From Walter Martin on Facebook:
My twin brother Wallace Martin passed away on Wednesday [04/03/2019]. He was my best friend and I will miss him dearly. Please keep the family in your prayers.
This is sad moment for all of us who knew and remembered Wallace. I feel sadness that he has passed but I also feel joy for having known him. I will post additional information as it becomes available. — Editor
We now have dates for services to be held for Wallace:
Wallace Dean Martin
If you haven’t found this site yet pay it a visit. It has some great historical photos of Trona’s neighbors to the north.
Wayne D. Chappell age 90 of Cambridge, passed away on Friday March 15, 2019 @ SEORMC. He was born August 13, 1928 in Los Angeles a son to the late Walter A. and Edna M. (Swingle) Chappell.
Wayne retired from Trona Railroad as a superintendent with 34 years of service, he served in the Merchant Marines and the Coast Guard, and was a member of the Eagles Aerie #386, Byesville VFW 3760, and the Elks of Trona, California.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by two brothers Joe and Pat, a sister Wanda, step son John Rose, and his first wife, Wanda.
Survivors include his wife Dodie (Politano) Chappell of Cambridge whom he married June 6, 1984, a son Daniel Chappell of Alaska, a daughter Dana (Starr) Carnes-Harding of San Ramon, two step daughters Jean (Jerry) Sills of Byesville, and Jonnie-Kay (Jon) Latchic of Cambridge, two grandchildren, two great grandchildren, four step grandchildren, and seven step great grandchildren.
Memorial visitation will be held on Monday from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at Black-Epperson funeral home in Byesville, with military services to follow .
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to black-eppersonfuneralhomes.com
Patrick Dunne sent me a link to the following article from 2015 HIGH & DRY. I thought it was worth sharing:
Delores and Joe Hudson are finishing lunch when we come into the Esparza Family Restaurant. After ordering hamburgers, we sit down. Soon Osceola has engaged Delores and Joe in conversation. I am drawn into the story of their lives together. This year they are coming up on their sixtieth wedding anniversary. I think about my wife’s recent death after 46 years of marriage, and the loss makes me feel closer to Joe and Delores. I am envious they will have the company of each other in old age. After a long time together, the emptiness from the death of a partner leaves you feeling no ground beneath your feet and your future unknown.
They once lived in Trona, but moved to nearby Ridgecrest for family reasons. Delores aches to return. [ more… ]
Linda Spears has made us aware that her aunt, Diana Sue (Akam) Gonzales passed away March 4, 2019 with cancer. She will be missed by her family, friends and classmates.
Neal D. (Rogers) Montgomery died March 8, 2019 in Lawton, OK. She attended Trona High School and was the class of 1971. While at Trona High School she played tennis and was in the high school marching band. After graduation she married Steven Montgomery and had 2 children, a son Christopher Neal and a daughter Candice Ann. She and her husband went on to join the Foreign Service and she worked abroad as a Diplomatic Courier until she retired in 2014. She had a jet-setting life that carried her and her family around the globe. She loved to travel, was extremely outgoing, had strong political opinions, was an avid gardener and green thumb, an aspiring architect, and a wonderful mother and wife. She was preceded in death by her son Christopher, father Wilburn D. Rogers (who worked for Kerr McGee), sister Mickey (Rogers) Brannon (class of 66), her mother Thelma Rogers (who was a school bus driver for Trona for 25 years), and 2 weeks before her own death her brother David Rogers (class of 76). Her husband and daughter live in Clovis, CA. She is missed and loved by so many people all over the world.
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Class of 1971 just lost a dear friend and classmate. Neala Rogers Montgomery passed away this morning ( March 10, 2019) of a heart attack. She had just buried her brother, David Rogers, on Thursday in Oklahoma and was due to fly home to California this morning with her husband. No other information is available at this time. Neala’s mother, Thelma Rogers worked for the Trona Joint Unified School District for 25 years. Her father, Wilburn David (Bud) Rogers worked for A.P.&C.C.
Sharon R. Hunter passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 1, 2019, surrounded by her family and friends.
Sharon was born on April 9, 1942, in Trona, CA, and lived in Trona almost her entire life. She retired from the West End facility in Trona and spent her time in retirement keeping busy in her community and with her family. She enjoyed traveling and spent many vacations in the states and internationally; besides her little hometown, Hawaii was her most cherished place to be.
Sharon had a deep love for photography, taking pictures of family, friends and at special events happening around Trona. She took extra pride in her community, always making friends feel like family and one of her biggest accomplishments was to care for her trees that line the bike path.
She was loved by her family and friends and will be deeply missed.
Sharon is survived by Jim Hunter, her loving husband of 21 years; her son, Danny Lewis and wife Marni; and her daughter, Shanna Lewis. She is also survived by her stepdaughters Deana Garrison and husband David, along with Deborah Kramer.
Sharon leaves behind her grandchildren: Cameron Lewis and his wife, Kyla; Eric Lewis and his wife, Karessa; Robyn Lewis; Kyle Harrison; Keana Harrison; Kyle Leer; Hunter Maddux; Devon Kramer; Briana Heath; Venessa Gonzalez, husband Andrez; Richelle Branson, her husband Daniel; and Jennifer Smith, her husband Jared.
She also leaves behind her 10 precious great-grandchildren, whom she loved with all her heart.
Sharon’s funeral will be at the First Baptist Church in Trona at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 9.
https://www.ridgecrestca.com/obituaries/20190306/sharon-r-hunter
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197425995/sharon-r.-hunter
James passed away February 26, 2019. He is missed by his family, friends and classmates. James was born on March 6, 1947 and passed away on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. James was a resident of Ridgecrest, California at the time of passing. He was buried at Desert Memorial Park 801 S San Bernardino Rd Ridgecrest, CA 93555.
The children of Martin Joseph Hicks sadly announce the passing of their father. He was born 10-2-1931 and passed away on 2-16-2019. He was a Trona High School teacher, football coach, basketball coach, track coach, and elementary school teacher from 1981 to 1999.
Services will be held on Saturday March 9th at 2:30 at the Murrieta Community Center, 41810 Juniper Street,Murrieta, Ca 92562
David Wayne “Buck” Rogers (Class of 1976) passed away suddenly in his home yesterday morning (February 20, 12019) in Kihei, HI. Services are pending. David’s mother, Thelma Rogers worked for the Trona Joint Unified School District for 25 years. His father, Wilburn David (Bud) Rogers worked for A.P.&C.C.
Update: David’s sister, Neala died while attending David’s funeral. Services for David were held in Oklahoma.