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Samuel Stephen Rath
Jan. 12, 1981 - Nov. 30, 2004
Sam Rath, beloved son of Anne Elizabeth Gordon and Stephen J. Rath and a lifelong resident of the Rogue Valley, was killed in Ashland on Tuesday, November 30.
He was born in Ashland, attended Ruch Grade School, McLoughlin Junior High, and South Medford High School. He was an avid soccer player and a member of the SMHS team in 1997 when they won the state championship.
Sam was a sensitive, creative soul, who loved listening to music, hanging out with family and friends, and going for long walks, but he was most fond of his tobacco.
A bright light whose real gifts defy description, he is sorely missed by his family, including numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as his friends in the Rogue Valley.
Sam is survived by his mother, Anne Gordon of Talent; his step-father, Scott Langdon Thompson of Medford; his sister Meghan Louise Thompson of Talent; and his brother Jacob Scott Thompson of Medford; his paternal grandparents Mary and Charles Rath of New City, NY; and maternal grandmother Nancy Gordon Quinn formerly of Trail, now living in Poulsbo, WA. He was preceded in death by his father, Stephen J. Rath of Ashland, and his grandfather, James Quinn of Trail.
A memorial service will be held at Ruch Comunity Church at 2 p.m. Wed., Dec. 8.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Jackson County Mental Health, 1005 E. Main, Medford, 97504-7448
Arrangements; Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home in Ashland.
Georgia B. Taylor's
Memorial Service will be held at Ashland's First United Methodist Church 175 N. Main St. Wed. Dec. 8th, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to Litwiller-Simonsen's Funeral Home and/or First United Methodist Church, to help defray cost.
Rachel Erb Middleton
Rachel Erb Middleton, 96, of Ashland, died Tuesday (November 30, 2004) at her residence.
Arrangements by Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Michael B. Rukstalis
The memorial service for Michael Bollinger Rukstalis will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, December 2, 2004 at the Masonic Lodge No. 23, 570 Clover Lane, Ashland. Inurnment will follow at 3 p.m., in Eagle Point National Cemetery, Eagle Point.
Michael Bollinger Rukstalis, 47, of Ashland, died Saturday (Nov. 27, 2004) on Hyatt-Prairie Road, Ashland.
Mike was born March 3, 1957 in South Gate, CA to David Lee Rukstalis, Sr., and the former Ladona Joan Bollinger.
He served in the United States Marine Corp from 1975 to 1976.
Survivors include his children, Tiffany and Michael Alexander Rukstalis of Ashland; sister, Victoria Avery of Mission Viejo, CA; brothers, David L. Rukstalis, Jr., of Redondo Beach, CA and Bart P. Rukstalis of Everett, WA; and his parents, David L. Rukstalis, Sr., and Ladona J. Rukstalis of Mission Viejo, CA; one grandson, Timothy, of Vallejo, CA.
Arrangements; Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Timothy L. Thompson Investment Strategist, Dies at 58
Timothy L. Thompson, an investment strategist who focused on developing sophisticated methods of asset allocation for major institutional investors after a rural Oregon childhood, died Saturday.
He was 58 and died at New York Presbyterian Hospital after a long struggle with lung cancer, according to his wife, Linda R. Killian. He was a long time resident of Scarsdale, NY.
Born in Albany, Oregon, he was the first in his rural community to head East for College and matriculated at Yale University in 1964. He was the subject of a photo essay in Life Magazine in 1965, which described him as "a rough country boy with lots of tools and desire."
He served in the US Army in intelligence from 1968 to 1971, with service in Viet Nam in 1970 and 1971. His experiences in Southeast Asia inspired a life long interest in Eastern philosophy. He joined a Washington-based consulting firm, Teleconsult, and spent a number of years working on telecommunications infrastructure consulting projects in the Mideast, South America and Southeast Asia.
The beginning of his investment career occurred after obtaining a MBA from The Wharton School, where he met his wife who subsequently founded Greenwich, CT- based Renaissance Capital in 1979. He then embarked on a decades long career in investments, working as an executive for Chase Econometrics, Wilshire Associates, Frank Russell Trust Company, and PIMCO Advisors. Most recently he founded an investment advisor, Value-Asset Research & Management, to provide investment services relating to Exchange Traded Funds.
During his investment career he was a frequent public speaker and prolific author. His speaking engagements included presentations to the New York Society of Security Analysts and as guest speaker at Trinity College, Cambridge University in England. He published a weekly newsletter and authored articles on investing for a variety of professional journals.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Killian, of Scarsdale, NY, his son, Nicholas, also of Scarsdale, two sisters, Julie Van Elswyk, of New Britain, CT, and Ardith da Costa of Petaluma, CA and his father Floyd, of Ashland, OR.
In lieu of flowers, his family asks that contributions be made to the Yale Alumni Fund, PO Box 1890, New Haven, CT 06508 or the Herbert Irving Cancer Center, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, 161 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY 10032.
A funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday, December 1, at 3 p.m at the Scarsdale Congregational Church. A memorial service is planned for Ashland, Oregon in the near future. Westchester Funeral Home is handling the arrangements in NY, to sign our on-line register book, please visit our website: www.westchesterfuneralhome.com
Frances E. Harrison
Frances E. Harrison, 87, of Ashland, died Tuesday (Nov. 30, 2004) at the Ashland Community Hospital.
Arrangements; Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Robert T. Defenbaugh
Robert Thompson Defenbaugh, 75, of Ashland, died Wednesday (November 24, 2004) at his residence.
Arrangements by Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Georgia Taylor
Georgia Taylor, 79, of Ashland, died Thursday, (Nov. 25, 2004) at her residence.
Arrangements; Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Howard William Wagner
Howard William Wagner, 76, of Ashland, died Friday (Nov. 26, 2004) at his home.
Arrangements; Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
James Williams
James Williams, 47, son of Bill & Audrey Williams, Ashlland passed away, Nov. 23, 2004 in Grants Pass.
Arrangements: Hull and Hull Funeral Directors, Grants Pass. Class=1001
Michael B. Rukstalis
Michael Bollinger Rukstalis, 47, of Ashland, died Saturday (Nov. 27, 2004) in a motor vehicle accident on Hyatt-Prairie Road, Ashland.
Arrangements; Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Thomas Monroe Denney
Thomas Monroe Denney, 63, of Ashland, died Tuesday (Nov. 22, 2004) at Rogue Valley Medical Center.
Arrangements pending Abbey Funeral, Medford.
Charles George Widmann
Big band drummer known as Chuck George passed away Nov. 12, 2004 surrounded by his children from Oregon, Washington and Colorado. His daughter from New York was not able to arrive in time.
He was born on May 28, 1913 to Gustave and Elizabeth Widmann in Queens, N.Y.
Mr. Widmann was a lifetime member and Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge and Past Worthy President of the Eagles. He was a life member of the Musicians Union and Knights of Columbus.
Surviving are his daughter Carol and her husband James Coyne, daughter; Elizabeth and husband Dix Fairbourn; son Bob and wife Connie Widmann; daughter Chris Ogburn; and son Daryll and wife Trena Widmann from Oregon, Washington & Colorado; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great grandchild on the way. He also leaves behind a dear friend and musician Dave Flick and friends Quinn Berry, Muriel Beattie, and Geneva Carlson. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers John and Gus Widmann; and two sons Richard and Charles Widmann.
Funeral services to be held at the Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland, at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004.
He will be missed by all.
