Harold Wayne Welburn, 89, of Gila, New Mexico, passed away on November 29, 2017.

He was born on December 25, 1927, on a farm near Oakdale, Nebraska.

He served in the Army during the Korean War. He earned his B.S. in Industrial Arts Education from New Mexico Western College in Silver City, New Mexico, in 1954, and his M.S. from Utah State University in 1959. He married Frieda Ann Norris of Cliff, New Mexico, on June 7, 1955 in Silver City. He taught in two different one-room schoolhouses in Nebraska, and taught school for 30 years in Lincoln County and Clark County, Nevada. He retired as a "gentleman farmer" to Gila, New Mexico, in 2003.

He is survived by his wife, Frieda, daughter Laura Dilts and husband Bryan of Enola, Pennsylvania, son Clinton and daughter Frances of Gila, son Daniel and wife Janeel of Inglewood, California, and son Darrel and wife Silvia of Cliff, 19 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers are Daniel Dilts, Benjamin Dilts, James Dilts, Lawson Welburn, Lowell Welburn, David Welburn, Wayne Welburn and Spencer Welburn.

A Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Gila, NM on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 10:00am. Mr. Welburn will lie-in-state at 9:00am. Interment will follow at the Mesa Cemetery in Gila, New Mexico.

Bright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, "Traditional Services and Care for your family and friends," 210 W. College Ave., Silver City, NM. Phone 575-388-1911. Remembrances can be made at www.brightfuneral.net