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Wallace J. Burke
Wallace J. Burke, 82, of Grants Pass, died Tuesday (Jan. 21, 2003) at Royale Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center in Grants Pass. The memorial service will be held at Redwood Country Church in Grants Pass at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wally Burke Journalism Scholarship Fund, c/o Redwood Country Church, 1640 Redwood Ave., Grants Pass, OR 97527.
He was born Dec. 1, 1920, in Spokane, Wash. In 1972, he married
Velma Brown, who died in 2000. They moved to Grants Pass from San Francisco in 1973.
Mr. Burke worked in various positions for local newspapers and as entertainment editor for the Daily Courier. After his wife died, he took over her column, "Kudos & Klunkers" for the Sneak Preview in Josephine County.
In August 2000, he married
Inez Hawthorne, who survives.
Mr. Burke served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He attended Redwood Country Church in Grants Pass. He was also a member of the Knife and Fork Club, Sigma Delta Chi Society of Professional Journalism, was past president of AARP, and a member of Barnstormers.
Mr. Burke enjoyed volunteering to help children with reading, children’s fairs etc.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include a son, Damon, Brattleboro, Vt.; a daughter, Larrie Binkerd, Sunnyvale, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Nancy Holt, Grants Pass; and five grandchildren.
Arrangements: Lundberg’s L.B. Hall Funeral Home, Grants Pass.
Shirley Koozin
The graveside service for Shirley Koozin will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Eagle Point National cemetery. Jim Larsen of the Christian Church of Ashland will officiate.
Mrs. Koozin, 63, of Ashland, died Wednesday (Jan. 22, 2003) at Ashland Community Hospital.
Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.
She was born June 9, 1939, in Napa, Calif., to George and Helen Davis. She graduated from high school in Placerville, Calif., in 1957. On April 5, 1958, she married
Harry B. Rountree, who died in 1978. On Sept. 12, 1981, in Reno, Nev., she married
LeLand J. Koozin, who died in 1990.
Mrs. Koozin was a homemaker. She had lived in Ashland since 1982.
She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rogue Valley Women’s Bowling Association.
Mrs. Koozin enjoyed bowling.
Survivors include two daughters, Marianne Taylor, Talent, and Elizabeth Kanihan, Marysville, Calif.; two sons, Harry M. Rountree, Ashland, and Donald Rountree, Sparta, Ill.; a sister, Barbara Cassidy, Roseburg; a brother, Dale Davis, Ashland; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by sister, Helen Healy.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Crematory, Ashland.
Knute L. Johnson
Knute L. Johnson, 80, of Rogue River, died Thursday (Jan. 23, 2003) at Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass. A private service will be held. Interment will be at Eagle Point National cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rogue River Community Center, 132 Broadway St., Rogue River, OR 97537.
He was born Dec. 20, 1922, in Bird City, Kan., to Chauncey and Verna Johnson and moved to Longmont, Colo., as a small child. After his senior year, he served in the U.S. Navy for four years. On Jan. 25, 1946, he married
Zelda Brandt, and today they would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.
During the early years of his marriage, Mr. Johnson was a farmer and trained a Brahma bull to do tricks, which was noted on a series of postcards and in many magazines. After moving to California in 1954, he was a supervisor at Kaiser Steel Iron Ore Mine in Eagle Mountain, Calif. In 1963, the family moved to Merced, Calif., where he supervised the men building the Exchecquer Dam.
The family then moved to San Leandro, Calif., and he drove a machine that laid all of the rail, including the rail under the bay, for the Bay Area Rapid Transit System. He retired in 1979 and they moved to Rogue River.
Mr. Johnson was a volunteer driver for the Rogue River Community Center and a member of the Teamsters Union for most of his life.
He enjoyed working as a volunteer driver, and watching rodeos and football.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include a son, Russell, Arlington, Texas; two daughters, Terri Johnson, Rogue River and Corliss McCorkhill, Arlington, Texas; a sister, Sharon Acosta, Glendora, Calif.; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Ralph L. ‘Mitch’ Mitchell
Ralph L. "Mitch" Mitchell, 82, of Central Point, died Sunday (Jan. 19, 2003) at his home. No service is planned.
He was born April 3, 1920, in St. Paul, Minn. On Sept. 29, 1942, in Lewiston, Idaho, he married
Signa Holmes, who preceded him in death. He lived in the Rogue Valley for 60 years.
Mr. Mitchell was a professional cowboy with the Turtle Association, later known as the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA). He also worked as a brick mason for many years. He hauled logs as an owner-operator from 1954 until his retirement in 1978.
He served in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Mitchell was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed playing the fiddle and caring for his mule, Sally.
Survivors include a stepdaughter, Darlene Kay Richey, McArthur, Calif.; a stepson, Richard Lee Gilman, Mountain Grove, Mo.; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by a sister, Elsie Lakey.
Arrangements: Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives.
George Burley Tilley
George Burley Tilley, 78, of Gold Hill, died Sunday (Jan. 19, 2003) at his home. No service is planned. Inurnment will be at Rock Point cemetery in Gold Hill.
Memorial contributions may be made to Providence Community Health Foundation, Hospice, 1111 Crater Lake Ave., Medford, OR 97504, or the American Cancer Society, 31 W. Sixth St., Medford, OR 97501.
He was born June 5, 1924, in Roseburg, to John and Mildred (Casteel) Tilley. On Dec. 22, 1950, in Grants Pass, he married
Ida P. Dusenberry, who survives.
Mr. Tilley owned and operated Diamond T. Boiler Refractories in Gold Hill for 30 years.
He was past president of Local Brick Layers Union No. 9.
Mr. Tilley enjoyed playing cards, golfing, having parties with his family and friends and working on his property.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include two daughters, Cindy Tilley Faubion, Gold Hill, and Verda Sue Price, Elgin; three sons, Ron E. and Randy L, both Gold Hill, and Russ, Rogue River; a brother, Woodrow Kendall, Gold Hill; a sister, Peggy Tilley, Los Flores, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Verda "Babe" Tilley, Mary Whiteside and Mabel VanHorn; and two brothers, David and John.
Arrangements: Abbey Funeral, Medford.
Jeanne Anne O’Quin
The memorial service for Jeanne Anne O’Quin will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Eagle Point National cemetery. Pastor Ervin Geiszler will officiate.
Mrs. O’Quin, 80, of Medford, died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2003) at Providence Medford Medical Center.
The day of the service was incorrect in Wednesday’s obituary.
Georgia Electa Fair
The memorial service for Georgia Electa Fair will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hull & Hull Chapel in Grants Pass. Pastor Dorothy Cufaude will officiate.
Mrs. Fair, 86, of Central Point, died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2003) at an adult care home in Medford.
She was born June 17, 1916, in Grass Valley, Calif., to George and Iris (Whitney) Vertrees. In 1992, she moved to Cave Junction and later to Grants Pass. On July 20, 1998, she married
Ted Fair, who survives.
Mrs. Fair owned and operated a ceramics business. In her last few years in the Grants Pass area, she created hundreds of ceramics inscribed with "T + G" on the bottom. She moved to Central Point at the end of last year when she became ill.
In the 1970s, she was very active in the Redmen Organization in the Oroville, Calif., area and was named Pocahontas as a leader in that organization, helping people in need. She was also on the board of directors of the Feather River Opportunity Center in Chico, Calif., in the 1970s.
She was a seamstress and enjoyed sewing. She also enjoyed helping people.
Survivors, in addition to her husband, include a daughter, Georgia Joanne Anderson, Central Point; a sister, Norma Lounsberry, Whidbey Island, Wash.; four grandsons; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Harry, Claude and James Vertrees; and two sisters, Evelyn and Winifred.
Arrangements: Hull & Hull Funeral Directors, Grants Pass.
Wilfred K. Garlitz
The memorial service for Wilfred K. Garlitz will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Chapel in Medford. Pastor Ernie Groth of West Main Church of Christ will officiate. Private entombment will be in the Court of Honor at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Medford.
Mr. Garlitz, 83, of Medford, died Saturday (Jan. 25, 2003) in Medford.
Memorial contributions may be made to the West Main Church of Christ Building Fund, 1701 W. Main St., Medford, OR 97501.
He was born May 1, 1919, in Mount Savage, Md., to Jessie and Estella (Baer) Garlitz. On Nov. 16, 1946, in Vancouver, Wash., he married
Ola Margaret Johnson, who survives. They moved to the Rogue Valley in 1969.
Mr. Garlitz played and coached baseball in his younger years. He later enjoyed remodeling and building and playing golf.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include a daughter, Teresa Bostwick, Medford; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.
Arrangements: Conger-Morris Funeral Directors, Medford.
Evelyn Reynolds
Evelyn Reynolds, 76, of Ashland, died Tuesday (Jan. 28, 2003) at Skylark Extended Care Facility in Ashland. A private graveside service will be held. Interment will be at Scenic Hills Memorial Park, Ashland.
She was born Oct. 26, 1926, in Dardanelle, Ark., to Vinnie and Bernie Atkins. On Dec. 16, 1945, in Centerville, Ark., she married
Don Reynolds, who died in 1990. She was raised in Arkansas and lived in Lakeview, Ore., and Frenchtown, Mont., before moving to the Talent/Medford area in 1987.
Mrs. Reynolds was a care giver for the State of Oregon for several years.
Survivors include a daughter, Sherry Olson, Phoenix; a son, Howard, Reno, Nev.; a sister, Gelia Owens, Sparks, Nev.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother and five sisters.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Crematory, Ashland.
Joseph Michael Golden
Joseph Michael Golden, 88, of Central Point, died Saturday (Jan. 25, 2003) at his home. No service is planned.
He was born Jan. 8, 1915, in Los Angeles, to Michael and Berdinah (Dykstra) Golden. On Feb. 28, 1938, in Los Angeles, he married
Mary Molloy, who survives. They moved to the Rogue Valley in 1974 from Portland.
Mr. Golden was a truck driver for Arco for more than 30 years.
He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.
Mr. Golden enjoyed fishing and cooking.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include a son, Michael James, Yucaipa, Calif.; two daughters, Sheila Thompson, Gold Hill, and Patricia Ann Watcher, Yucaipa, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.
Arrangements: Central Valley Cremation and Funeral Care, Central Point.
Bill J. Cox
Bill J. Cox, 76, of Ashland, died Tuesday (Jan. 28, 2003) at his home. The memorial service will be held in August at his favorite fishing spot in Brookings.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rogue Valley Medical Center Asante Health Services, 2825 Barnett Road, Medford, OR 97504.
He was born Jan. 9, 1927.
Mr. Cox worked diligently at different jobs in his lifetime, retiring from the City of Ashland in 1991. Following his retirement, he worked for the Ashland Daily Tidings for seven years.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Cox was a member of Ashland Elks Lodge 944 until 2000, when he resigned for medical reasons.
He was an avid reader and enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, camping and trips to the coast.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Ginger, Ashland; a son, Bill, Medford; two daughters, Patricia Cox, Casselberry, Fla., and Sharon Hobein, Central Point; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Crematory, Ashland.
Marie Snyder
The funeral for Marie Snyder will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Havurah Shir Haddash in Ashland. Rabbi David Zaslow will officiate.
Mrs. Snyder, 58, of Gold Hill, died Tuesday (Jan. 28, 2003) at her home.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Crematory, Ashland.
Christopher Lynn Bitgood
A celebration of the life of Christopher Lynn Bitgood will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at Table Rock Fellowship in Medford. Pastor Doug Cox will officiate.
Mr. Bitgood, 23, of Central Point, died Tuesday (Jan. 28, 2003) at Providence Medford Medical Center.
He was born Oct. 30, 1979, in Galveston, Texas. He moved to the Rogue Valley 10 years ago from Springfield and attended South Medford High School and North Medford High School.
Mr. Bitgood was an avid skateboarder. He enjoyed working with animals, spending summer days camping, and going to the lake with his friends and family.
Survivors include his parents, Jeffrey and Eugenia Bitgood, Central Point; a sister, Courtney Bitgood, Central Point; two half-sisters, Angela Farnsworth, Florence, and Kim Lewis-Altamirano, Galveston, Texas; and his grandmother, Mary Irene Bitgood, Westerly, R.I.
Arrangements: Abbey Funeral, Medford.
