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David Van Hecke
Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 27 for David (Van) Van Hecke of Elk Grove who died March 7, 2004 at the age of 76.
Mr. Van Hecke was born in Chicago and grew up in Kansas City, Mo. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II.
During his career he owned a car dealership then moved on to real estate with West Mortgage Co. in Kansas City. He was the owner of numerous entrepreneurial businesses over the years including a bonding company, restaurant and lounge, and a Lake of the Ozarks resort. His last occupation was in property management in the Davis area. The family lived in Elk Grove for the past eight years.
Mr. Van Hecke is survived by his wife, Helen Van Hecke of Elk Grove; his children, Bill Van Hecke and wife Donna of Kansas City, Russell Van Hecke of Elk Grove and Pamela Van Hecke of Davis; his grandchildren, Jason and wife Alison of Wichita, Kan., Jamie, Josh, Jake and Justin all of Kansas City; and his great-grandchildren, Maricar and Jack.
He was the brother of Vincent Van Hecke of Modesto.
Saturday's services begin at 1 p.m. in Elk Grove Funeral Chapel, 9101 Elk Grove Blvd. Interment will be in Kansas City.
Remembrances may be made to the American Heart Association, 2007 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Arland Tillis
Memorial services will take place Saturday, June 26 for Arland Tillis who died June 15, 2004 at the age of 72.
Mr. Tillis enjoyed hunting bear and coon and was known for his love of a good field trial race. He hunted all over California, especially on the west side of the state, and owned many hound dogs over the years.
He was a member of the Resilient Floor Covering Union for over 50 years, installing residential and commercial floor coverings.
Mr. Tillis was born May 31, 1932 in Mt. Peak, Okla. to Edna and Noah Tillis.
He was preceded in death by his wife Cherrille in 2000, twin brother Garland and numerous brothers and sisters.
Mr. Tillis is survived by his son Dan Tillis; his daughter Jackie Tillis-Gee and husband Edward; their mother Dorothy Tillis; stepdaughter Vivian Drake and husband Tim; granddaughter Danielle Tillis and her mother Lori; and grandsons T.J. and Dylan Drake, all of Elk Grove.
He is also survived by Eddie McDonald of Elk Grove, Bobby McDonald of Colorado, Allen Stepps of Elk Grove, nephew Roger Tillis and their families, and many other relatives and friends.
Saturday's services begin at 3 p.m. in Elk Grove Funeral Chapel, 9101 Elk Grove Blvd. Interment is private.
Dr. Charlotte Barnes
Charlotte Barnes, Ed.D., a longtime educator with the Elk Grove Unified School District, died Sept. 16, 2004 at the age of 81.
She taught in the district before becoming a principal, first at Samuel Kennedy and then at James McKee elementary schools, retiring from the latter.
Dr. Barnes didn't receive her degrees until she had raised her sons; then she returned to college and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Sacramento State College and her doctorate from the University of the Pacific, Stockton.
She was born in Sacramento and grew up there and in the state of Montana. Following her retirement, she wrote and published a book about her experiences in that state, I'll Always Remember Montana. She also kept busy in retirement by writing community interest stories for the Elk Grove Citizen and the Sacramento Bee.
She was a member of the Elk Grove Book Club.
Dr. Barnes is survived by her husband of 62 years, Walter Barnes Sr. of Elk Grove; her sons, Walter Barnes Jr. and wife Linda of Sacramento and Mark Barnes, Ph.D., and wife Karen of Marietta, Ga.; and her grandchildren, Matthew, Daniel, Kelly, Susannah, Michael and Roberto.
She was the sister of Dorothy May of North Highlands. She also leaves behind many friends and special caregiver Shahnaz Parker.
Funeral services were held Monday at South East Lawn Mortuary with interment at South East Lawn Memorial Park, Elk Grove.
Remembrances may be made to The Alzheimer's Aid Society of Northern California, P.O. Box 1824, Sacramento, CA 95812.
Robert Simas
Robert Simas, a founder of Simas Floor Company, died Oct. 25, 2004 at his home in Latrobe.
Mr. Simas was born in Sacramento July 24, 1924 to Jack and Irene Allen Simas and grew up in this area, playing football at Elk Grove High School. He served in World War II, landing on Omaha Beach during the invasion of Normandy.
He and his wife Gwen started Simas Floor Company in their garage on Power Inn Road in 1950. He was active in various construction and flooring industry organizations.
Mr. Simas was preceded in death by his sister Marion, brothers Robert Dow and Allen Simas, and granddaughter Nicole Simas.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years Gwendolyn Palmer Simas; children James Simas and wife Suzie, Jeannie Varozza and husband Wayne and Gail Ward and husband Gary; grandchildren Taylor Simas, Joseph and Jacquelyn Varozza, Gwen-Marie Cross, Katie, John, James and Madelyn Ward; and four great-grandchildren.
Mr. Simas was the brother of Peggy Caldwell, Bill, Dave, Jack and Ken Simas.
Services took place Oct. 29. Remembrances may be made to Nicole Simas Scholarship Fund, c/o St. Michael's Episcopal School, 2140 Mission Ave., Carmichael, CA 95608; or Sierra Adoption Services, 8928 Volunteer Lane, Suite 240, Sacramento, CA 95826.
Arrangements were by Miller Funeral Home, Folsom.
James Mendonca
Private graveside services will take place Friday, Nov. 19 for James Morris Mendonca, 65, a native and longtime resident of this area, who died Nov. 13, 2004 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.
Mr. Mendonca was born Sept. 1, 1939 in Lodi. He grew up in Thornton and Galt where he attended local schools and with his father, William was active with the Boy Scouts.
He served his country with the U.S. Coast Guard for 21 years, including a tour in Vietnam in 1965-1966. Following that, he and his family returned to this area.
Mr. Mendonca was preceded in death by his father, William Mendonca in 1981.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years Lynda; his daughters, Renee Mendonca-Millard and husband Scott, and Tina Long and husband Don; and his granddaughter Jacqulynn Millard all of Wilton; and his mother Clara Mendonca of Galt.
Mr. Mendonca was the brother of Hazel Read and husband Bob of Sacramento and Luana Manning of San Diego. Six nieces and nephews and seven great-nieces and nephews also survive him.
A small gathering will take place at the Mendonca home Friday at 1:30 p.m. Call (916) 687-8526 for information.
Remembrances may be made to the National MS Society, 150 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94612.
Arrangements are by Ben Salas Funeral Home, Galt.
Arlene Slater
Arlene B. Slater, the first woman president of the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce, died Tuesday, Nov. 9 in her home in Sierra Vista, Ariz., following an illness of many years. She was 75.
Mrs. Slater presided over the Chamber in 1978 and growth in the area was a factor even then. "Some feel the town is growing too fast, others that its growth is long overdue," she said. "Progress is not a villain, it's how it is handled that is important."
The town was facing a $1 million insurance bill for any event held in Elk Grove Regional Park, and Mrs. Slater and her board worked hard to reduce that. She often stated she was most proud of that accomplishment in her term.
She and her board also initiated the Chamber Service Award, given annually to a member or couple who have contributed significantly to the Chamber but who are not currently serving as an officer or member of the board of directors.
Seven years after her term of office, in 1985, her husband, Dick Slater was elected as president of the Chamber.
Mrs. Slater was born Aug. 4, 1929 in Spokane, Wash. where she grew up. She and Dick were married Dec. 7, 1944, and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year. She often referred to him as her best friend.
The couple came to Elk Grove in the mid 1960s where he took a teaching job, first at McClatchy High School, then at Sacramento City College. Later they opened a real estate company in Elk Grove, Land Mark Realty.
In 1971 Mrs. Slater became the owner-manager of Diversified Learning Systems which provided programs to schools in the form of kits in electronics, mathematics and digital electronics.
She was active in several volunteer organizations in Elk Grove, including the Western Festival board, Elk Grove Historical Society, Elk Grove Republican Women, Soroptimist International of Elk Grove and Elk Grove Newcomers.
The couple retired in the early 1990s and moved to Sierra Vista, however, managed to stay in touch with many Elk Grove friends.
"Arlene was a lady in the true sense of the word," said friend Mary Lewis. "She was always gracious and sweet in her dealings with people, and at the same time exercised strong leadership in both business and the organizations she belonged to."
Besides her husband, Mrs. Slater is survived by two daughters, Sharon Agee of California and Sally Slater of Sierra Vista; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was the sister of Lyle DeVore of Green Valley, Ariz. and Vincent DeVore of Yakima, Wash.
Services are pending.
