Monthly Archives: December 2025

Robin (Van Sickle) House — Class of 1982

Robin House, born in Trona, California, passed away on December 18, 2026. She was raised in California and later made Arizona her home for nearly four decades. She was known for her kindness, compassion, and creativity. She loved reading and spent countless hours sewing, crocheting, and crafting. Making clothes, fabric pieces, jewelry, and purses brought her great happiness and allowed her to share her talents with others.

She worked for 12 years at DHL and later dedicated 10 years to Mesa Public Schools before
retiring. Her strong work ethic and caring nature were evident in everything she did. She is survived by her husband Ken, her son Jon, and her three sisters Sherri, Cindy, and Rhonda.
Her memory wili live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

Robert Rascoe — Class of 1955

I received an email from  Deril “Oogie” Schmitt telling me that his friend Bob Rascoe passed away on December, 21, 2025. In Genoa, Nevada. He moved there with his wife, Pat Finnelly in 2023. Bob and Pat dated in high school and reconnected again in 2018 and were married in 2020. Pat passed away in April of 2024.

The 1955 yearbook says Bob was Class president, Varsity Club president, was in the band for 4 years, played football for 4 years, played tennis, basketball and baseball. It would have been hard not to know who Bob was if you were going to Trona High School from 1952 to 1955. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more about his life after high school.

Our condolences to his family.

USAF Thunderbird Plane Crash Near Trona Airport

An F-16C Fighting Falcon – U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds – crashed on a dry lake bed adjacent to Trona Airport in San Bernardino County, California, south of Death Valley.

https://nypost.com/2025/12/03/us-news/us-military-plane-goes-down-in-massive-plume-of-black-smoke-in-california-desert/

In 1960 I witnessed something similar to this when a US Navy drone flew over the high school during lunch break and it crashed on the lake about 1/4 mile from the school. People from the plant including the AP&CC photographer, Al Gonzalez were pretty quick in responding.

When the Navy arrived they confiscated Al’s film and they put the drone on a flatbed and hauled it away.