ELLIOTT ROBERT "BOB" WORTHINGTON, a resident of Good Samaritan Independent Living, died at High Desert Hospice on May 9, 2023, from heart disease. Bob was born on May 5, 1937, to Elmer and Billie Worthington. He grew up in New Milford and Roxbury, Connecticut, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1961. He married Anita Mae Elliott on her 21 ^st birthday, after meeting her on a blind date two years earlier.

Bob was a modern-day Renaissance Man, with multiple careers, vocations, and hobbies, including soldier, pilot, Jeep enthusiast, motorcycle buff, firearms expert, artist, runner, historian, professor, photographer, film producer, and writer. He was a devoted husband and dedicated father.

Bob's distinguished military career began in 1957, when he took a two-year leave of absence from Dartmouth to enlist in the Marines where he deployed in support of Operation Bluebat in Beirut, Lebanon. After graduating from college, Bob was commissioned in the Army; he was a rifle company platoon leader, a professional competitive pistol shooter and coach, a combat advisor during two tours in Vietnam, and a clinical psychologist. He retired in 1981 as a Lieutenant Colonel serving as chief of the Ft. Sam Houston Community Mental Health Service, chief of the Psychology Service at Brooke Army Medical Center, and Psychology Consultant for the Army Health Services Command.

His military decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Legion of Merit; seven decorations for valor, including the Bronze Star Medal with V Device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Navy Achievement Medal with V Device, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with one Gold Star and three Silver Stars; the Purple Heart; an Air Medal; the USMC Combat Action Ribbon; and three Army Commendation Medals.

Bob began his civilian career as a police officer while at Dartmouth. Over his lifetime, he was both a psychology consultant and a management consultant plus owned and managed rental properties. He taught business courses and directed the Small Business Development Center at West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas; was a partner in Worthington & Worthington Management Consultants; taught business, journalism, and advertising at New Mexico State University; wrote and edited for numerous magazines and newspapers, resulting in more than 2,500 publications; co-authored several business books and travel articles with his wife; produced one documentary film, Combat Advisor in Vietnam , with all footage filmed by Bob in Vietnam; and authored an award-winning trilogy of books about his military career. The first book, Vietnam, Under Fire with ARVN Infantry (2018) earned a gold medal award for Excellence in Literature from the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA). The second book, Fighting Viet Cong in the Rung Sat , earned an MWSA silver medal. His third book, The Making of an Army Psychologist: From Fighting in Vietnam to Treating Fellow Veterans , was published in April 2023.

His formal education included a B.A. from Dartmouth College, master's degrees in business and counseling, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Utah.

Being a pilot was one of the joys of his life and traveling was one of Bob's and Anita's shared passions. He and Anita flew over 7,000 hours during Bob's 40 years as a private pilot, landing their plane in four countries and every state except Hawaii. Bob's most recent book (still untitled), which will be published posthumously, is about his 40 years as a pilot, how general aviation has changed over the years, and advice for pilots and aspiring pilots.

Bob was a lifelong outdoorsman. From childhood, he loved camping, hiking, and fishing. Throughout their life together, Bob, Anita, and their three daughters spent many happy days camping in beautiful settings including mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and beaches, starting with their honeymoon in a remote, rustic cabin. In retirement, Bob built a log-sided house on their eighty-acre ranch with a trout stream in the Sacramento Mountains, where he and Anita could enjoy lazy days with their grandchildren.

Bob and Anita gave back to their community through their support of organizations focused on education and those in need. They contributed countless hours through leadership and service in the United States Pilots Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the New Mexico Pilots Association. Bob served as a SCORE business mentor, and throughout his lifetime he mentored hundreds of people, supporting them personally and professionally. Bob conducted admissions interviews for Dartmouth College, participated in the Mesilla Valley Chapter of Military Officers Association of America, and was an officer of Las Cruces Writers.

Bob was married to Anita for almost 62 years before she passed away at home in 2021. Bob's three daughters were at his side as he peacefully left this world with no regrets and a full life well-lived.

He is survived by his daughter Susan Bontly of Las Cruces; Julie Coley (Steve Coley) of Irving, TX; Karen Worthington (Mark Crowe) of Maui, HI; siblings June Worthington Mendell and Diane Worthington; and five grandchildren, Stephen Bontly, Megan Coley, Matthew Coley, Maile Crowe, and Grace Crowe. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Anita; his parents; his son Robert Scott (Scotty) Worthington who died at age two; and his grandson David Christopher Bontly, who died at age two.

Bob has requested no memorial services. His family appreciated the compassionate care provided to Bob in the last days of his life. He asked that any memorial contributions be made in his honor to High Desert Hospice at 8661 San Pedro Drive, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113 or https://highdeserthospice.care .

Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapel of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 300 E. Boutz Road, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com