William "Bill" Hudgins

William “Bill” Gordon Hudgins passed away peacefully on his 99th birthday, September 18, 2023, while surrounded by family.

Bill was born in 1924 Carlsbad, NM to Essie Jones and William N. Hudgins, and spent most of his youth in Santa Fe.

Bill left the University of New Mexico after enrolling in the U.S. Navy V-12 Program in 1942 and arrived in Los Alamos in 1943 as the first SED- Special Engineering Detachment performing radiochemistry and metallurgy. He enlisted in the Army Engineers and continued supporting the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos until WWII ended.

After the war, Bill pursued Chemistry and Anthropology at UC Berkeley and UNM. He returned to chemistry at Los Alamos Scientific Lab in 1950 and later worked on the MANIAC and STRETCH computers. He retired in 1984.

In 1953, Bill married Helen Jeanne Proctor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne, and his brother James Hudgins.

Bill is survived by his two children Steven Hudgins and Leslie Evans, his two grandchildren Ian and Eliza Evans, as well as several nieces and nephews.

In Bill’s retirement he loved exploring Northern New Mexico- viewing the geology, geography and the clouds- and a wide variety of hobbies that included gardening, landscaping, stained glass, silversmithing and antique restoration.

Rivera Funeral Home thanks the Hudgins’ family for allowing them to care for Bill. Please leave the family messages, photos, and stories here for the family to cherish.