Our community lost a very special person yesterday, Jerry Dufloth. The service will be Service for Jerry Dufloth will be Saturday May 20, 2017 at the Trona Cemetery at 11:00 AM. We will gather at the Trona Elks Lodge after the service. If you would like to make a dish or dessert please contact Bob Huggins or Analisa Huggins. 209-595-7287,
Jerry was a graduate of Trona High School and has been a long time resident of Trona.
Frances Ann Atkins, 73, of Lavaca Arkansas went to be with the Lord on April 3rd 2017, at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born October 23, 1943 to Thomas Henry (T.H.) Brown and Frances Laverne Berkshire Brown. She was married to Gerald Atkins for 55 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, and great-grandson, Evan Atkins.
Frances is survived by her Husband, Gerald Wade and four loving sons: Dan (Diane) of Conway; Jim (Charla) of Greenwood; Matt (Stacy) of Lavaca and Tom (Angie) of Fort Smith. Seven Grandchildren: Jeremy (Sarah) Atkins and Sarah Atkins of Conway; Shelby and Maycee Atkins of Greenwood; Joshua (Megan) Atkins of VanBuren; Jordan Atkins of Lavaca and Tyler Atkins of Fort Smith. One great-grandchild Cassie Atkins of VanBuren. Frances is also survived by one loving brother, Tommy Dan Brown (Judy) of Greenwood, AR and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was a member of First Southern Baptist Church of Central City.
She was a Sunday School teacher for many years in Lavaca and in California. Frances was a 1961 graduate of Trona High School in Trona California.
Frances was a life-long homemaker . For all who knew her, you know she was happiest when her home was filled with family and friends. She found great joy cooking and camping with her friends and family. She loved playing games, especially marbles, with her grandchildren.
There will be a visitation Friday, April 7th from 6-8 p.m. at First Southern Baptist in Central City. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 8th at 10 a.m. at First Southern in Central City, under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home, with burial at Lavaca cemetery immediately following. Brother Russ Tyler will officiate the services.
Pallbearers are Jeremy Atkins, Joshua Atkins, Tyler Atkins, Robin Cameron, Mike Ray, Darren Brown, Charles Parish, Michael Thomas. Honorary Pallbearers are Dewayne Glidewell, Frankie Glidewell, Johnny Glidewell, Kenny Hobbs, Leon Meyer, Dennis Odom and Arnold Sexton.
Lasting memorials may be made to First Southern Baptist Children’s Ministries.
The family would like to express special thanks to Peachtree Hospice, especially Brandi and Cookie; Dr Flippin, Kathy, and staff and Mercy Oncology/Chemotherapy team.
A very special thanks to the friends and family for the love, meals, and support given to our family over the last months. Your kindness will always be remembered.
Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com
After an extended series of health challenges, one of the Almighty’s special ladies was elevated to her eternal rest Monday November 14, 2016. Bette Dilbeck Flint, wife and life partner to George Flint, quietly passed away on her and George’s 47th wedding anniversary.
Bette was born to Arlo Dilbeck and Imogene Jewell Stover Dilbeck, both deceased. Her sibling sisters, Phyllis and Dorothy, also both preceded Bette in her passing. She leaves a sister, Sandy Dilbeck of Carson City.
This wonderful lady was Mom and Stepmom to six children, Marni Louise Stauts of Boise, Idaho and Dean Robert of Reno. She was also “Mom” to George’s four children: Jackie Pryor of Sparks, Margaret Flint of Reno, Peggy “Jody” Byers previously deceased and Michael Geoffrey Flint of sparks.
Several Grandchildren also survive Bette. These include Gretchen of Denver, Hannah of Stanley, ID, Stan of Fernley and Melody Grace, Stephanie, Gregory, Alexandria, Emmali Jacquelyn, Ellen Grace, Ben and Caleb all of Reno. A dozen Great Grandchildren also are left to miss their “Nana”.
Bette was at St. Mary’s Hospital Reno at the time of her demise. George Flint held her close to himself as she breathed her last.
There will be, at her request, no formal funeral or memorial. Bette had many friends who will also miss her greatly.
Her husband told so many on Monday that God created only one lady of Bette’s unique qualities. All who knew her loved her. Better was born December 24, 1934 and would have been 82 her next birthday.
http://www.niobraracountylibrary.org/obituaries/index.php?id=8112
Class of 1953 50th Reunion
Pat Stevens, Jim Ewing, Patty Hess, Bette Dilbeck, Larry Knowles, Sylvia Chavarria
This is the class of 1953’s 50th reunion held in 2003. Jim Ewing died in March of 2012.
Note: Bette’s first husband and father of her two children was Richard Goss. He graduated from Trona High School in 1947.
Every year around Easter a group of scout leaders bring girl scouts out to a desert to camp, hike, rappel, etc. They originally camped up in the Great Falls area, but sometime in the 80’s they moved their camp to the Indian Joe’s area.
A former participant named Cindy wrote the following description:
It was the highlight of the week for the older girls to get to rappel down off the big rock that sat up over that little waterfall and spring. It was deep in the canyon. (I have pix if you’re interested). I first went in 1980 or so, then returned as an adult to help teach rock climbing in the early 1990s. We’d also hike to a place called the Mule Flats, up in the Argus Range somewhere? It was worth the hike because a small pipe had water running out of it and you could wash your hair! (The only water down in the camp was from the water buffalos the Navy would bring in for us from China Lake and we had to be frugal with it!)
The “flats” part had low grass covering it (said to have grown from the hay seed brought up to feed the mules and/or grown from seed in the mule’s’ poo?) I have many fond memories of that place. One year, the Space Shuttle landed at Edwards while we were at the encampment. I remember hearing the sonic booms as the shuttle and escort jets flew overhead. I think that was the same year we saw the aurora borealis (1982 I think?)
One year we boiled (106 degrees) and on another year at the Mule Flats we froze (woke up with my breath frozen to the inside of my ground cloth! I saw a bobcat one night and, of course, heard the burros. We’d also have a slideshow night where this old man came out and showed/told us about the history of the area. I can’t remember his name. (Indian Joe or something?)
Anyhow, I’d love to see a post on this topic. I’m sure there are literally THOUSANDS of women from the Los Angeles region who have similar memories of the place too. Thanks for listening!
MARCH 2017
8th by 11:59PM Camper Responses due via e-mail to mo@mpe.camp or via the desert acceptance reply form
11th @ 7:00PM First Desert Patrol Meeting (MANDATORY!) with applications and payment due @ Torrance Scout Center
23rd @ 7:00PM Backpackers meeting for all 2nd+ year campers planning to backpack
APRIL 2017
7th @ 6-7:30PM Load truck at Columbia Park in Torrance (Prairie Avenue @ 190th Street)
8th @ 6AM Adult staff & MISCs leave for desert
9th @ 6:30AM Campers leave for desert from Columbia Park (sharp!)
13th at 6PM Campers return from desert at Columbia Park
29th @ 7PM Ice Cream Social at Torrance Scout Center
Before 1946 there wasn’t much in Pioneer Point. There were some houses up by the hills. They were probably built about 1920 when I think the area was called North Trona by some people. Take a look at the pictures taken by the Gauslin Family back then and tell me what you think.
In 1946 AP&CC built a few house out of brick in Pioneer Point and then in 1947 they partnered with a contractor to build about 20 or more prefab concrete houses. The house walls and roof were put together in Trona and then moved to Pioneer Point for the final assembly.
The area in the lower right hand corner of the picture show part of the area where the walls and roofs were made for the concrete prefab houses in Pioneer Point.
You can see more information and photos at Pioneer Point Prefab Houses.
Later on they built some cinder block houses for the school teachers on the south side of Pioneer Point.
I heard from one of my classmates Roy Dunn about a new little book on Trona. It is called Why would anyone go to Trona? I got a copy and really enjoyed it. I imagine you have seen it because the author is your nephew Bryce Steven Banks. He tells the story from a kids perspective on his trips to visit his grandparents in Trona. I enjoyed it and am sharing with my daughters and grandchildren. I got a copy ordered through our local Barnes and Noble store and I think it is on Amazon as well. It would be good to spread the word on your Trona websites. I order a copy for my older brother Tom, class of 1948, who lives in Portland, OR and I was going to e-mail George Sherman about it to spread the word on his network, which seems mostly to focus on death notices. It would be good to add something positive.
Joseph Bermani was born on May 7, 1918, in Connecticut, his father, Giovanni, was 35 and his mother, Giovanna, was 29. Joseph was a machinist for AP&CC. He attended adult education night classes at Trona High School and graduated in 1950. He had one son and one daughter with Phyllis J Antonaitis. Their daughter, Patricia Hudson, died in 2010. She was a member of the class of 1958 and his son David graduated from THS in 1961. Phyllis died in 2015. Joseph died on June 28, 2016, at the age of 98, and was buried in Oceanside, California.
We just learned of that George L. Blyler, member of the class of 1968 died in 2013. George was employed at the Ventura County Railroad.
Dolores (Abbott) Kennedy of Ridgecrest, California died in the Ridgecrest Hospital on December 5, 2016. Our best wishes are extended to her friends and family during the time of sorrow. She was married to Alfred Kennedy — Class of 1954
It saddens me to tell you that we have lost our friend and classmate, George Garcia. He died at his home in Walnut Creek yesterday. George was a Vietnam vet and a world traveler. He loved to travel and visited many countries, even returning to Vietnam a few years ago. He cherished his Trona friends and memories of growing up in our little town. He was loved and respected by all who were fortunate enough to call him friend.
He will be missed.
Linda Cunningham Monroe
George M. Garcia
Jan. 29, 1941 – Dec. 12, 2016
Resident of Walnut Creek
The nicest place to be is in someone’s thoughts, the safest place to be is in someone’s prayers, and the very best place to be is in the hands of God. George gracefully experienced all of this in his lifetime with a smile. George Garcia passed away peacefully at home after battling multiple myeloma, surrounded by his family. He was born to Modesto and Toribia Garcia in Trona, Ca. He always loved this little desert company town and often said he had the best childhood ever growing up there. He left after graduation for Los Angeles, worked for National Cash Register, married his high school sweetheart, Kathy Leisure, started college, was drafted into the Army, became a medic, and was sent to Vietnam. After being discharged, he made his way up the coast looking for employment and was hired by the City of Walnut Creek. He was then blessed with his three children, Joe, Annette and Mary. He worked for the City until he retired as the Traffic Supervisor, at the age of 60. After an earlier divorce, he met Carole Kelsch, who became his devoted life partner for the next 40 years. Along with working for the City, he received his Associates Degree, his electrical contractor’s license, built two cabins at Serene Lakes near Donner Summit, extensively remodeled the home he lived in, traveled on a mission trip to Africa to help build a birthing center, participated in a mission trip to Honduras, and had many more traveling adventures to Italy, France, Israel, Vietnam and various other countries. He was a board member of Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union for over 40 years, a board member in his mountain community of Serene Lakes for the water board and the property owners association, a member of SIRS Branch #19, served on the Mission Beyond Saint Matthew committee, skied, played golf, bocce, and loved Spring Training in AZ. George had the patience of Job, and with his engineering mind, he could fix anything. He was like the Pied Piper, as everyone from babies to older people loved him. George loved to dance, and even earlier this year he was out on the dance floor and could cut a rug with the best of them. His younger brother, Sam, died nine days before his death and George is now survived by two of eight siblings, Helen Arnold and Terri Mitsuoka. George leaves his best friend and beloved life partner, Carole Kelsch. Also, he leaves three children, Joseph Garcia (Nicole), Annette Robinson, and Mary van Loben Sels (Mark). He was so loved by Kim Szczurek (Norb) and Kristan Kelsch. His grandchildren were the greatest earthly gift given to him and he was Grandpa to Taylor, Jack, Andrew, Lucas, Gavin, Tobey, Thomas and Charlie, and was Papa to Sarah, Zachary and Hope. A memorial service celebrating George’s life will be held Saturday, January 7th, 11:00 am, at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, 399 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek, Ca. Lunch will follow. George was extremely proud to be a Vietnam Veteran and his ashes will be interred at the VA National Cemetery in Dixon. Memorial gifts in George’s honor may be sent to Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Scholarship Fund, 399 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek, Ca 94598 or Hospice East Bay, 3470 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill, Ca 94523.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/eastbaytimes/obituary.aspx?pid=183260030