Category Archives: Obituary

Viola Florence (Marshall) Fair — Class of 1948

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Viola Florence (Marshall) Fair passed away on August 22, 2018 after an extended illness. She was born October 14, 1930 in Lone Pine, CA to John W. and Rosella (Merrick) Marshall, grew up in Cartago, and graduated from Trona High School in 1948.

After receiving a business degree at San Bernardino Valley College in 1950, she was employed as a Service Representative at Southern Telephone (later General Telephone) until 1954. She met her future husband, Edward Fair, while she was in high school, and they married in 1952 when he was on leave from the Navy during the Korean War. She and Edward had two daughters and settled in Rialto.

The family moved to Citrus Heights in 1965. Viola created a loving home, supporting her family’s well-being in every way. She was a caring and devoted wife, mother, and friend, and adored her 4 grandchildren. She sewed beautiful clothes, and was talented in arts and crafts. She served as room mother, Sunday school teacher, and Girl Scout leader in support of her daughters. Viola is remembered for her delicious cooking, abundant canning, beautiful garden, and lovely oil paintings. She always had the right See’s candy for the occasion, and we are reminded of fun times with her when we taste butterscotch squares, strawberry-rhubarb pie, apricot-pineapple jam and her other favorites.

She loved animals, adopting many dogs and cats over the years and offering a friendly yard for wild animals and birds. Viola was a very giving person and volunteered throughout her life. She was an active member of Celtic Cross Presbyterian Church for decades, volunteered for over 20 years at the Casa Restaurant supporting the Sacramento Children’s Home, and supported the Thursday Club and Garden Club among others. She and Edward led projects to plant and maintain the Rusch House’s former Rose Garden for more than a decade.

Viola is survived by Edward, her beloved husband of over 65 years; brother, John W. Marshall Jr. (Beverly); daughters, Cheryl Zakskorn (Peter) and Pam Fair (Glen Sullivan); granddaughters, Stefanie Zakskorn Lynch (Brice), Stacie Zakskorn and Shelley Zakskorn Herzfeldt (Alex); grandson, Ted Sullivan; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Comber and Lillian Todd; many nieces and nephews; and her favorite cat, Ming. Viola was preceded in death by her parents as well as sisters, Jeanne Olson and Dorothy Park. Viola was kind, encouraging, and warm. Her smile, bright eyes, sense of humor and unconditional love will be forever missed. She will be laid to rest at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery; respecting her wishes, the service will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Viola’s memory may be made to the Mono Lake Committee (www.monolake.org) or the Sacramento SPCA (www.sspca.org).

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sacbee/obituary.aspx?n=viola-florence-fair-marshall&pid=190107015

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192752197/viola-florence-fair

Mary (Hurtado) Perez (1929-2018) — Class of 1948

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Our mother was born August 5, 1929 in the town of Aguascalientes, Mexico. She was raised in a small town in Trona, CA and moved with her family to Pittsburg, CA where she met the love of her life Joaquin.

A loving soul, Mary was the epitome of the perfect mother and wife. She dedicated her life to making sure her children were happy and taught us to pray and instilled the love of Jesus in our daily life. Everyone loved her fresh homemade tortillas, and her specialty Mexican dishes. Mom loved to read, crochet blankets for all the family, do word puzzles and she especially loved our visits to Thunder Valley Casino.

We are heartbroken that she is no longer with us, but have the assurance that she is with our Lord. A devoted wife and mother, Mary raised 7 children, Rebecca, (Mel), Richard, Christina, (Juan), Susan (Raymond), Vivian, (Barry) David, (Jennifer) and Steven.

Mom has 13 Grandchildren, Marissa, Maurice, Sarah, Katie, Jason, Damone, Angie, Natalie, Steven, Christofer, James, Zachary and Landon. Five great grandchildren, Malachi, Leilani, Lyla, Giselle, Noemi, Carter and Beau.

She is also survived by her brothers, Jess, Mike, Al, Frank, Joe and sisters, Lydia, Lupe, and Ellen. She is preceded in death by her parents, Jesus and Matilde Hurtado, her husband Joaquin Perez, sisters, Rachel Martin and Alice Tiscareno.

A memorial mass will be held on Friday, August 3, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ The King Catholic Church, 199 Brandon Rd., Pleasant Hill, CA with a reception immediately following at the Church Hall.

Mary HurtadoPerez
August 5, 1929 – July 1, 2018
Resident of Martinez
Concord Funeral Chapel
(925) 682-4242 • FD1006
www.ouimetbrothers.com

CAROLINE EDIEMAE (KEITH) BARRICK: CLASS OF 1959

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Edie, as she was known to all her family, friends, and co-workers, was born in Mojave, California, to Clyde Emerson and Dorothy Elva Keith of Trona, San Bernardino County, California.

She did all of her elementary and secondary schooling in the Trona Joint Unified School District. The day after her 1959 high school graduation she drove herself the 125 miles to San Bernardino to start Skadron Business College and find employment. Within a very short time and several months before she turned 18, she accepted employment with a small but well-respected law firm in Rialto, California, where she would be trained on the job to be a legal secretary.

On July 2, 1960, she married her high school sweetheart, John Thomas (“Tommy”) Barrick, in service presided over by the pastor who had headed her Trona church when she and Tommy had first met. The ceremony took place in a small church in Rialto. Tommy had just returned from military duty in Munich, Germany, and mustered out of his Army enlistment. When he was unable to find employment in the vicinity of Rialto, he resumed his employment at the chemical plant in Trona. That meant that Edie drove back out to the desert on her weekends off and he drove down to Rialto on his “long changes”. The long-distance arrangement continued for almost 2 years.

They rented modest living quarters in Rialto for the first 4 years of their married life. Then they bought a house in San Bernardino. Their home was always welcoming to friends and family and the gathering place for every holiday and many other celebrations. However, they never had children.

Edie worked diligently at her career. She was critical support for five separate members of the local legal profession who successively terminated her employment as they received appointments to assume judicial office in San Bernardino. Only one lawyer-employer chose not to follow that path during her 1959 to 2001 career; she retired from his practice.

Edie attended and helped develop formal legal assistant/paralegal courses at the University of Southern California to augment the many years of on the job training she gained in legal practices concentrating on litigation, personal injury, family law, probate, and estate planning. Over the course of a 43 year career, she saw law office technology transition from manual typewriters through personal computers and computer networks.

She was active as a member and as an officer in the local, state and national professional associations for legal secretaries, paralegals, and legal assistants. In 1985 she was recognized as “Legal Secretary of the Year” by her peers and the legal community in San Bernardino.

In retirement she provided caregiver services to her husband who had been forced into early retirement by a vehicular accident in 1996. Due to health issues for both spouses, they became homebodies after 2006, and ultimately engaged professional caregivers in their home. Prior to 2006, they had traveled within 28 of the states, including Hawaii, and portions of Canada. Their 54-year marriage ended with her husband’s passing in 2014. She was a resident of San Bernardino County for her entire 76 years of life.

She is survived by her only sibling, Cheryl E. Keith, of Rancho Cordova, California; her cousin Terry Jane (Garrison) Fasana of Baldwin Park, California; her cousin Colleen Baker of St. George, Utah; her cousin Judith Hamblin of Henderson, Nevada; and many other cousins in Kansas, Nevada, Idaho, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Her internment was at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside, California, on March 13, 2018.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/bloomington-ca/caroline-barrick-7778626

BEVERLY (COMPTON) WALLACK – CLASS OF 1954

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Beverly Jean Milbrath Wallack, 81, went to be with her savior on February 17, 2018, after a short bout with cancer.

Beverly was born on March 7, 1936 in Santa Paula, California, to Rita and Jasper Compton. With siblings Clova and Jim not far behind, they lived most of their school years in Trona, California. She was a cheerleader for Trona High, and well-liked by all her classmates. Up until 2017, she continued to attend the Trona High School reunions and kept in touch with classmates. After high school she married Adrian Milbrath and in 1957 had twin boys, and a year later, a girl. The family moved to Ridgecrest and lived in Wherry Housing, where she made more life long friends, and early on took in ironing to help with finances. They soon opened Balsam Coin Cleaners, a dry cleaning business on Balsam Street, a street which was the hub of the town in the day. Beverly had many talents, one being a seamstress, and she made many matching outfits for the kids (whom everyone then thought were triplets). During the time in Wherry, they bought property on Downs street, and spent many weekends planting and watering trees, and eventually building their dream home, which they were able to move into in 1971. Adrian had his pilot’s license, and together they would fly various friends to Mexico for vacations. They attended many evening functions, and she would always make something new to wear. Usually, it included some kind of feathered accessory. She was indeed the fashionista. She worked at Mesquite High School as the secretary for Pat Davis, who was the principal. She loved her job, the people she worked with, as well as the students, and made more lifelong friends. She then attended Lancaster Beauty School and came back to Ridgecrest to open The Face Place. It was a career that she had a passion for, she loved her clients and her clients loved her. After she and Adrian divorced, she gave up The Face Place, married Mike Wallack, and moved to San Bernardino. Mike and Beverly made many a trip flying to various air shows in his plane. After Mike retired from the San Bernardino Sherriff’s department, they moved to Silver Lakes and made it their forever home. They had a house built on one of the fingers, and a party barge. On 4th of July you could find them on the water watching the fireworks with friends and family. Every morning she would walk 3 miles around the lake, and in the summer you could find her at the pool doing laps, and water aerobics. She joined the Arts & Crafts Guild and was the expert for all the sewing, knitting, and crocheting needs. At the annual luncheon, everyone would anxiously wait to find out what Beverly had made to wear this year. After Mike passed, she bought a motor home and was a member of the Elk’s and Silver Lakes RV clubs. She traveled all over the country with her sister, friends, and the clubs enjoying life at its fullest. All anyone had to say was “Beverly we are…..” and her answer was “count me in”.

Everywhere Beverly went, she was involved in many activities, making new friends, and never letting the grass grow under her busy feet. She played racquetball and swam on her lunch hours while working at Mesquite, she learned to line dance, and would take every opportunity to participate wherever she was. She was a member of the Arts & Craft Guild in Silver Lakes, the American Sewing Guild, the Red Hat Scarlets, Knitting and Crocheting Club, The Republican Women’s Association, and she was a Shepherd’s Helper at Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Beverly was a vivacious woman who loved Jesus, her family and friends, and life. She was a great mom and grandmother, a good and giving friend to many, and in turn, loved by many and will be dearly missed.

Beverly is survived by her children, Robert Milbrath (Jeana) of Havasu City, AZ, Richard Milbrath, and April Castleberry (Tim), both of Ridgecrest, CA; Sister, Clova Dyer of San Bernardino; Stepchildren Linda Ferguson and David Wallack, both of San Bernardino, CA; grandchildren Bryan, Cody, Vanessa, Gregory, Lucas, Michael and Travis; and great-grandchildren Kaylee, Jacob, Madison, Jaxson, Cheyanne, Joseph, Jude, Gianna, and Daniel. Her parents, her brother Jim, and husband Mike preceded her in death.

A funeral mass will be held at Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at 17900 Jonathan St. in Adelanto on March 8th at 11:00, with a reception to follow. A charitable contribution may be made to the American Cancer Society.http://www.taftmidwaydriller.com/news/20180303/beverly-jean-milbrath-wallack 

ELIZABETH M. “BETH” (ROBINSON) SMITH – CLASS OF 1945

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Elizabeth M. “Beth” Smith December 25, 1927 – February 20, 2018 Solana Beach

Elizabeth Mary Smith passed away on February 20th, 2018. Beth was born on Dec. 25, 1927, to Jeoffrey Lycurgus Robinson and Eileen Stella Loman in Santa Monica, California and raised in the desert town of Trona. As loved and revered by her family as any person could be, it was said she was a “matriarch with a heart”. This was displayed daily by her actions, supporting Catholic charities, taking in the poor and disadvantaged, being a mother to many beyond her cherished children. Beth will be met in heaven by her dearest husband the Honorable Donald Smith, son Geoffrey, granddaughter Megan, and brothers Mark, Malcolm, Michael, and Bruce. She is survived and beloved by her children Matthew (Pam), Peter (Rita), Suzanne (Bill), Sara (Steve), John (Beatriz), daughter-in-law Christine, sister Eileen and brother Bill, as well as her eleven grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She attended Flintridge High School and later in life went back to San Diego State University and received a bachelor degree in Spanish. In life, Beth loved her family, her Church, and the Democratic Party. She was an avid traveler who took trips to every corner of the globe to meet new people, expand her worldview, and learn about our common experiences. During summers and holidays, she hosted her family for weeks at a time, playing with grandchildren and extend family who lovingly called her “Ba” and talking the latest news of the Church, U.S. politics, and global events. In quiet times, she loved a glass of chardonnay with an ice cube and a good book or film. She will be remembered for her beauty, humor, and grace.She was loved so much by her family and will be missed more than words can express. The family ask flowers be sent to the El Cajon Mortuary or donations be made in her name to NAMI San Diego. Viewing will be held at the El Cajon Mortuary on Friday, March 2nd, from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. followed by a Rosary. Services will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery Chapel at 11:30 A.M. on Saturday, March 3rd with reception to follow.

Published in The San Diego Union Tribune on Feb. 27, 2018

SYLVIA (CHAVARRIA) DELGADILLO: CLASS OF 1953

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Age 83, of Palmdale passed away on January 13, 2018. She was born in Trona, Calif. on January 3, 1935. She was married to Juan Delgadillo for 55 years. Sylvia is survived by two children, Melissa Williams and Rosemary Columna (Ernesto); five grandchildren, Kamryn, Grant, Addyson, Pierce and Isabella. 3 brothers and a sister also survive her. Her husband Juan, daughter Nadeen and son-in-law Glen Williams precede her in death. She will be truly missed by her family and friends. A viewing will be held at Our Lady’s Chapel next to Saint Junipero Serra Parish, Quartz Hill, at 9:00 am, Wednesday, January 24, 2018. A mass will be held following viewing at 10:00 am.
Interment will follow mass at Good Shepard Cemetery, Lancaster, CA  

Published in The Antelope Valley Press on Jan. 21, 2018

Cathy Goodman – Class of 1956

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(Catherine Goodman/Brooks) passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2018.

On January 14, 2018 Catherine went home to be with the lord. She was born in Coalinga, CA on September 16, 1937 to Walter and Bonnie Goodman. Walter was an oilfield worker and Bonnie had taught school but was a stay at home mom taking care of Catherine and two older sisters Bonnie M. and Avery D. Later a fourth child, Dorothy M., come into the family. Her father was said to have commented that “4 queens beats 3 aces anytime.” All of her childhood family are deceased.

Soon her father was placed in charge of a company oil field, near Maricopa, Ca and the moved to a company home on the lease. Later tragedy struck the family when her father died suddenly. Faced with the task of supporting herself and 4 girls, her mother needed to return to school to complete the courses need to re-instate her teaching credentials. During this time the 4 girls were placed in the David and Margaret school for girls in La Vern, CA

Upon getting her teaching credentials updated her mother moved them to a home she purchased on King St. in Bakersfield, Ca. When the older girls reached the dating age her mother felt more comfortable taking teaching jobs in smaller communities where she believed she could better watch her girls. She moved to Frazier Park, Ca and taught school there for several years. After the two older girls had married the mother took a teaching position in Trona, CA , and moved there with the two remaining girls.

Catherine and sister Dorothy both attended Trona High school. Catherine married a local boy and had three children. Dorothy and Valerie Brooks still reside in Trona, while her son Brian Brooks resides with his family in Forsyth, Georgia.

In 1976 Catherine had divorced and moved to Las Vegas, where she earned a real estate license. While attending a real estate conference she met a young man and re-married. By 1981 the marriage and fallen apart and Catherine moved to Upland, Ca where she worked at various sales jobs. Eventually she returned to her real estate profession and sold new homes for the J.M. Peters company located in Southern California.

Eventually, she met and Married Stan Andersen who resided in Washington State.

Catherine could not get the desert out if her soul and she and Stan bought a home in Trona and lived part time on the desert and part time in Washington State.

They sold their home in Trona and moved to Ridgecrest where they were residing when she passed away.

She is survived by her husband Stanly Andersen, her daughters Dorothy and Valerie Brooks of Trona and her son Brian Brooks of Forsyth Georgia. She has 9 Grand children, 14 great grand children and 3 great, great grand children.

On Feb. 10th at about noon family and friends will meet to celebrate Catherine’s life. Directions are: From intersection of Drummond street and Norma drive North on Norma about 2 blocks, turn right at big Rodeway Inn sign, Then go to Heritage club house at end of street.

http://www.taftmidwaydriller.com/news/20180130/catherine-goodman-andersen 

Wilda Gail Baker (1943 -2017)

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Wilda Gail Baker born June 17th 1943 in Red mountain California returned to her heavenly father December 2nd 2017. “Gail” loved the gospel and loved serving others in her community. She was always quick with a smile or an encouraging word. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She loved music, and gardening but most of all she loved her family. She is proceeded in death by her parents Marrion Rolins and Wilda Rolins, Her daughter Dinah Defelix, and her loving husband James Baker. She is survived by her son James Baker and 4 grandchildren.

Services with be held and Holland and Lyons Mortuary Chapel, 216 S Norma St., Monday December 11th at 10 am. Graveside services will follow at Rand Cemetery in Johannesburg, California.

http://www.ridgecrestca.com/news/20171208/wilda-gail-baker

Dennis D. Sizemore – Class of 1961

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Dennis Duane Sizemore of Ridgecrest died Nov. 30, 2015, from injuries sustained in an accident. He was 71.

Dennis was born to Verna Kathleen Cagle and John Edward Sizemore on Jan. 29, 1944, in Joplin, Mo. He was raised in Galena, Kan., eventually settling in Trona, where he graduated from high school.

Dennis worked as a welder, pipe-fitter, millwright, and supervisor at Kerr-McGee. He later worked at IWV Water District and retired from the city of Ridgecrest in 2000 as manager of the wastewater treatment plant.

Dennis’ life-long passion for horses was manifested in his superior horse training, horseshoeing and team roping abilities. He was a volunteer member of the Tulare County Mounted Search and Rescue Team. His latest adventures were with Harley motorcycles and a Goldwing trike, on which he and Karen cruised to Montana.

Dennis is survived by his wife Karen; children Darryn Sizemore, Tiffaney Frodin, Cathleen and Chris Beausang, John and Stacey Connolly, David Connolly and Russ and Hope Fielder; grandchildren Kodi Frodin, Katy and Gavin Fielder, Shawn Connolly and Josh and Ben Grindheim.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, at the All Faith Chapel, China Lake. In lieu of flowers, donations to Wounded Warrior Project in Dennis’ name would be appreciated (support.woundedwarriorproject.org).

Arrangements were by Holland & Lyons Mortuary.

— Submitted by the family of Dennis Sizemore