Monthly Archives: November 2021

Benny McCullar

Benny McCullar — Class of 1959

Benjamin Keith McCullar (1941-2021) was born to Thurman P. and Beatrice McCullar on December 4, 1941 in Oklahoma. He died July 2, 2021 at his home in Grass Valley, California.

Benny played varsity baseball and basketball in high school. The 1959 varsity basketball team won all of their leauge games to become the DIL champions. They played three CIF games before they were defeated by Santa Clara in the fourth game of the playoffs.

The McCullar family moved to Trona from Snyder, Oklahoma in 1955. Thurman worked for Stauffer Chemical in Westend. Thurman died in 1979 and was buried in the Searles Valley Cemetery. Beatrice died in 2008 in Bakersfield. Benny’s older sister, Beth, was a member of the class of 1957. She went to school in Trona for one year before getting married in 1956. Beth died in 2015 in Bakersfield.

Frances Jones

Frankie J (Jones) Young — Class of 1954

Frances Jeanette Jones was born to Rupert and Edith Jones Nov 17, 1936 in Oregon and passed away Nov 23, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. Her father, Rupert, died in 1974 and her mother, Edith, died in 2008. Frankie has a brother, Bruce who was a member of the class of 1958.

When in high school Frankie was a member of the Girls Athletic Association, Telescope staff and Komerce Klub.

We would like to express our sincere condolences to her family.


William “Bill” Wright — Class of 1972

William “Bill” Wright Class of 1972 passed away November 13, 2021 with his wife Debra Seagle Wright by his side. Please join us on November 21, 2021 at 1pm at the Trona Elementary School Cafeteria for a celebration of life, with a burial following at the Searles Valley Cemetery. Reception following for family and friends at Trona Elementary School Cafeteria.

Qwen Knowles

Gwen (Holland/Knowles) Russell — Class of 1953

We just learned of the of Qwen Russell’s passing. She died in December of 2020. 

Gwen was the daughter of Ruth Knolwes and step daughter of Howard Knowles. 

Gwen went by her step father’s name, Knowles when she was growing up but her birth name was Holland. Gwen was the widow of Ira Russell who was in the class of 1951. 
I believe Gwen was living in Ridgecrest at the time of her death. Her brother, Bruce Knowles, was in the class of 1964 and her brother, Kenneth Knowles, was in the class of 1967.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/227241748/gwendolyn-may-russell