Ted Alm

Ted Alm, 92, of Amarillo passed away on August 28, 2023.  No services are scheduled at this time.  Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Rowley Funeral Home.

Ted was born March 12, 1931, in Opportunity, Holt County, Nebraska, the eighth child born to Arthur and Charlotte Alm.  He attended a one-room school and graduated from the 8th grade; he then finished his education 30 miles away in O’Neill Nebraska, graduating from O’Neill High School May 24, 1949.  He worked in the local hay fields until his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force in the spring of 1952.  After basic training, he was stationed to Amarillo Air Force Base and spent the entire four years of his military service there.  His value as an instructor kept him from the battle fields of Korea.

Ted had met and courted his bride to be, Vernyce Marie Dye, while still in Nebraska.  Upon his enlistment in the Air Force, he proposed, and they were married June 7, 1952, and became the parents of two children: Lucy and Sandy.  They enjoyed 65 years of marriage before her passing in 2017.

Ted liked the Amarillo area, and they chose to make this city their forever home. Ted became a Master Electrician and worked for several companies, as well as becoming Electrical Inspector for the City of Amarillo.

Ted always had a love for flying and after his service with the Air Force was completed, he and his best friend Bob, built a sailplane.  The endeavor took three years to complete.  One fateful day in early summer of 1964, during a routine flight, something went terribly wrong, and the plane plummeted to the ground.  Ted’s injuries were severe and resulted in the amputation of his left leg.  This significantly changed his life and ended his dreams of flying.

After his recovery, he and Bob started building again ~ only this time, it was dune buggies.  They built two ~ one for each family ~ beginning the task with only an engine from a Volkswagen Beetle and a Volkswagen bus and a plan.   The two families spent countless hours at the Canadian River, where Ted taught both daughters how to drive.

 Ted also began a hobby in woodworking and built multiple items for the home: salt & pepper shakers; toothpick holders; a wooden ‘sleeve’ for a pocket cigarette lighter; several eight-foot tall bookcases; two full-wall bookcases in the bedrooms; a display case for Vernyce’s Tall Ship plate collection; an eight-foot long buffet for the china; multiple folding tables and stools for the grandkids and several canes from Cholla cactus and grapevines.   

Ted is survived by his two daughters, Lucy Christiansen and husband Les of Watauga, TX and Sandy Pace & husband Doyle of Amarillo, TX.; four grandchildren: Aaron Christiansen and wife Emily; Daniel Christiansen; Melissa Derrick and husband Quay of Amarillo, TX., and Brian Reasoner and wife Chelsea of Amarillo, TX.; and seven great-grandchildren: Karis Christiansen; Maxwell Christiansen; Sean Anthony Vargas; Byron Jaleel Laury; Noah Makai Mornes; Amaya Dyani Johnson and Kennedi Sage Reasoner.  He is also survived by his sister Margaret (Peggy) Bernice Maw.

Ted was preceded in death by his infant great-grandson, Joseph Miguel Reasoner; his parents, Arthur and Charlotte Alm; brothers Arthur Willard Alm and Donald Alm; sisters Lora Genevieve Klein; Veva Esther Zimmer; Betty Lou Poff; Doris Eileen Hampton; and Thelma Fae Alm.

Ted will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

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