he taught naval science and math at Roswell High and was an assistant football coach and head wrestling coach. In 1980 he transferred to Mesa Middle School were he taught math and computer classes there until his retirement in 1998. He also coached football and track during some of his earlier years at Mesa. He also continued coaching wrestling at both Roswell and Goddard high Schools.

For over 30 years, Bud enjoyed meeting with his friends every morning for The 5am Breakfast Crew at Martin’s Capital Café. The comradery, food, stories, and great company was something he looked forward to every morning.