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Francis D. 'Jack' Rhodes (6/6/2007)
Francis D. "Jack" Rhodes, who served three tours of duty in Vietnam, died Wednesday, May 30, 2007, in Cortez.
Mr. Rhodes was born on Oct. 18, 1935, in McPhee to Francis "Ole" Rhodes and Mary E. Ferguson.
He attended school in Silverton, and graduated there. He enjoyed playing basketball, and he was called "Spider."
After graduation, Mr. Rhodes joined the Air Force and besides his tours in Vietnam, he also was stationed in the Middle East and England. He met Madeline Ayton, his future wife, in England.
After retiring from the Air Force, his last station was Hill Air Force Base in Utah, the Rhodeses settled in Layton, Utah, and Mr. Rhodes enjoyed working his property in the Ogden Mountains.
After Utah, the Rhodeses settled in Cortez, where Mr. Rhodes continued working on his property. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting with family and friends.
Mr. Rhodes is survived by his wife of 48 years, Madeline; children Lori Maw of Layton, Utah, and Mathew Rhodes of Ogden, Utah; siblings Darlene Rhodes of Tucson, Ariz., Iva McCoy of Ignacio, and Teri Kile of Salt Lake City; two granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; and numerous other family members.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 8, at Ertel Funeral Home in Cortez.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Crohn's Disease Foundation under the name of Francis D. Rhodes at Vector Bank in Cortez.
Gertrude 'Peggy' P. Roberts (6/2/2007)
Allison resident Gertrude 'Peggy' P. Roberts died on Friday, May 25, 2007. She was 87.
Known as "Peggy," she was born to Edward and Phyllis La Rue in National City, Calif., on Aug. 27, 1919. She graduated from high school in California.
She married Bert L. Roberts in Glendale, Calif., on Dec. 5, 1936.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were 4-H leaders for many years in California, where they received several awards for their service. She was affectionately called "Ma Roberts" by the 4-H students.
The Robertses lived and worked in Japan and Germany for a year, while Mr. Roberts was on loan to Western Electric from Pacific Telephone.
Since 1965, they had lived on and off in Southwest Colorado. Mrs. Roberts was the office manager of the Universal Telephone Co. in Pagosa Springs and Keams Canyon, Ariz. After she retired, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She had been a permanent resident of the area since 1983.
Mrs. Roberts was a former member of the Mount Allison Grange, a longtime member of the Allison Ranchettes (a 50-year-old women's service club that was originally founded as part of the homemakers clubs through the Colorado State University Extension Office) and a member of the Bayfield Senior Group.
Mrs. Roberts was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Bert L. Roberts, and her son James K. Roberts.
She is survived by her sons Bert L. Roberts of Allison and William J. Roberts of Brockton, Mass.; eight grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Cremation will occur. At Mrs. Roberts' request, no services are planned.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lavenia McCoy Public Library, 395 Center Drive, Bayfield, CO 81122; or to Hospice of Mercy, 1970 East Third Ave., Durango, CO 81301 (with Hospice of Pagosa Springs on the memo line).
Mildred Catherine Bowman Rea (6/2/2007)
The original first lady of Fort Lewis College, Mildred Catherine Bowman Rea, died in Pueblo on Monday, May 14, 2007. She was 93.
Mrs. Rea was born to Charles Lewis and Mildred Lucinda Reese Bowman in Otis on July 5, 1913. She spent her childhood in Pueblo, attending Thatcher Grade School and graduating from Centennial High School in 1932.
On Dec. 25, 1932, she married her high-school sweetheart, Charles Dale Rea.
"It was the beginning of a life-long love affair," her family said, "Lasting 69 years until his death in 2001."
Charles Dale Rea went on to become FLC's first president. With his wife at his side, President Rea guided Fort Lewis through an attempt to shut down the college in the early 1950s, and then its move to Durango in the mid-1950s. The Dale Rea Clock Tower was donated to the campus in his honor by his family in 2001.
"She was a gentle, refined woman who was a definite asset to her husband while he was president of Fort Lewis College," said Duane Smith, a professor of Southwest Studies.
Mr. Smith said that while writing his history of the college, Sacred Trust, Mrs. Rea was helpful as he worked on the book.
"Mildred's life is a story of tremendous love and dedication to her husband and family members," her family said. "She was unwavering in her support as her husband built, established and became the first president of Fort Lewis College in Durango."
Mrs. Rea was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, where her family said she served "selflessly" in the women's circle. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and her family said she was proud of having ancestors who arrived at Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower.
She enjoyed being outdoors, whether working in her garden or spending time in the family's summer home in the mountains of Colorado.
Mrs. Rea is survived by her daughter Cleone Slade of Orem, Utah; son Charles Dale Rea Jr. of Pueblo; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A family memorial service is planned for a later time when the family can gather at the summer house.
Dale Conrad Barlow (6/2/2007)
Dale Conrad Barlow died in Ignacio on Wednesday, May 30, 2007. He was 70.
Mr. Barlow was born to Goodwin and Elizabeth Barlow in Rochester, Minn., on Dec. 26, 1936.
He served in the Air Force from 1954 to 1960, during which he was stationed in Iceland handling medical supplies. He later served as a mate in the Merchant Marine.
Among other careers, Mr. Barlow was a bus driver for the city of Rochester, where he met his wife. On July 26, 1986, he married LaVonne Brudos there.
His family said Mr. Barlow's passion was music, and that he was a talented musician who wrote and published music and recorded music in Nashville, Tenn.
He was based in 1990 in Farmington, where he took aerial photos. The Barlows moved to Ignacio in 1992.
Mr. Barlow is survived by his wife, LaVonne Barlow of Ignacio; daughters Kelly Johnson of Lake Jackson, Texas; Penney Beamon of Fairhope, Ala., Collette Fuqua of Carmel, Ind., and Dr. Amy Graft of Winterhaven, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
Cremation will occur. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 3, 2007, at Ignacio Community Church. The Rev. Stan Formby and Mr. Larry Ashcraft will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Wells Fargo Bank of Ignacio, 615 Goddard Ave., Ignacio, CO 81137.
Elsie Fay Bullington (6/1/2007)
Durango resident Elsie Fay Bullington died at Four Corners Health Care Center on Sunday, May 27, 2007. She was 91.
Mrs. Bullington was born to Fred and Maude Barron in Wichita Falls, Texas, on Jan. 29, 1916. She grew up there and graduated from high school in Wichita Falls as well.
She earned her bachelor's degree in business and administration from Baylor University in Waco. Mrs. Bullington was employed at Neiman Marcus' flagship store in downtown Dallas for many years, where her family said she served an exclusive clientele while working on the second floor in designer clothes and furs. In the 1970s, she went to work in Neiman's catalogue store.
Her favorite pastime was following her Texas sports teams, especially the Dallas Cowboys and the Baylor University Bears football team. She also enjoyed following and watching tennis.
Mrs. Bullington is survived by her daughters Joan Squires of Bayfield and Mary Bullington of Breckenridge; one granddaughter; and three great-grandchildren.
Cremation will occur. Services will be held at a later date.
Nola Imojean Ashburn (6/1/2007)
Durango resident Nola Imojean Ashburn died from complications of heart disease at Mercy Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, May 30, 2007. She was 78.
Mrs. Ashburn and her husband had recently moved to Durango to live with her son, Steven Ashburn, and his family.
She was born to Louis and Edna Jacobs in Griffith, Ind., on July 1, 1928.
She married Clyde Francis Ashburn in Santa Ana, Calif., on Dec. 15, 1946.
Mrs. Ashburn was preceded in death by her son Russell L. Ashburn and her granddaughter Rebecca Ashburn.
She is survived by her husband, Clyde F. Ashburn, of Durango; son Steven C. Ashburn of Durango; daughter Susan Y. Mullin of Unionville, Pa.; adopted daughter Ronda Johnson of Mission Viejo, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. today, June 1, 2007, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. The Rev. Myron T. Darmour will officiate. Cremation will follow the service.
Raymond Kirklin 'Chuck' Egger (6/1/2007)
Ignacio resident Raymond Kirklin Egger died at Mercy Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, May 30, 2007. He was 74. The cause of death was undetermined.
Known as "Chuck," he was born to Reef and Gertrude Stowers Egger in Pagosa Springs on Sept. 16, 1932. He came from a newspaper family. His grandfather, Daniel Egger, had been the publisher of the Bayfield Blade (now the Pine River Times), his father published the Pagosa Sun and his Uncle Raymond Egger ran the Ignacio Chieftain.
Mr. Egger was raised in Aztec by his grandmother Mary Mackmin. In 1949, he moved to Durango, where he graduated from Durango High School in 1950.
He met Donna Dillon while attending DHS, and the couple married in Aztec on Dec. 14, 1951.
In his early days, Mr. Egger drove a truck before going into business. He worked for the La Plata County Assessor's Office and owned a Mobil station in Durango and the Laundromat and liquor store in Ignacio. He retired as the supervisor of purchasing and inventory for Durango School District 9-R.
Mr. Egger was active in the community. He held several offices in the Durango Jaycees (including being one of the original whistlers) and served on the original Navajo Trails Fiesta committee, where he was the parade chairman for 10 years. Mr. Egger was also active in the former Ignacio Lions Club and was a member of the Mount Allison Grange and the Durango Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 507.
He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and horseback riding. He also enjoyed bowling.
Mr. Egger is survived by his wife of 55 years, Donna Egger, of Ignacio; sons Charlie Egger of Allison, Don Egger of Bloomfield, N.M., and Bob Egger and Ken Egger, both of Durango; brother Reef Egger of Mesa, Ariz.; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2007, at St. Columba Catholic Church. The Rev. James Koenigsfeld will officiate. A reception will follow the service at the Durango Fire & Rescue Authority Station No. 1 in Bodo Park, which is located at 142 Sheppard Drive.
Cremation will occur, and the ashes will be buried at Crestview Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.
