Elmer Baltz

Elmer Harold Baltz, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Lakewood on June 6, 2015. He is preceded in death by his wife Diana Hinman Baltz, his parents and his brother. He is survived by his sons Tom, Dan and David Baltz and daughters, Janet and Ann Baltz, as well as his beloved long-time companion Charlotte Bechtold and her daughter Pauline Bechtold, and daughters-in-law Eileen, Nancy and Gloria Baltz. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Hannah Baltz-Smith, Lauren Baltz, Sara Matheu, Paul Matheu, Christine Hawbaker and great-granddaughter Autumn Hawbaker.

Elmer was born July 24, 1927 in El Paso, Texas, the son of Elmer Baltz, Sr., a civil engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad, and Genevieve Hay Baltz. His brother, Lynn, died in childhood before Elmer was born. The family lived in San Marcial, New Mexico on the Rio Grande River until it was destroyed in the 1929 flood. Elmer spent his school years in Las Vegas, New Mexico where the surrounding landscape, people and way of life became embedded in his soul.

Elmer joined the Navy at the end of World War II and served in the Pacific, spending some time in China. After his discharge, he studied geology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where he eventually received his PhD in 1962. During his career with the U.S. Geological Survey, he pursued his life-long, consuming interest in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and surrounding areas of northern New Mexico. Some of the best years of his career were spent trudging the mountains, escarpments and valleys of the area, armed with his hammer, pick axe and survey tools. Not one to leave these investigations to the semi-professionals, he believed what was there is far more significant than what one thinks should be there. The intricate detail of his geologic maps are witness to his perseverance and diligence in the field. His scientific publications number more than 20 and some are used in universities across the country.

Dr. Baltz's career also included administrative stints in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado. He worked with the then U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and later for the Environmental Protection Agency. Though less favored than his scientific studies, his work involved many of the important environmental issues of the day, including fuels, water resources, regulation of nuclear power plants and safe disposal of nuclear waste.

Fortunately, in all these activities, Elmer was blessed with a strong, capable wife, the late Diana Hinman Baltz, who was a draftsman and geologist for the Survey. She bore and raised his five children. Elmer found time to introduce his sons to hunting and fishing, which became life-long passions for two of them. He instilled in all his children a love of nature, history and intellectual inquiry.

Elmer retired from the U.S. Geological Survey in 1985. To stay active, he joined the Colorado Archeological Society. His wife, Diana, passed away in 1989.

While working on the Swallows' Site dig near Ken Carroll, Elmer met Charlotte Bechtold. Charlotte's background in engineering and geology, and interest in archeology provided the perfect basis for a relationship that has lasted twenty years. Together, they received the Society's Golden Trowel award for their stratigraphic study of the Swallows' Site.

Elmer and Charlotte took trips to both Egypt and France to visit archeologic sites and explore the cities and countrysides.

Even in Elmer's waning years, his interest in archeology, science, history and current events never flagged. They took his ever-inquiring mind where his body could no longer go. His beloved companion Charlotte aided him in those journeys. He was able to pass, as he wished, at his home, attended by his family.

Memorial services will be held to celebrate his life at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23 at Mile Hi Church, 9077 W. Alameda Ave., Lakewood, CO. Private interment will take place earlier in the day at Golden Cemetery, Golden, Colorado.