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Royce Byron Thompson
Former Kenai Peninsula resident Royce Byron Thompson died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2001, from natural causes at the Pioneer Home in Palmer. He was 84.
A private family burial will be held at the Ninilchik Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Soldotna Nazarene Church.
Mr. Thompson was born Sept. 27, 1917, in Richland, Ore. He served in World War II as a sergeant in the army stationed in the South Pacific.
He married Edith Blanchard in 1946. They raised four children in Bates, Ore., where he worked as a millwright for 18 years.
In 1967, the family moved to Ninilchik, where Mr. Thompson worked as head custodian of the Ninilchik School for 15 years. He was a member of the Nazarene Church in Soldotna for 18 years and the Anchor Point Nazarene Church until his death.
"Royce is remembered as a very loving, affectionate father and grandpa with a great sense of humor and will be deeply missed by his family, " his family said.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Edith, in 1985, and by his second wife, Jean, in 2000.
Mr. Thompson is survived by his four children, Robert Thompson of Ninilchik, Beth Stevens of Nikiski, Joyce Chesney of Kasilof and Carl Thompson of Sterling, and eight grandchildren.
Arlene Thelma Church
Kenai resident Arlene Thelma Church died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at her home. She was 76.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Ms. Church was born Feb. 19, 1926, in Seattle. She moved to Alaska in 1987, residing in Homer. She moved to Kenai in 1992. While in Washington, she had worked at a sanitarium.
Ms. Church was a member of the Nikiski Senior Citizens Center and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed crocheting, fishing, traveling, canning and berry picking.
"She was an angel on Earth. She was the glue that bound our family together. She will live on in our hearts forever. Her loving, helping spirit made her well respected and loved by those whose lives she touched, " her family said.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Charlotte Pearl Church; son, Arthur Sullenger; brother, Don Church; and sisters, Mildred Smith and Gloria Allen.
She is survived by her daughters, Ardele Trail of Kenai and Anita Sullenger-Bremicker of Homer; son, Arnold Sullenger of Nikiski; grandchildren, Jackie Blom of Kenai, Sherri Michaelson of Soldotna, Cindie Dawson of Soldotna, Krissy Gribbon of Kenai, Robert and Don Gardner of Washington, Arnold Sullenger of Nikiski, Karrie Sullenger of Tacoma, Wash., Lisa Sullenger of Homer, Karen Walrath of Homer, Armond James Sullenger of Kenai and Sharon Sullenger of New Mexico; 22 great-grandchildren; and brothers, Ed Church of Port Orchard, Wash., and Bob Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the family at 47779 Janette Court, Kenai, AK 99611 to help pay for a headstone.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Louise Pounds McDonald
Louise Pounds McDonald died Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, in North Richland Hills, Texas. She was 75.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Mid-Cities Baptist Temple in Haltom City, Texas.
Mrs. McDonald was a registered nurse and a director of nurses for several nursing homes in the Fort Worth, Texas, area. She also was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Confederacy. She loved doing research in the family genealogy.
Mrs. McDonald is survived by her children, Celia Roberts of Haltom City, Tommy Fields Jr. of Kenai, Paul McDonald of Fort Worth, Joe McDonald of Springtown, Texas; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter; brother, Frank Pounds of New Castle, Texas; and many other relatives and friends.
Arrangements were made by Emerald Hills Funeral Home in Kennadale, Texas.
Timothy Duncan Fulgham
Soldotna resident Timothy Duncan Fulgham died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, in Soldotna. He was 46.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Mr. Fulgham was born June 11, 1956, in Eureka, Calif. He moved to Alaska in the late 1970s. He lived in Thorne Bay, Seward and moved to Soldotna in 1997. He was the service manager for Hutchings Chevrolet in Soldotna.
"Tim was a wonderful, loving, generous and gifted individual. He was loved by all who knew him. He had a special talent for making people laugh. He was a dedicated and loyal employee, excelling in whatever task he undertook. He will be greatly missed by all his friends and family, but especially by his son Christopher, fiancee Julie, daughter Nancy and son John. May he go with God, " his family said.
Mr. Fulgham is survived by his fiancee, Julie Cartwright of Soldotna; sons, Christopher of Soldotna and John of Anchorage; daughter, Nancy Berkey and her husband, Mick, of Virginia; and a granddaughter, Lexie Berkey of Virginia.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Kay Jackson Mitchell
Sterling resident Kay Jackson Mitchell died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, in the presence of her family. She was 73.
A celebration of her life will be conducted Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Sterling Senior Citizens Center.
Mrs. Mitchell was born July 19, 1929, in Syracuse, N.Y., to Walter T. Jackson Jr. and Kay Conner Randle. She met and married the love of her life, William R. "Bob" Mitchell, in Tacoma, Wash. They moved to Alaska in August 1973, and Kay became an Alaskan the moment she arrived, her family said.
"Kay touched many lives in her varied careers, including host of the Moose River Lodge and Moose River Pizza. Kay also was known affectionately as 'The Mustard Lady' to many locals and travelers to Alaska from around the world, " her family said.
"Kay enjoyed the Kenai River, her friends, her family, cooking and all that touched her life in love and laughter. She was involved in many activities and found her treasure in the Sterling senior center and its community activities, especially lively games of hand and foot."
She was preceded in death by her husband, William R. "Bob" Mitchell; son, Charles B. "Bodie" Smith; and daughter, Karen E. Smith.
She is survived by sons, Geoffrey O. Smith and his wife, Diane, of Tacoma, Peter L. Smith of West Valley, Utah, Robinson W. Smith of Tacoma and Jay C. Smith and his wife, Karen, of Soldotna; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister, Suzanne Hagenlocher of Castleton, Vt.; one niece; and three nephews.
In lieu of usual remembrances, memorial donations may be made to the Sterling Senior Citizens Center, P.O. Box 154, Sterling, AK 99672.
Arrangements were made by Anchorage Funeral Home.
Edward Liebenthal
Longtime Anchor Point resident Edward Liebenthal died Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003, at Friendship Terrace in Homer. He was 84.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Elva Ruth Scott
Longtime Eagle City resident Elva Ruth Scott died of natural causes Friday, Jan. 10, 2003. She was 83.
A celebration and remembrance of her life and lived values will be held in Eagle on July 19.
Mrs. Scott was born Oct. 7, 1919, and was raised on her parents' ranch in San Bernardino valley, Calif. She earned a bachelor of nursing degree from the University of California in San Francisco and a master of education degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She met her husband, James W. Scott, while working in the pediatric ward of the children's hospital in Los Angeles, and they were married Feb. 14, 1942.
In 1946, Mrs. Scott moved to Alaska and made her home in Homer with Jim and their two young children. While in Homer, she helped found the Homer Society of Natural History and the Homer United Methodist Church and worked in the local 4-H club. In the early 1950s, she and Jim built and lived in the Homer Ranger Station, which is now occupied by the Kachemak Bay State Parks visitor's center.
From 1959 through 1960, Mrs. Scott's lived in Fairbanks, where she did volunteer work with the Girl Scouts of America while raising her four children. From 1960 to 1972, she lived in Anchorage, where she was active with the Anchor Park Methodist Church, the Jessie Lee Home, the Girl Scouts of America and the Alaska Nurse's Association. She also helped establish the Alaska Methodist University. She worked as the school nurse at East High School and later served as the Anchorage School District's first school nurse coordinator.
Retirement in 1972 found Mrs. Scott in Eagle on the Yukon River building a log home with her husband and tending her beautiful perennial flower garden. During the long winter months they traveled the world extensively. She served the community as mayor and council member, and Eagle Historical Society board member, curator and past president. During this time she authored the books "Jewel on the Yukon Eagle City, " Eagle Schools Eighty Years 1901-1981, " "Upper Yukon Health History" and several other historical publications on the region. With her guidance, many of Eagle's historic buildings were restored and opened to the public as museums. She also chaired the Alaska Historical Society board of directors.
Mrs. Scott was preceded in death by her husband, James W. Scott; son, Pat Scott; and daughter, Peggy Scott-Bittlingmaier.
She is survived by her sons, Tom Scott of North Carolina and David Scott of Anchorage; daughters-in-law, Pamela Wilde of North Carolina and Janice Scott of Eagle River; son-in-law, Kurt Bittlingmaier and wife, Claudia, of Anchorage; granddaughters, Mikala Holl and husband, Alex, of South Africa and Lia Scott of North Carolina; and grandson, Berndt Bittlingmaier of Bellingham, Wash.
In lieu flowers, donations can be made to History Day in Alaska, P.O. Box 243154, Anchorage, AK 99524; or UNICEF, 333 E. 38th St., New York, NY 10016.
Arrangements were made with Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E Street in Anchorage.
Richard Glen Rupard
Richard Glen Rupard died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage with his wife by his bedside. He was 82.
A memorial potluck was held Tuesday at the Elks Lodge in Eagle River.
Born Dec. 5, 1920, in Mineola, Texas, Mr. Rupard was a Baptist preacher, preaching in eastern Texas by the time he was 14. He attended Baylor University to earn a doctorate in divinity but left the program just before graduation. He went on to become one of New Mexico's and later Alaska's top mechanics.
During World War II, Mr. Rupard served in the Army intelligence and was transferred to Santa Fe, N.M., where he was a dental technician.
Following his discharge, he worked in Santa Fe in the auto repair business. In 1972, he moved to Alaska where his sisters lived. There he met Millie Guest. They married in 1975. Though they met and married in Alaska, they had lived 60 miles apart in New Mexico for 30 years.
Mr. Rupard enjoyed working and took pride in everything he did. He enjoyed flying his airplane, fishing, doing photography, canning and cooking (cinnamon rolls were his specialty) and taking long drives Sunday afternoons with Millie and their dog Quan. His sister Nora taught him to crochet when he was young and over the years he made many things.
"He will be missed by many, as he brought sunshine with him even on the darkest days. His friends called him "Rup" and he didn't give a ---- what his enemies called him, " his family said.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Rupard and Ruby Rupard Chasteen; sisters, Nora Collette, Elvina Cody and Jackie Irving; and in-laws, Hurshel Guest and Alma Guest.
He is survived by his wife, Millie; children, Glenna Carinci, Richard Glen Rupard II and wife, Deborah, John Ingles Rupard III; half-brother, James Chasteen; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; niece, Mary Buckner; nephews, Peter Petresac and Charles Cody; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Donations may be made to the Rupard Fund, account No. 751 4 0994 at First National Bank in Eagle River.
Arrangements were made with Evergreen's Eagle River Funeral Home.
John Bannock
Longtime Kenai resident John Bannock died at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, 2002, after a brief illness. He was 75.
Services will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Kenai Bible Church. Pastor Ed Perry will officiate. The family invites people to join them in a celebration of Mr. Bannock's life.
Mr. Bannock arrived in Kenai with his wife and two small children in August 1966. They purchased the Nu-State Nursery and Seed Co. and renamed it Nu-State Nursery and Flower Shop, which they operated for 33 years, retiring in 1999.
Mr. Bannock was an active member of Kenai Bible Church, serving in almost every possible capacity when necessary. He also was a founding board member of Cook Inlet Academy and a board member of Solid Rock Bible Camp, Child Evangelism and the Kenai Peninsula Christian Businessmen Committee.
"He was known by his many friends as a kind, caring and giving man whose faith in God was beyond reproach. For John, 'passing away' was less about death and more about entering in heaven to begin his eternal life with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, " his family said.
Mr. Bannock is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marilyn Bannock; daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Jeff Smith of Ashland, Ky.; son and daughter-in-law, Duane and Carol Bannock of Kenai; grandchildren, Michael Smith, Tiffany Smith, Ashley Smith and Brandon Smith of Ashland and Benjamin (BJ) Bannock and Anthony (Tony) Bannock of Kenai; brothers, Bob Bannock of Grand Junction, Colo., and Dick Bannock of Escondido, Calif.; and sister, Joan Ritschard of Kremmling, Colo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Solid Rock Bible Camp, P.O. Box 489, Soldotna, AK 99669.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
