Clyde Wilson Chesnutt
On October 25, 2025, Rev. Clyde Wilson Chesnutt, age 93, of Albuquerque, NM passed away peacefully at home with his only surviving child, Caroline Chesnutt present. Clyde’s first wife, Mary Ellen Balch, predeceased him and they shared three children during their marriage and later lives. His two sons, Jon and Gale, predeceased him. Caroline cared for her father in her home the past several years. The celebration of his life and internment will be in his hometown of Holdenville, OK on January 17th, 2026.
Clyde was also survived by three granddaughters in the Kansas City area, Cassie (Duke) Christopher, Cayla (Kara) Montgomery and Christiana (Ryan) Castillo— including all their children. His parents, Clyde W. Chesnutt and Loraine Chesnutt, as well as his later adoptive mother, Dorothy R. Chesnutt, predeceased him. Three brothers survive, Lon (Ev), Ken (Linda) and Tom (Peggy). Clyde always maintained special relationships with his Felker stepsons, Ross (Gail), Greg (Elyssa) & Wade (Donna) & delighted to hear of them & of their children.
Clyde played a trumpet in the Holdenville High School Band and later lettered as center on the Holdenville football team of 1950. He attended OU where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and sang in the OU Glee Club, before graduating with a Letters degree in 1954. He then attended SMU and graduated from Perkins School of Divinity. He started his ministerial efforts in Oklahoma as Director of the Wesley Foundation at OU and after three years moved to Grove, OK as UMC pastor. Upon joining the Southwest Texas-New Mexico Methodist conferences, Clyde and Mary Ellen served in Alpine, Portales and El Paso. Later, he married Dotsy (Felker), and they served in Estes Park and Blanco before his longest service as pastor, leading Lake Travis United Methodist Church in the Austin area. Clyde also worked in journalism for some years as Associate Editor of the newspaper “Texas Methodist/United Methodist Reporter” as well as producing his own monthly newsletter of sermon illustrations “Windows to Truth”. In retirement years he and Dotsy travelled extensively within the US and eventually in Europe. Clyde accepted some part-time and temporary ministry posts in Italy, France & England during which they took full advantage of being tourists themselves as well as hosting numerous family and friends. In every religious effort, Clyde was an instrument for the Word and brought diverse views together in the spirit of the Lord with service and vision. His wisdom and suggestive sermons will be missed by all those that knew him.
In Albuquerque, Clyde enjoyed the music program immensely at St. John’s United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St John’s United Methodist Church 2626 Arizona Street NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110 (Music Ministry), phone 505/883-9717. On their website: https://www. stjohns-abq.org “Give Online” there is an option under “Funds” for “Music Ministry”.
Clyde valued friends and enjoyed having friends from all over the world. Until the last few months, he maintained at least yearly contact with many of them. Know that his smile will be great when he sees you again!