Linda Monroe Cunningham sent word that Melvin Quinton died in Ridgecrest on July 9, 2014. I will provide more information if it becomes available.
Melvin’s obituary is in the Ridgecrest Independent.
Howard Vassar, 77, of Polson, Montana and formerly of Trona, California, passed away June 6, 2014 at his home after a long battle with cancer.
Howard was born on September 24, 1936 in Amarillo, Texas to William and Willie Vassar. He grew up in southern California between Trona and Bishop. He worked for his dad sacking salt and driving trucks until he was drafted into the Army serving in the 101st Airborne, Screaming Eagles.
On September 11th, 1961, he married Deanna Marie Garner, settling in Trona building a family and a successful equipment contracting business until he retired 1982 and they moved to Polson, Montana.
Howard helped build and sponsor little league football in Trona, as well as sponsoring the high school football team. He was one of the founders of the first motorcycle clubs in southern California-The Sidewinders.
Howard enjoyed many outdoor activities; such as, motorcycling, dune buggies, water skiing, horseback riding, rodeos, roping, hunting and fishing. His one true passion that he developed over his life time was the love of trap shooting. He won the prestigious Butte Rod & Gun Club Medal in 1999 and attended the ATA World Championship in Vandalia, Ohio with his team mates in 2003. In his career he shot 84, 125 single targets, 93, 800 handicap targets and 65, 250 doubles targets for a grand total of 243, 275 registered targets since 1988.
He is preceded in death by his father William Charles Vassar, mother Willie Lee Vassar, step-father Clifford C. Jones; sisters Margie Conrad and Juanita Vassar and his brothers Edward and Bobby Vassar.
He is survived by his wife Deanna Vassar; children Renee Morgan (Larry Morgan), Radean Vassar (Ryan Boden), Howard ‘Howdy’ Vassar (Debbie Sargent-Vassar) and Tina Vassar-Buser (Mike Buser); seven grandchildren Chad Morgan, Jill (Morgan) Marlow, Aaron Morgan, Christopher Vassar, Caitlyn Vassar, Amber Caraway and Rainee Vassar; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Howard is also survived by his brother John Vassar and numerous nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.
A celebration of his life will be held Friday, June 13th at 11:00 am at Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery. – See more at: http://www.groganfuneralhome.com/obituary/William-Howard-Vassar/Polson-MT/1389301#sthash.oMOw5QxW.dpuf
William Howard Vassar of Polson, Montana who was a member of the Trona High School Class of 1955 died at 2:00 pm on June 6, 2014. The funeral will be at 11:00 AM, Friday June 13, 2014 and will be held at the Grogan Funeral Home 101 Sixth Ave. East. Polson, Montana 59860 406-883-2808.
Freddie Carrasco, Class of ’58 passed away May 20, 2014. No details.
George Sherman adds:
Freddie was a great guy. His sister, Josephine (Carrasco) Sepulveda, was in my class (1956) and passed away a few years ago. He married Monica Wheeler of the Trona High School class of 1957. I believe they were living in Ridgecrest.
Bill Schuette adds:
I am so sorry to hear about Freddie.
He was in my Trona Class from the second grade on. He was the best speaker in Miss Delores M. Sandeen second grade class. I worked with Freddie at Van Dyke Motors during the last couple of years at Trona High School. He was a man of many desires and passions, and was always friendly and considerate of others.
This is a great loss for the class of ’58.
I have just learned from David’s sister, Bonnie, that my longtime neighbor and childhood friend, David Mock, passed away on October 4, 2013. Bonnie, his sister, said that the muscular dystrophy (MD) pain was getting to him and he was in a great deal of pain that not even the medication could relieve.
This is corrects an earlier error about his death date and sadly, an admission that I don’t take the time to read things very well.
Kathleen Hurlocker Roche, 77, of Redding CA, passed away the morning of March 5th, 2014. Kathleen was born in Bemidji, Minn. on March 19th, 1936, to Harold and Isabel Hurlocker.
Kathleen graduated from High School in Trona, CA in 1953 and went on to receive her degree in English from UC Berkeley in 1957.
She was married to Patrick J. Roche on September 7th, 1957.
Kathleen was the first woman in her family to receive a college degree. Learning and education were an ongoing passion in her life. She continued to lead in education through multiple terms on the Redding Elementary School board including a term as President. She was active with the AAUW including serving two terms as President and in 1987 received the AAUW Woman of Achievement award.
She was also active with the Shasta County Women’s Refuge and served as President of the Board. Kathleen enjoyed helping people through her paralegal business. She loved working on her roses and helping Patrick in the garden as well as going to local museums, art fairs, community concerts and picnics with the “Brandy Creek Gang”.
She was survived by her husband of 57 years, Patrick J. Roche; Her children, Heather Roche-Waldo and husband Raymond; Kelly Roche; Michael Roche; Kevin Roche and husband Andrew Trembley; Grandchild Alexander Waldo; Sisters, Alicia Philpot and husband Charles; Holly Farrah-Elliott and husband Frank; Brother Patrick Hurlocker and wife Valeria as well as her many nieces and nephews and lifelong friends.
Mass and reception will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, March 11th, 2014 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 2040 Walnut Ave., Redding, CA. 96001.
In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Kathy can be made to AAUW Local Scholarships.
Please send your donation to P. O. Box 4593, Redding, CA 96099-4593, or to “One Safe Place” (formerly Shasta Women’s Refuge) at 2280 Benton Place, 96001. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/redding/obituary.aspx?n=kathleen-roche-hurlocker&pid=170040569#sthash.Ah3uucdU.dpuf
Published in Redding Record Searchlight from Mar. 7 to Mar. 11, 2014
California-Obits.com lists the following residents of Trona as having died in 2013:
Don C. Chute, 40 – Dec 17, 2013
Patricia E. Partlow, 75 – Dec 10, 2013
Serena S. Hall, 74 – Sep 24, 2013
Frances E. Fuller, 60 – Jul 15, 2013
David J. Groat, 62 – May 13, 2013
Keith E. Sayre, 56 – Apr 28, 2013
Mary E. Vassar, 85 – Apr 21, 2013
Selma L. Fortner, 89 – Apr 11, 2013
Donald W. Mcnatt, 80 – Mar 1, 2013
Brigitte Henderson, 64 – Feb 5, 2013
This is based on information in the Social Security database as their address at the time of death. If anyone would like to add any additional information about anyone that is listed please contact me.
Grace Rodriguez, 71 – Jan 11, 2014 is listed as having died in 2014.
The Memorial will be held at the Eastside Cemetery in Tehachapi Saturday, February 15th, at 11:00 am. This will be followed by a luncheon at Pacino’s at noon. Pacino’s is allowing the group to visit for as long as it wishes.
Cemetery – Take Tehachapi Blvd to Dennison Road. Turn onto Dennison Road going back toward Highway 58, cross the railroad tracks and at the end of the road is the cemetery.
Pacino’s is almost at the intersection of Tehachapi Blvd and highway 202. The address is: 1100 Tehachapi Blvd.
For More information about Freda visit:
Barbara (Jessup) Hansen, died January 21, 2014. She was in the class of 1960. This news came my way in an email from Curtis Hansen. No services are planed. I will post further details if I become aware of them.
Richard Wilkinson passed away in November of 2013 at the age of 88. Mr. Wilkinson was a beloved teacher and coach at Trona High School from the 51-52 school year until the 54-55 school year. Although he left before I started high school I can tell by how well he was remembered that he left an impression on his students duding the four years he was in Trona.