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John F. Peters
John F. Peters, 50, of Ashland, passed away at Linda Vista Care Center on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003. Arrangements are by Abbey Funeral, Medford.
Edward B. Versluis
Edward B. Versluis, 61, passed away on November 14, 2003 at his home in Ashland. He died peacefully after a valiant two-year battle with cancer.
He was a professor of English at Southern Oregon University and was known to friends, colleagues, and students as Ed. He said it kept people from tripping over the pronunciation of his last name.
Ed was born in Waterloo, Iowa in 1942. He earned his B.A. at the University of Northern Iowa in 1963, his M.A. at the University of Chicago in 1965 and his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in 1972.
He taught at St. Mary's College in Moraga, Calif. from 1968 to 1975 and was a training coordinator with Cal/OSHA in San Francisco for two years before coming to SOU in 1978. Early English literature, 18th century
British literature, and world literature were his specialties, but he also enjoyed teaching a variety of other classes, such as, form and value in the arts and international business English. During his tenure at SOU, he
served as chair of the English department and as acting director of graduate studies. Ed was a strong supporter of the Association of Professors: Southern Oregon University and served as chief negotiator. He was given the first outstanding service award last year by the union. Although he retired from SOU in 2002, he was enthusiastically teaching one class, British literature: Anglo-Saxon to renaissance, this term.
Ed was proud of his contributions overseas: teaching in Germany, Poland, Viet Nam, and Thailand; and volunteering with Global Volunteers in Viet Nam, Cross Cultural Solutions in Ghana, and Habitat for Humanity in Mexico.
His interest in archaeology and Viking sagas took him and his wife, Diana, to the island of Gotland, Sweden for a three-week Viking archaeological dig this summer. Ed lived life to its fullest up until he embarked on his next adventure.
He is survived by his wife, Diana Omura Versluis; daughters, Andrea Versluis of Boston, Mass., and Tanya Versluis and her husband Eric Laughlin of Shelton, Wash.; step-daughter Ginny Long of San Francisco, Calif. and step-son Tosh Omura-Long of Portland; aunt Alice Peters of Waterloo, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his step-son, James Travis Long of Ashland, and his parents, Charles Versluis and Myrtle Brownell Versluis, of Waterloo, Iowa.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Windmill Inn at 3 p.m., followed by a social gathering. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Cancer Society would be appreciated.
Verna A. Carkhuff
Verna A. Carkhuff , 84, of Phoenix, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003 at her home. Arrangements are by Litwiller - Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Irene Laird
Irene Laird, 86, of Ashland, died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003 at her home. Arrangements are by Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Elizabeth Anna Williams
Elizabeth A. Williams, of Central Point, age 97, died on Dec. 19, 2003.
Elizabeth was born Aug. 10, 1906 to Daniel and Mary Dimmitt in Ontario, OR. She was educated in Klamath County schools except for the last two years of High School. She graduated from Medford High in 1925. She is a 1929 graduate of the University of Oregon.
Elizabeth taught school in Seaside, OR for several years. She married William M. Williams.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, William M. Williams, her sister, Neva Hayes of Klamath Falls, and a son Dale Williams of Sacramento, CA. She is survived by one son, Henry "Hank" Williams of Central Point; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth lived in Central Point since 1990, but most of her life was spend in Klamath Falls in the Henley community. She was active in the Mt. Laki Presbyterian Church, the Grange and Home Extension in Klamath County. She always had a beautiful garden and did lots of craft and needle work when she was younger. At the time of her death she was a member of Westminister Presbyterian Church in Medford.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2000 Oakwood Drive, Medford, at 3 p.m.
Verne R. Ridgway
A celebration of the life of Verne R. Ridgway of Medford will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2003 at Conger-Morris, Central Point Chapel. Viewing will be at Conger-Morris from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 26. Verne died at Three Fountains Nursing Home on December 19, 2003.
Verne was born in St. Anthony, Iowa, October 19, 1916 to Harriett and Horace Ridgway. The family lived in St. Anthony until Verne finished high school.
He owned a service station in his home town and worked at various jobs during his ealry years until he decided that there was not much future in "farming and got my parents permission to move to California." In 1943, Verne joined the Air Force and trained in Ft. Myers AFB in Florida as an Aerial Gunner-Flight Engineer and was further assigned to the Air Force Weather Service unit in the Azores named the 53rd Long-Range Recon Squadron. He spent 23 years serving his country, then went to business college and worked for the State Department of Motor Vehicles as a Drivers License Examiner.
Verne had many hobbies and interests but his best times were when he was driving all over the United States in his 1966 Mustang while towing a small trailer. He totaled over a half million miles in his Mustang.
On September 8, 1972, in Carson City, NV, he married Caroline Malone and they had four children.
Surviving Verne is his present wife, Ella Mae; sons, Robert R. Ridgway of Medford, Thomas of Sacramento, CA; daughters, Jacqueline Kroyer of Roseville, CA, Caroline Grady of Citrus Heights, CA; 4 step-daughters, Claudia Reetz of Sacramento, CA, Judy Baldwin of Sacramento, CA, Leeanna Dehaai of Casper, WY, Mary Lee Collins of Sacramento, CA; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sister, Irma Wendall of San Gabriel, CA; and brother, Ralph Ridgway of Sacramento, CA. Verne was preceded in death by his parents, Harriett Elizabeth and Horace Ridgway, and sister, Ruth Piper of Marshaltown, Iowa.
Family and friends of Verne and Ella Mae Ridgway may join a family gathering after the service at the clubhouse at Idle Wheels Mobile Home Park, at 2252 Table Rock Road in Medford.
Virginia 'Ginny' Abbott
Virginia "Ginny" Abbott, 84, passed away at her east Medford home peacefully Dec. 12, 2003. No services are planned.
She was preceded in death by her husband M.E. "Butch" Abbott. She is survived by a cousin, Dudley Frost of CA.; a step-son Jerry Abbott of CA; and his children, Cameron Abbott, Minta Hsu, and Kit Lofgren; and many dear friends.
Virginia was a member of the Providence Guild, Rogue Valley Art Gallery, Friendship Club and she thoroughly enjoyed "The ARts" in the Rogue Valley.
We would like to thank the staff Lincare, Providence Hospice, Social Services, her caregives, "Tobby" her mail carrier and many others who took the time to touch Virginia's life. Thank-you, from her friends.
Memorial contributions can be made to Providence Hospice, 1660 E. McAndrews, Medford, OR 97504 Arrangements: Perl Funeral Home, Medford.
William 'Bill' L. Collins
William "Bill" L. Collins died Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at the age of 85 years.
He is loved and survived by his wife of 41 years, Loraine. Also, he is survived by daughters, Nevada Collins Navarro of Antelope, CA, Andrea Collins Brown of Central Point; son, James A. Collins of Omaha, Nebraska; sons-in-law, Peter Navarro and Timothy Brown; daughter-in-law, Juanita Collins; grandchildren, Bailie Brown, Justin and Jamie Navarro, Lori Cummings, Travis Collins; and one great-granddaughter, Sienna Collins.
During his lifetime, he was in the Marine Corps and Navy. He had been a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Elks Lodge, Independent Order of Foresters, and is a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge. He had been employed by Langendorf Baking Co. from which he retired and went into the Commercial Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning business, retiring completely in 1994.
In 1995, he and his wife moved to the Rogue Valley from Oroville, CA, first living in Gold Hill and then moving to Central Point in 1999.
At his request, there will be no funeral services. Any remembrances may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children in his name. he was preceded in death by his father, William Ernest Collins, brother, Walter Ernest Collins, and mother Mary Eula Curtis.
Winifred L. Hollingsworth
A private family service is planned for Winifred Leora Hollingsworth, who passed away on December 17, 2003 at Linda Vista Care Center in Ashland.
She was born Winifred Leora Mority on March 19, 1904 in Nevada, Iowa. Her parents moved to Olds, Alberta, Canada when she was two. The family owned a large wheat ranch.
She married Hilton H. Hollingsworth on March 26, 1924. He preceded her in death on December 8, 1987. In 1936 the family moved to Oregon.
There were six children; Helen Calhoun of Talent, OR; Betty White of Beaverton, OR; Margie Struckmeyer (who preceded her in death) lived in Daly City, CA; Phyllis McCart of Chandler, AZ; Peggy Giese of Portland, OR; and Bill Hollingsworth of Ashland, OR.
She had eleven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and twelve great great-grandchildren.
Winifred was a member of the Christian Church of Ashland. She was a wonderful mom and grandmother and a very hard worker. Her hobbies were quilt making and crocheting, gardening and canning.
Arrangements by Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland, OR.
