Regina W. Resley

Regina W. Resley, beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, was born September 28, 1929 in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania to Edward J. and Regina P. Williams.  She passed away peacefully on November 14, 2018 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  She grew up in Huntingdon, received her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State College (the future Penn State University), and attended Ohio State for graduate study in Sociology.  She worked as a social worker in Cleveland, Ohio and the Lennox Hill area of New York City.  She was a lifetime member of Huntingdon Presbyterian Church.

She was a grade school classmate and childhood friend of Col. (Ret.)  Robert (Bob) D. Resley, her future husband.  Although during school years they were friends, it was later, while he was attending West Point Military Academy, when they reconnected in Huntingdon (set up on a date by their mothers).  After his graduation, they married in 1954.  They shared a passion for his career and every new destination they moved to in the USA (including Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Washington, D.C), Germany and the Philippines.  Sadly, she was widowed in 1995, but she continued her love of travel for the next 23 years, many of those trips with her close group of girlfriends. One favorite trip was to Antarctica and walking among the Penguins.

Regina used her knowledge and training in sociology throughout her life in all her volunteer activities.  She was Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, Red Cross Volunteer, Officer’s Wives Club President, Assistance League National Board Director and Puppeteer for the New Kids on the Block Program, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Alumni Chapter President, Arlington Ladies Representative for the Army, and Ombudsman for the Elderly for the New Mexico State Agency on Aging.  She has received numerous Commendations, Appreciations, and Recognitions over the years for all her volunteer activities.  She was particularly proud of her selection as one of twelve Red Cross volunteers who assisted the Viet Nam POW Returnees that came through the Hospital at Clark Air Base, Philippines.  In 1973, she helped establish the Arlington Ladies Service Program as an Army wife representative, where she would attend the Army funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and present the flag to the spouse.  She volunteered with the Red Cross at the numerous locations wherever they moved; including Butzbach, Germany; Clark Air Base, Philippines; Ft. Belvoir, Virginia; Cincinnati, Ohio.  She read books for the Blind at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio.  She was involved in the Officer’s Wives clubs in all locations.  At retirement in 1984, they settled in Albuquerque, where they had been stationed earlier in Bob’s career.  Here Regina became involved with the Ombudsman Program visiting numerous nursing homes and advocating for resident’s care.  She was a passionate volunteer with the Assistance League of Albuquerque and served as Chapter President, a Puppeteer, and a National Board Director.

She was an avid reader, loved bridge, Mahjong, cypto-quips. She was a high school cheerleader and thespian.  In 1972, she was awarded the Order of the Pagsanjan Daredevils for shooting the Pagsanjan Rapids and living to talk about it in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines.

Regina is survived by her older brother, Edward J. Williams of Dallas, TX; her daughter, Stephanie Resley of Manhattan Beach, CA; her son, William (Bill) Resley and daughter-in-law, Deborah Resley and grandson, Daniel Resley all of Portland, OR; and numerous nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania and Texas.

There will be Celebration of Her Life at 4:00 P.M. Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Carter Hall in La Vida Llena, 10501 Lagrima de Oro NE, Albuquerque. She will be interred with her husband at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Assistance League of Albuquerque.

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