Beth Streetman Neal

Beth Streetman Neal, a longtime resident of Santa Fe and Albuquerque, died Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at The Woodmark at Uptown in Albuquerque. She was born in Greensburg, KS, on June 30, 1929.

She graduated from Texas State College for Women (now Texas Woman's University) in Denton, TX, where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in education. In addition to furthering her education in Denton, Beth also met her future husband (William A. "Bill" Neal, Jr.) there, in the summer of 1950, where Bill was attending the University of North Texas. She and Bill were married on July 13, 1952 in the Little Chapel in the Woods, on the campus of Texas State College for Women.

During the early years of their marriage, Beth and Bill lived in Santa Fe, later moving to Del Rio, TX, where their daughter, Leslie, was born in 1960. Not long after returning to Texas, Beth and Bill realized they both missed New Mexico and began looking for career opportunities back in Santa Fe. They returned in 1969 and become happily transplanted New Mexicans for life!

Throughout her married life, in addition to providing unwavering love and support to her husband and daughter, Beth continued her teaching career. She was an elementary school teacher for 39 years and retired from Carlos Gilbert Elementary in the Santa Fe Public Schools in 1990. She was also member and past President of the Santa Fe chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary society for women educators. Beth and Bill enjoyed living in Santa Fe for a total of 37 happy years. Due to Bill's declining health, they moved to Albuquerque, where he died in 2002. Fortunately, before Bill's death, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Beth continued her engaged and interesting life in Albuquerque, remaining active in her PEO Chapter and with her dear and longtime Santa Fe friends in their wonderful book club. In May 2014, Beth moved to The Woodmark, where she enjoyed new friends, decorating her lovely apartment, and continuing to be Chief Executive Mom to her daughter, Leslie.

Beth was preceded in death by her mother, Jennie Miller Streetman; her father, Charles Revere Streetman; her sister, Joy Spann; and brother, Paul Miller Streetman. She is survived by her daughter, Leslie Elizabeth Neal of Albuquerque; sister, Hope Garvin; and niece, Jennie Hargrove of Mansfield, TX; nephews, Charles Streetman of Glen Ellyn, IL and Scott Streetman of Boulder, CO; and nephews, Dan Spann, Tom Spann and Joe Spann.

A celebration of Beth’s life will be held Thursday, February 1, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at FRENCH – Wyoming in Albuquerque. Interment at the Santa Fe National Cemetery will follow at 2:15 p.m. If you prefer making a donation in lieu of flowers, please consider the Alzheimer's Association—New Mexico Chapter.