Rowena May Greene

Rowena (Roe) May Berkshire Greene Rowena “Roe” May Berkshire Greene, 91, passed away peacefully Monday, December 19, 2022 at her little abode in the countryside near Pond Creek, OK. Roe lived a full life. The span of her many accomplishments offer but a glimpse into the sizeable impact she made on the world and the many people she encountered in it. Roe’s story began on August 9, 1931 in Albuquerque, NM, where she was born to Milton Charles Berkshire and Rowena May Spruill Berkshire. She was named after her mother – the importance of passing family values and heritage down to subsequent generations would be a recurrent theme in Roe’s life. Roe grew up and attended school in Estancia, NM, where she developed a great love for music and became an accomplished pianist. Throughout her formative years, Roe served as a piano accompanist for the school, church, and community choir. During her senior year of high school, in 1949, the music director, John Hawkins, entered Roe in the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey’s “Weekend with Music”, where she would go on to be selected as one of three students across the United Stated to appear in Carnegie Hall and on the Broadcast of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony. Roe’s love for music would play a significant role in her journey. After high school, she attended Sullins College in Bristol, Virginia, later transferring to the University of New Mexico pursuing a music major. Roe shared her talent and love of music with others, including teaching piano lessons – and at one point taught as many as 22 students. Roe’s passion of community involvement and service to others would play a key role throughout her life, as well. In 1951 while at UNM, Roe joined Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority; and in 2016, she would go on to be honored for her 65-year membership. Later, Roe would also become active in the Albuquerque Junior League, Albuquerque Bible Study Fellowship and a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of Estancia. From 1966 - 1970, Roe was the New Mexico National Committeewoman of the Republican Party. In 1977, Roe was asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Citizens Bank of Albuquerque (now Wells Fargo Bank) in place of her late son, Mark Greene. She served 24 years. From 1987 – 2006, Roe was a realtor/broker associate beginning with Bart Darrow and later Doyle Pargin Realty. Roe loved to travel. Some of the highlights of her travels were to Israel with her daughter, Terri, China, with her loving sister, Barbara, and Williamsburg, Virginia, Washington D.C., Kapalua, Hawaii, and Italy all with her family, Terri, Kent, and Dane. She also ventured to many other places throughout her lifetime. Roe’s faith and family values were deeply intertwined with her roots as a rancher. Roe exemplified a spirit of stewardship and fellowship in her care of the family Double Arrow Ranch alongside her family and the cowboys who worked beside her. Though the ranching lifestyle presented many challenges, Roe remained steadfast in both her faith in God’s provision, as well as in her commitment to carry on the Berkshire legacy of her mother, Rowena, and father, Milton, for generations to come. Roe’s life offered us a defining example of what it means to be a follower of Christ, a lady, and a cowwoman. Roe’s memory will be kept alive by her children, Terri Greene League and husband Kent of Pond Creek, Oklahoma; Dr. Elizabeth Greene Pelz of Corrales, NM; Dr. E.R. (Dick) Greene of Estancia, NM; and Marisol Greene of Corrales, NM; grandchildren, Dane Merritt Caldwell and wife Katelyn Caldwell of Pond Creek, OK; Ty Greene and wife Georgia Jolink of Austin, TX; Dr. Heather Greene and husband Dr. Luke Dunklee of Albuquerque, NM; Michael League and wife Alissa of Enid, OK; Matt League of Long Beach, CA; and Ross Kilpatrick of Stillwater, OK; Great-Grandchildren: Merritt Elizabeth, Brylee Ruth, and Spencer Mark Caldwell, Remy Greene, Kael League, and Riley and Kendal Kilpatrick; Nephew, Jon Means and wife Jackie of Van Horn, TX; Niece, Kay Wisniewski and husband Tom of St. Louis, Missouri; many grandnieces and grandnephews, and great grandnieces and great grandnephews; honorary family Chris Yackman, N.J.; Keith, Denise, and Emma Pittenger, and Daniel Yackman, N.C.; and Ava Herbert, N.J. Roe is preceded in death by her husband, William Burke Greene; her parents, Milton C. Berkshire and Rowena May Berkshire; her brother, Dan Berkshire; her sister, Barbara Corrine Berkshire; her son, Mark Joe Greene; and her granddaughter, Kendra Kilpatrick. A graveside service will be held at the Estancia Memorial Cemetery in New Mexico on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 11:00 am. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Estancia First Baptist Church or New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Harris-Hanlon Mortuary in Moriarty, NM.