Reid Evan Zirkle

Reid was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Ira and Ruth Zirkle.

He graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology before moving to New Mexico in 1967, when Los Alamos National Laboratory recruited him as a draftsman to work on classified drawings. Reid spent most of his LANL career as an Area Coordinator at various lab facilities, retiring with 38 years of service.

Reid grew up hunting and fishing: passions he carried with him throughout his life. He especially enjoyed duck and quail hunting throughout New Mexico. After retiring, he and his wife purchased an RV. They would spend July on the Oregon coast so Reid could salmon fish with his oldest brother and friends. They also treasured time in Salida, Colorado, camping along the Arkansas River with friends, and would snowbird in Arizona. RV traveling came to an end when Reid was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020.

Reid was a long-time member of the Los Alamos Sportsmen’s Club and spent weekends attending and traveling to competitive shooting matches. He was a volunteer reserve officer with the Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) for 28 years. He worked during the Cerro Grande Fire in 2000, directing traffic out of the Los Alamos townsite during the evacuation.

Then he returned home to White Rock, and he and his wife Janet began their own evacuation plan.

His last few years with LAPD, Reid’s volunteer ‘job’ was firearms training for the department.

Reid loved spending time in his workshop. He was always willing to take on a new project for the home, RV, yard, or family. After retirement, he took up golfing. He never took the game too seriously and always enjoyed a day on the course, including a memorable hole-in-one in Arizona.

Reid is survived by his wife of 41 years, Janet; and his three brothers: Zane Zirkle (Patsy, deceased) of Forest Grove, OR; Lynn Zirkle (Diana) of Livermore, CA and Ryan Zirkle (Ruby) of Pasadena, CA. He is also survived by Janet’s family whose support was invaluable during Reid’s health decline: sister Judy Pippin; nephew Bryon Pippin (wife Judy, daughter Haley) of Española, NM; nephew Britt Pippin (wife Kim, daughters JoAnna and Jaylynn) of Sandown, NH; niece Kelly Martinez (husband Eric, their children Lucas and Sydney) of Española, NM.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Ziomek for his years of compassionate care, especially in recent years. During Reid’s final days at home, Enchanted Sky Hospice provided exceptional support and comfort to both Reid and Janet.

Reid’s service and burial will be held on Friday, December 19, at 1:00 pm at Rivera Funeral Kiva Chapel of Santa Fe, located at 417 East Rodeo Rd. Santa Fe, NM.