Bervin Leonard Caswell

Bervin Leonard Caswell of Carlsbad passed away on June 25, 2021 at Carlsbad Medical Center. A longtime resident of the city, he was 75.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 2 pm at First United Methodist Church in Carlsbad.
Leonard was born October 7, 1945 in El Paso to Bervin and Etha Mae Caswell. Being the son of a Methodist minister, Leonard enjoyed all the new experiences he had and the people he met while living in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. He attended Carlsbad High School where he was active in sports and was introduced to woodworking, a lifelong love. He developed enduring friendships among his high school carpool; all members of the 1963 state champion Caveman football team. He graduated in 1964 and attended McMurry College in Abilene, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Education. While there, he was involved in KIVA Social Club as Pledge Master, Delegate to Model U.N., Delegate to SCONA (Student Conference on National Affairs) and Senior Representative and met the love of his life, Kathy Wilbanks. He and Kathy married in the summer after graduating in 1968, settling in Carlsbad, NM. He accepted a teaching job with the Carlsbad Municipal School District and his career course was set – for the next 26 years he taught 6th and 7th grade Social Studies at Alta Vista Junior High, and for the first nine years, he coached track and basketball. In 1994, he retired and started a new career in construction. He loved solving problems and helping his customers. During these years, he enjoyed dressing up as various characters on holidays and visiting friends at work and handing out rubber ducks. He served the community as a Sunday School teacher and was on the Board of Pastor Parish Relations at First Methodist Church. He also served on the Board of Trustees at the Carlsbad Public Library. He loved his life.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, brother James and sister-in-law Linda. He is survived by Kathy, his wife of 53 years; daughter Shannon Caswell, Carlsbad; son Joshua Caswell and his wife Isabel, Carlsbad; grandchildren Katie Miller, Nathan Ingram, Bryanna Ingram, LaRyssa Ingram and Andrue Caswell; great-grandchildren Laightan Miller and Mateo Ingram; sister Karen Caswell, Carlsbad; brother Jon Caswell and sister-in-law Jackie, both of Dallas; nieces Angie Secrest, Alamogordo; Toni Clark and family, South Carolina; and Holly Bryne and family, Arizona; nephews James Robert Caswell and family, Texas; Ben Caswell and family, California; and Randy Wilbanks and family, Nevada.
Memorial contributions can be made at Carlsbad Foundation 114 S Canyon St., Carlsbad, NM 88220