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Margaret M. Chesley
Margaret M. Chesley of Yarnell, died Sept. 26 in Sun City West. She was 84.
Mrs. Chesley was born April 20, 1918 in Los Angeles, Calif.
She was a retired telephone operator and supervisor.
Survivors include her husband, Hubert Chesley of Yarnell; a nephew, Warren Wran; and a niece, Caralee Summers.
No services will be held.
The Wickenburg Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Frank Marx
Frank Marx, a resident of Wickenburg, died Dec. 8, on his 82nd birthday, in Sun City West. He was born in Phlox, Wis. On Dec. 8, 1920, the 12th child of a dairy farm family.
Frank became a World War II naval Aviator and trained in Wildcats for the Japanese invasion that never came. He was selected by the U.S. navy for the first squadron of Blue Angels, but opted for a civilian life with his growing family instead.
Married April 10, 1945 to his local town sweetheart Madge Moss for 49 years, they lived in Chicago, Milwaukee, California and recently Wickenburg, Ariz. Frank's four children have maintained their close-knit family ties with families of their own, producing 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Frank spent 10 years working at the U.S. Post Office, then used his initial training from the Civilian Conservation Corps as a machinist to become a journeyman in that field. He retired from American Can Company in Oakland, Calif. in 1983.
His love of aviation continued throughout his life. He spent 10 years in the Naval Reserve as a fighter pilot, then at the age of 60, he renewed his commercial pilot's license to be a hobbyist flier for several more years.
Besides flying, Frank loved gardening, tinkering, and donating time helping others in need. For 26 years he belonged to the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight in Alameda.
He is survived by his sons Fred Marx (Elvia) of Wasilla, Ala., Paul Marx (Debra) Escondido, Calif., Jim Marx (Mary Jo) of Valley Center, Calif. and daughter Linda Stevens (Joe) of Wickenburg, Ariz.; Ten grandchildren: Victoria Arcara (Michael), Daniel Edmondson (Kathy), Michael Edmondson, Steven Edmondson (Brooke), Joe Marx, Luis Almario, Joshua Marx, Dawn Marx, Zachary Marx, and Gregory Marx; three great-grandchildren: Anthony Marx, Alexander Arcara and William Arcara; sister Lucille Matchucheski. He is additionally survived by brothers and sisters-in-law Dorothy Marx, Alice and Norman Dierking, Tom and Karen Moss, Florence Ness, Joan Moss, Patrick and Martha Moss, James Moss, Michael Moss.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Madge and 10 brothers and sisters: Sophia Rank, William, Mary Strehlow, Joseph, Margaret Shafel, Theresa Girmscheid, Rev. Benedict, Emma Koeppel, Raymond and Vincent.
Visitation will be at Alhiser-Comer Mortuary in Escondido, Calif. Thursday Dec. 12 with visitation at 5 p.m. and Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held Friday Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Valley Center, Calif. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido, Calif.
Contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul in Frank's name.
Florence Ostebo
Florence Ostebo was born in Minneapolis, Minn. on August 10, 1909. She was the second of three children born to Martin and Florence Bisset, preceded by sister Ella and followed by brother Mort. She attended local schools in the southwest Minneapolis area and had fond memories of winter activities including skiing, tobogganing and ice skating, which she excelled at. Following graduation from high school she started working for a bank and was eventually able to purchase a 1929 Ford Coupe, the first car in the Bisset Family. At this time she realized a long-time dream of buying and learning to play the saxophone. She eventually joined an all-girls band and performed at various locations in Minnesota.
Her days at the ice skating rinks eventually led to some laps wit Dick Ostebo and after several years they were married on June 8, 1935. Two days later they hopped in their car and were off to California. They eventually settled in Whittier and on July 6, 1941, she gave birth to a daughter, Aljean. Sixteen months later, son David was born. After the kids were in school she took a job as a school secretary. Retiring in 1970, she and Dick were able to travel extensively wit friends and relatives. Tragedy struck in 1987 when Aljean died way too young. In 1088 she and Dick moved up to Woodland to live with Dave and family. In 1990, Dick passed away but she kept busy taking care of her house and being active in the local church and organ club.
In 1999 she moved to Arizona with her son and was able to take trips to Los Angeles and Minnesota. Florence passed away at Alterra Claire Bridge in Sun City West, Ariz., on Dec. 6. She leaves a son, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. A memorial will be held in Wittier, Calif.
Albert Jerdee
Albert Jerdee, 84, died Dec. 8 in Sun City West. Albert was a Wickenburg resident and was born May 25, 1918 in Deronda, Wis. Albert was a heavy equipment salesman.
He is survived by daughter Kitty Morse of Durhamville, N.Y.; sister Kay Deitch of Wickenburg; grandchildren Paul Fred Morse of Hawaii, Eric Morse of Portland, Ore., Philo David Morse of Seattle, Wash., Gina Morse of Utica, N.Y., and Nicholus Morse of Buffalo, N.Y.; great-grandchildren Paul James, Megan and Grace Morse.
Visitation will be Saturday Dec. 14 from 2-3 p.m. at Wickenburg Funeral Home. Services will be officiated by Pastor James Longstreet, Saturday Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. at Wickenburg Funeral Home.
Contributions may be made in Mr. Jerdee's name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, National Executive Office, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105 or St. Labre Indian School, Educational Association, Ashland, Mont., 59004.
Arrangements were made by Wickenburg Funeral Home.
Harold Rice
Harold Rice, 76, of Vista, Calif. died Nov. 4 at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, Calif. after a long illness. He was born Aug. 30, 1926 in Michigan City, Ind.
He lived in the Elkhart-Goshen, Ind. area for several years, working in the mobile home industry before moving to Wickenburg in 1970 to enjoy the warmer climate.
He moved to Escondido, Calif. in 1980 to work for the Escondido School District, retiring in 1996.
Harold served in the navy on the original USS Enterprise stationed in Pearl Harbor in World War II.
Harold and present wife Diane were managing Storage Garages in Vista at the time of his death.
Harold was preceded in death by his father Cecil Harold Rice, mother Doris B. (Rex) Turpin-Rice in 1999 and wife of 40 years, Bernis (Headly-Wine) Rice in 1996.
Harold is survived by his wife Diane (Bontrager-Roth) Rice of Vista, Calif. originally of Goshen, Ind.; sons Kenneth Rice of Phoenix, Rick Rice of Wickenburg and Cynthia Weaver of Elkhart, Ind.; sister Marilyn Williamson, Vista, Calif.; Dean Rice of Oceola, Ind.; half-brother Daniel Turpin of Whittier, Calif. Also surviving are step-children Jan Charleston, Elkhart, Ind.; Jeff Roth Elkhart, Ind.; Susan Brent and Sheila Fosse of Buchanan, Mich.
Harold left many grand and great-grandchildren plus numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services were conducted by John Mitchell on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovas Witnesses in Vista, Calif.
Betty Ruth Dent Carson
Betty Ruth Dent Carson passed away in an automobile accident Friday.
Betty was born in Cotter, Ark. and moved to Arizona with her family when she was 17. She lived in Tucson for 20 years, Phoenix for 25. She retired from the Arizona State Department of Transportation in 1996 and moved to Wickenburg where she volunteered at the Wise Owl Senior Center.
Betty was an avid reader, card player, sports fanatic and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. She loved music, movies, word games and the color blue. Betty was fun-loving and gregarious and had numerous friends and a large extended family to whom she was devoted.
Betty will be sorely missed. She is survived by her brother Jimmy (Peg) Dent of Alachua, Fla.; daughters Beverly Carson of Tucson, Ariz., Kathlyn (Brian) Wilharm of Chino Valley, Ariz., and Nancy (Roger) Eberlein of Wickenburg. Grandchildren Carson (Krissi) Lowe of Pomona, Calif., Radian Lord (Serenity Chartier) of Prescott Valley, Ariz. and Dane Olsen of Tucson, Ariz., Greg (Tracy) Eberlein of Mesa, Ariz., John (Kim) Eberlein of Mesa, Ariz. and great-grandchildren Griffin Eberlein of Mesa, Ariz. and Isaac Eberlein of Surprise, Ariz. Also surviving is Randy Lowe of Cottonwood, Ariz. and numerous nieces and nephews.
She will be joining her brothers Bobby Dent and Larry Dent as well as her parents. Virgil F. Carson will be nearby.
Services will be held at Frey Funeral Home Friday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. We will be celebrating her birthday afterwards at her home and her friends are invited to join us.
Marie and Curt Wheat
Marie and Curt Wheat passed away in their Sahuarita, Ariz. home on Jan. 16, 2003.
Curt was a geologist by trade and had recently published two novels, "North of Capricorn," and "The Thin Red Line." Marie was a much-loved elementary school librarian, most recently at Elvira Elementary in Tucson. Both will be terribly missed by friends and family throughout the world.
The couple was happily married for more than 32 years and are survived by their children Cari and Josh, as well as by Marie's sister Beti An Hynes and Curt's sister Judy Spearmon.
In lieu of flowers, please send children's books to your local library in Marie Wheat's name.
J. William "Bill" Connor
J. William "Bill" Connor of Wickenburg passed away in Sun City, Ariz. on Jan. 25, 2003, on his 96th birthday, after having suffered a stroke in late December.
Born in Phoenix, Bill graduated from Phoenix Union High School and from the University of Southern California. He was a World War II army veteran.
He retired form Chevron Corporation in 1972 and moved to Wickenburg where he was very active in community activities.
A 32-year member of Lions International, Bill held most of the offices in the Wickenburg club and was its Sight and Hearing Chairman for some 20 years. In 1997, he was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship, Lions Clubs International's highest individual honor.
Bill served on the Board of Directors of the Wickenburg Community Services Corporation for 14 years and was its treasurer for 12 years.
He volunteered his services to the Chamber of Commerce during Gold Rush Days for 25 years. Bill was also on the CAP board for 25 years and was its treasurer for 21 years.
Bill's wife, Thelma, preceded him in 1999. He had no surviving family members.
No services will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, c/o Wickenburg Lions Club, Box 1687, Wickenburg, AZ 85358.
Frey Funeral Home handled all arrangements.
John Luksa
John Luksa, 84, passed away peacefully Jan. 22, 2003 at Sun Health Hospice in Sun City West, Ariz. He is survived by loving wife Mary; sisters Mary Trowbridge and Ann Hubert; brother Frank, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sisters Elizabeth (Sebestin) and Margaret (Evon) and brothers Alex, Gabriel, Anthony and Joseph.
John was born Dec. 15, 1918 in Logan, W.Va. He served in the Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion Post 76 in Wheaton, Ill., and a member of the Wickenburg Elks. He was employed by Warp Brothers in Chicago, manufacturers of Flex-O-Glass, prior to moving to Wickenburg.
Funeral Mass was held at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wickenburg on Friday, Jan. 24 with Fr. John Vogt officiating. Burial was at Wickenburg cemetery.
Frey Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Martha Josephine Scott
Martha Josephine Scott of Peeples Valley, Ariz. formerly of El Monte, Calif. died Jan. 25, 2003 in Glendale, Ariz. Martha was born in Deadwood, S.D. Sept. 1, 1922.
"All the angels above greeted the newcomer with open arms."
She joins her parents Anna and William Burke, her husband Winston Scott and her daughter Andrea (Scott) Jackson.
She is survived by her four children, Michael (Robin) Scott of Sun City, Ariz., Denny (John) Londregan of Sydney, Australia, Kelly (Phyllis) Scott of Peeples Valley, Ariz., Angela (Lee) Lloyd of Glendale, Ariz.; her favorite niece, Judy Salcido of Fontana, Calif.; 12 grandchildren who adored her, 20 great-grandchildren. Special nieces and nephews.
She was a caseworker for the county of Los Angeles Welfare Department until her retirement. Devoted to her family, she was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
She made our world a better place.
Memorial service will be at Wickenburg Funeral Home, 187 N. Adams St., Jan. 30, 2003 at 1 p.m.
For information, call Wickenburg Funeral Home at 928-684-2081.
Art Rodgers
Art Rodgers of Wickenburg died at home Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003. Arrangements are pending.
J. Guilford Gerlach
J. Guilford Gerlach was born Aug. 23, 1924 to Rueben and Florence Gerlach in Indianapolis, Ind. His family moved to Ohio when he was young and he grew up in Upper Arlington, a suburb of Columbus. He graduated from Upper Arlington High School in 1942.
Guil served in the U.S. Army for three years during World War II. He worked on the Proximity Fuse and also evaluated Japanese ordinance. After his military service, he attended the Ohio State University and received bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi, a social fraternity, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi, an honorary fraternity.
After finishing college, Guil moved to Chicago, Ill. He spent his entire working career of 31 years with Amoco Oil Company, which was formerly Standard Oil of Indiana and is now part of British Petroleum. He worked primarily at the Whiting refinery but also worked temporary assignments in Mandan, N.D.; Sugar Creek, Ky.; Texas City, Texas; Antigua, West Indies and Kharg Island, Iran. He continued to do consulting work for Amoco after his formal retirement.
Guil married Marsena Nelson on April 21, 1951 in Chicago. In 1980 they moved to Wickenburg, Ariz. After Marcy's death in 1997, Guil continued his lifelong passion of traveling and was very active in the Wickenburg Country Club Social Bridge games. He is survived by one daughter, Lynn Gerlach of Tenstrike, Minn. and one cousin, Alfred Purcell of Manchester by the Sea, Mass.
Graveside memorial services will be held Thursday, April 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wickenburg Municipal Cemetery. Pastor James Longstreet will officiate.
Contributions may be made in Mr. Gerlach's name to a local charity of one's choice.
Wickenburg Funeral Home was entrusted with all arrangements.
John E. Vaughn
The Resident Fiddler
"Bid farewell to our resident fiddler, the music will ring no more
His mandolins, guitars and fiddles are closed behind a door
He could find a battered old fiddle that was just a pile of bones
Then with loving hands restore it to release its golden tones
As a worker early in his life he was injured beyond repair
But when he found his music he found a new way to share
To share the song within his soul that somehow found its way
Into the hearts of all who sat and heard him gently play
He made trinkets for his family earrings, rings and such
It was something special he could do for those he loved so much
He would play for friends and family when we'd gather for a day
The time would seem more special when "Uncle John" would choose to play
His heart soared with the eagles as he fiddled on and on
Now whenever I hear a fiddle I'll remember 'Uncle John'"
Written in loving memory by Kay Luttrell Vaughn.
John E. Vaughn passed away March 28, 2003 in Wickenburg Ariz. He was born Feb. 19, 1939 in Sikeston, Mo. He lived in Arizona for 45 years.
He is survived by wife Anna Vaughn, daughters Tammy Snow and her husband Mike; Connie Bischler and her husband Eric; grandchildren Sarah, Scott and Allison Snow, Natasha Cook, Shanna, Jay and Peter Bischler and two great grandchildren; brothers Franklin "Bud" Vaughn and his wife Lois, Bobby Vaughn and his wife Kay; sisters Valeria Buff and her husband John, Carolyn Harrison and her husband Charles; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services we held on Tuesday, April 1 at the Wickenburg Cemetery, officiated by clergyman Bobby Vaughn.
Arrangements were handled by Frey Funeral Home.
