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Alpha Lee White
Alpha Lee White, a resident of Blythe for more than 40 years, died April 12, 2001 in the city. She was 65.
A native of Lexington, OK, Mrs. White was a homemaker who enjoyed arts and crafts. She married Bill White in 1959 in Las Vegas.
She is survived by sons Doug White, Ronald White, Bob White, Lester White and Tom White; daughters, Diana Traverner, Shari Ehreshman, Misti Parker, Ann Gregg; sisters Alta May Regian and Louise Melton; brothers Dean Warner, J.R. Warner, Alan Warner; 22 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Glenda Lee Pruitt
Memorial services were held April 21, 2001 in Orange, Texas, for Glenda Lee Pruitt Saul, a native of Blythe.
She was 58.
She grew up in Blythe, graduated from Palo Verde Valley High School, and from Redlands University. She spent most of her working years in San Bernadino.
She is survived by her daughter, Tammy Tull, and three grandchildren; her father Woodrow Pruitt; sister Jonnie Pruitt Smith; and an aunt, Bertha George, of Blythe.
Robert Henry Janes
A memorial service has been held for Robert Henry Janes, who died March 31, 2001 at the Blythe Nursing Care Center March 31. He was 61.
Mr. Janes, who worked as a water dispatcher for the Palo Verde Irrigation District for 17 years, moved to Blythe with his family in 1949, attended local schools and graduated from Palo Verde High School in 1959.
He is survived by daughters Shelly Shinkle, of Rialto, CA; Jennifer Nicholson, of Victorville, CA; a sister, Cathie Lester, of Blythe; and a niece, Melinda Hornback, of Congress, AZ.
The memorial April 6 was followed by private interment.
Wilbur Leon Warren
Date of Birth: Saturday August 18, 1923
Date of Death: Tuesday April 24, 2001
Wilbur Leon Warren, a Blythe resident for 46 years and part owner of White Appliances until 1972, died April 24, 2001 in the city. He was 77.
Born in Protection, Kansas, in 1923, Mr. Warren was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in the WWII era as an aircraft mechanic instructor.
His interests included model trains, blue grass music, and the guitar and mandolin.
He is survived by two daughters, Gale Inman, of Blythe; and Lynne Warren, of Sacramento; a son, Garry Warren, of Cleveland, TN; step daughter, Alma Jean Link, of Toledo, OH; a sister, Mildred Nykel, of San Francisco; and a brother, Neil Warren, of Cameron, MO; eight grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Interment is private.
Russell Gene Hawk
Date of Birth: Friday May 13, 1932
Date of Death: Monday March 26, 2001
Funeral services were held in Dubois, Wyoming, for Russell Gene Hawk, a former Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputy who served many years in Blythe. He was 68.
Over a 20-year career with the Riverside Sheriff, Hawk rose to captain and station commander. He then served 20 years in law enforcement in Wyoming. He was credited in the CBS "60 Minutes" television program with "cleaning up Rock Springs, Wyoming" in 1978.
He coached track and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Blythe JayCees.
Survivors include sons Thomas R. Hawk, of San Jose del Cabo, Baja, Mexico;’ Michael Hawk, of Show Low, AZ; Maxie L. Hawk, of Riverton, WY; stepson Mark Fagen, of Minneapolis, MN; daughter Alicia Campbell, of Hanna, WY; mother Lela Hawk, of Dubois, WY; and four grandchildren.
Stella Strebeck
Funeral services were held yesterday for Stella Strebeck, who died April 25, 2001 in the city.
She was 88.
Born in Bonham, Texas, Mrs. Strebeck was a homemaker who resided in Blythe for 36 years after moving to the Palo Verde Valley from Bakersfield.
She is survived by a son, George Strebeck, of Blythe; daughters, Margie Scroggin, of Ukiah; Jean Hicks, of Glendale, AZ; Jo Ann Garrett, of Ukiah; Betty Deathridge, of Casa Grande, AZ; Sharon McCallum, of Blythe; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Emmett Lee Sanders
Emmett Lee Sanders, a Palo Verde resident and a retired fireman, died April 24, 2001.
He was 76.
A veteran of WWII, Mr. Sanders was a member of the Rod & Gun Club and the Palo Verde Improvement Club.
He is survived by his wife, Cora May; daughters Rebecca Law, of Sparks, NV; Teresa Walker, of Nevada; son Timothy Glen Sanders, of Palo Verde; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Brack Lester, Jr.
Funeral services were held April 30 for Brack Lester, Jr., who died April 27, 2001 in the city. He was 64.
Born in Tarkio, Missouri, Mr. Lester was a shop manager at the 76 Truck Stop. a Blythe resident for 28 years, and an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine, of Blythe; sons Tim Lester, of Slat Lake City, Utah; David Lester, of Temecula; daughter Lisa Lester, of San Diego; a brother, Carson Lester, of Hemet; sisters Hazel Glover; Betty Foltz; Charlotte Simpson; and Dottie Coutcher, all of Hemet; nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Grace Lorraine McAnally
Graveside services were held yesterday for Grace Lorraine McAnally, a homemaker and Blythe resident for 30 years.
She was 91.
Mrs. McAnally passed away April 27, 2001.
She married Ray M. McAnally in 1928 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and lived there until 1941, when the family relocated to Casa Grande, Arizona in 1971 the couple moved to Blythe.
Mrs. McAnally was a homemaker and active member of the First Southern Baptist Chuch.
She is survived by her children, Bill McAnally, of Palm Desert; Wanda Ulmer, of Blythe; and Richard McAnally, of Tucson; brother Orbie Eldridge, of Sapulpa; ten grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to charity.
John Crain
John Olen Crain, 62, president of Palo Verde Community College District Board of Trustees and resident of the Palo Verde Valley for almost a half century passed away Saturday at his residence.
Mr. Crain was born March 6, 1938 in Tuckerman, Arkansas to Virgil and Grace Crain. He moved to Blythe with his family in 1952. He attended Blythe Junior High and graduated from Palo Verde High School and Palo Verde College. He earned his bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a minor in political science at Arkansas State University in 1960. He served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1963, attached to the adjutant general’s office at Fort Ord, California.
He married Cheryl Sullivan of Blythe on June 5, 1963, and began work for the California Department of Agriculture as an inspector at the Blythe border station. He continued in that position until March 1, 19690, when he opened his State Farm Insurance agency in Blythe.
Mr. Crain was active in the community and was a member and past master of the Masonic Lodge. He was a charter member of Kiwanis Club of Blythe. He later became a member of the Lions Club Blythe and served on its board of directors. He also was an active member of the First Southern Baptist Church.
He was initially appointed to the Palo Verde Community College District board of trustees in 1988 and subsequently elected in 1990, 1994 and 1998. During his tenure, he served as board clerk, vice president and president, and was president at the time of his death.
Mr. Crain was a strong supporter of education and Palo Verde College was his special interest. He was instrumental in obtaining the land and pushing for the construction of the new campus as well as adding Needles and the eastern end of San Bernardino County to the college district.
Survivors include his wife, Cheryl; son, Mayor Robert Crain of Blythe; son and daughter-in-law Kevin and Brenna Crain of Mesa; brother and sister-in-law Pete and Gayla Crain of Blythe; and father, Virgil Crain of Lancaster, Calif., and special co-worker and friend Maria C. Soto.
Viewing is 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at Frye Chapel, 633 N. Seventh Street, Blythe.
Funeral service is at 9 a.m. Friday, July 28, at Frye Chapel. Interment will follow in Palo Verde Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Palo Verde Foundation, 811 W. Chanslorway, Blythe, CA 92225.
Frye Chapel and Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
