Sammy Bostwick

Sammy Ray Bostwick1948 – 2020Sammy Ray Bostwick, 72, of Melrose, NM passed from this life to his eternal home in heaven on November 30, 2020. Sammy “Ray” Bostwick was born in Amherst, TX on January 14, 1948 to Darrell and Ellen Bostwick. Sammy Ray grew up on an irrigated farm just north of Roundup, TX until the family moved to Melrose, NM in February of 1961. Sammy Ray graduated from Melrose High School in May of 1966 and immediately enlisted in the Air Force and found himself in basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas only five days after his high school graduation. While serving in the Airforce, Sammy Ray found his calling in life of building, servicing, and flying airplanes. Sammy Ray served as a mechanic for all types of aircraft and spent the majority of his years as a B-52 mechanic working his way up to Quality Control Inspector and eventually as a Technical Instructor at Altus AFB, OK. During this time, Sammy Ray served a year in Vietnam working on the O-2A aircraft. He retired from the Air Force in 1987 but continued working with airplanes becoming the airport manager for the City of Slaton, TX, then with Raytheon Aerospace Services, and culminating with Bell Helicopter in Amarillo as Supervisor of Flight Quality Inspectors from which he retired in January 2013. While managing the Slaton Airport he met his love and wife of 29 years, Paula Whitney. Sammy Ray and Paula married October 5, 1991 and spent many wonderful years together. Sammy Ray and Paula moved to Melrose in 2013 to retire. Sammy Ray always wanted to come home and enjoy retirement with friends and family. Here, in Melrose he continued to work by restoring airplanes, helping his brothers and family any chance he could, traveling and supporting their grandkids.Sammy Ray is survived by his wife of 29 years, Paula Bostwick of Melrose, NM; his son Alton Bostwick of Fountain Hills, AZ; his daughters Rhonda (William) Trainham of Dallas, NC; Pati (Jeff) Punchard of Lubbock, TX; his grandchildren Koen Bostwick of Fountain Hills, Arizona, Jay Hitt of Lubbock, Raynee Hitt of Lubbock, Hannah Trainham of Dallas, North Carolina, Ryan Punchard of Lubbock, Jacey Punchard of Lubbock; his brothers Wendell (Pansy) Bostwick of Lubbock, and James (Sherolyn) Bostwick of Clovis. Sammy Ray leaves behind a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends, who will miss and cherish precious memories of Sammy Ray otherwise known as Dad, Grandpa, Uncle Ray, and Ray.Memorial contributions may be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation to help American Veterans at https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate/.