William Goebel "Bill" Ikard, II was born in Anthony, New Mexico on July 16, 1926. Bill graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute and the United States Naval Academy. He was a Naval Officer with special qualifications as a deep sea diver, scuba swimmer, bomb and mine disposal specialist and was an early member of the United States Navy Underwater Demolition Team. The predecessor of today's Navy Seals. After serving on active duty for over 5 years, Bill returned to the Upper Valley and took over the operation of the family farm, El Rancho Dulce at Mesquite, New Mexico. In addition to owning and managing the farm, he was President and Board Member of the Mesilla Valley Cotton Gin, Chairman and President of the SUPIMA Cotton Association, and later had a successful career as a Commercial Real Estate Broker. For many decades, Bill was a loyal and involved member of the Episcopal Church. He served as many times as Junior and Senior Warden and Vestry Member at St. Luke's in La Union, a Delegate to the Diocese of the Rio Grande for 25 years, and was a delegate to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church for 30 years. He was elected and served on the Executive Council of the National Episcopal Church as well as serving on the National Council of churches and The International Council of Churches. He is currently a member of St. Clement's Anglican Church. In serving his community, Bill was also a Chairman of the Dona Anna Republican Party, served as a Delegate to the GOP National Convention and ran twice as a Candidate for the New Mexico State Senate. Beginning in grade school and throughout his high school and college years Bill was always a sports enthusiast. He lettered in football, basketball and track at NMMI and at the Naval Academy. He later served as a high school and college football and basketball referee for 34 years. Golf was Bill's sports passion! He was President at the Anthony Country Club, President of the International Seniors Amateur Golf Society (ISAGS) for 3 years, ISAGS Board Member for 13 years, and a member of the American Seniors Golf Association.. Bill was the Founder and Host of The Los Coyotes Viejos Golf Tournament, an international senior partnership golf invitational tournament held at the Santa Teresa Club from 1980 to 2011. Annually, Bill's golfing friends from all over the world came to enjoy golf, fellowship and the great October weather in El Paso. Players came to the Los Viejos Coyotes tournament from all over the United States, Israel, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Spain, Portugal, England, Finland and Mexico. Bill acquired many honors as a golfer. He was a Anthony Country Club Champion and an Anthony Invitational Champion. He became a member of the Sun Country Amateur Team when they played the Professional Members of the American Seniors Golf Association (ASGA). He also played in the World Seniors Golf Association (WSGA) Championship Flight for 15 years. Some of his many golf championships include the Anthony Country Club, the New Mexico Seniors Champion (3 times) , Low Amateur Governors Cup, Mexican Senior Champion, Mexican International Senior Champion (3 times), Naval Academy Alumni Champion (3 times), Champion Sanctuary Cove in Australia, Mich A. Gander Tournament, Moroccan Hassan II Golf Tourney and five time Champion of his Los Coyotes Viejos Tournament. Bill was elected to the El Paso Golf Hall of Fame in 2001. Bill is survived by his loving and devoted partner of 21 years, Alda Durrill, El Paso; her children, Darren Durrill of Austin and Kimberly Coyne, West Palm Beach, Florida and their families; Bill's daughter, Demetra Allene Ikard Pender; son-in-law, Robert C. Pender, Round Rock, Texas; and many loving relatives in the Feuille, Hoover, Ikard and Salopek families. Bill and his family will always be so grateful and thankful for the kindness and care provided by Dr. Vipool Patel and his medical staff and for the loving, spiritual care and friendship provided by the Clergy and members of Saint Clement Anglican Church. A Memorial Service will be held at Church of Saint Clement on Saturday, February 16, 2013 @ 1:00 PM. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, any memorials be sent to Center for Compassionate Care West, 1575 Belvidere Avenue, El Paso, TX 79912 or The Church of Saint Clement, 810 N. Campbell St., El Paso, TX 79902. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, TX 79912. www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com

Published in El Paso Times from February 13 to February 20, 2013