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Charles A. Bench
Charles A. Bench, 26, of Medford died on February 11, 2005, at 9:33 p.m. A Celebration of his life will be held at Perl Funeral Home on February 19, 2005, at 1 p.m. Pastor Rainey of Grace Community Church will officiate.
Charles A. Bench was born to Charles L. Bench and Waverly Roberts on December 29, 1978. He attended Phoenix High School and worked as a truck dispatcher for Bowers Trucking.
On November 18, 2000, Charles married
Melissa L. Scott in Reno, Nevada.
His interests and hobbies were his children, racing, computers and geo-caching.
He is survived by his parents, Charles L. Bench and Waverly Roberts; brothers Raymond Lynch of Eagle Point and Bill Lynch of Portland, Oregon; his wife Melissa L. Bench; his daughter Cheyenne April Bench, age 6; sons Charles Anthony Bench, age 3, and Cameron Austin Bench, age 2.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Charles Bench Memorial Fund at Rogue Federal Credit Union.
Delbert M. Spain
The funeral service for Delbert Merle Spain will be on at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Memory Gardens Chapel with private family interment in Memory Gardens Memorial Park.
Mr. Spain, 85, of Central Point, died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005.
He was born Oct. 19, 1919 in Whitewater, MO. In 1940 he married
Joyce Dickerson in Missouri, and immediately moved to the Rogue Valley. She preceded him in death in 1979. In 1987 in Reno, NV, he married
Dorothy P. Jantzer, who survives.
Mr. Spain had served in the U.S. Army during WWII.
He had worked for Trail Creek Lumber, Steve Wilson Logging and Vanderlip Logging, where he was a cat skinner.
Mr. Spain enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survivors in addition to his wife include: a son, Bruce Spain of Central Point; one daughter, Delberta "Bert" Emerine of Medford; a sister, Eileen Hinton of Missouri; a brother, Arley Spain of WA; four half-sisters, Juanita, Margaret, Pauline and Jerry Ruth all of Missouri; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife and a half-brother, Gene.
Visitation will be on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Memory Gardens Mortuary.
Arrangements by: Memory Gardens Mortuary.
Norma Jean Lopez
Our loving mother, daughter and sister Norma Jean Lopez passed away Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Norma was born in Newport Beach, CA on March 5, 1954. She graduated from Fountain Valley High School in So. CA in 1974. She moved to the Rogue Valley in 1977 and worked at Sally's Place for many years.
Most recently she worked as a caseworker for Jackson County Housing Authority in Medford.
Norma loved to make people laugh and was always quick with a joke. She enjoyed her quiet moments reading inspirational books. She loved crafts, baking, music, dancing, the ocean and camping.
She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Lopez and son, Carlos Craig of Talent; parents Sally and Nolen Thomas of Central Point; sisters Lois Moreno of Riverside, CA, Emily Ayala of Central Point, Margaret Leyva of Medford, Carrie Reeves of Sutherlin, and Judy Lopez of Grants Pass; step-sisters, Nancy Mylink of Novato, CA and Jeannie Lewis of Medford; brothers, Frank and Ernie Lopez of Santa Ana, CA and Sam Lopez of Sally's Kitchen in Medford. She was preceded in death by her father Frank Lopez and brother Ed Lopez both of So. CA.
Norma will be missed by all who knew and loved her. A memorial service will be held at Perl Siskiyou Memorial Park in Medford at 12 noon Friday, February 18.
Arrangements: Perl Funeral Home and Siskiyou Memorial Park, Medford.
Alfred Schleunes
Alfred Schleunes, 76, of Shady Cove, died Tuesday (Feb. 15, 2005) at his home. Arrangements: Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives, Medford.
Delbert Ragsdale
Delbert Ragsdale, 78, of Cave Junction, died Sunday (Feb. 13, 2005) at his home. Arrangements: Grants Pass Funeral Alternatives, Grants Pass.
Delma R. Bates
Delma R. Bates, 73, died Monday (Feb. 14, 2005) in Medford. Arrangements: Perl Funeral Home and Siskiyou Memorial Park, Medford.
Howard Pugh
Howard Pugh, 99, of Medford, died Monday (Feb. 14, 2005) at Rogue Valley Medical Center. Arrangements: Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives, Medford.
Olga M. Wade
Olga M. Wade, 89, of Ashland, Oregon, died Monday, February 14, 2005 at a Medford Foster Home. Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Patricia J. Paul
Patricia Joyce Paul, 52, of Ashland, died Monday (February 14, 2005) at the Linda Vista Care Center, Ashland. Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Richard Schrader
Richard Schrader, 78, of Talent, died Tuesday (Feb. 15, 2005) at his home. Arrangements: Abbey Funeral, Inc. of Medford.
Esther Smith
The funeral service for Esther E. Smith will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 in the Memory Gardens Chapel. Pastor Webb Staunton of Applegate Christian Fellowship will officiate. Interment will be in Memory Gardens Memorial Park.
Esther Smith passed away Sunday, February 13, 2005 at her home in Talent.
She was born on March 1, 1918 in Enid, Oklahoma, to Charles and Myrtle Wright. She had a twin brother Lester, four sisters, Mae, Flora, Alice, and Loyce, and a brother Virgil. Esther attended Dill High School where she played basketball on the championship team and was elected to the student government. She graduated with honors in 1936.
Esther moved to Central Point with her family in 1937. There she met and later married
the love of her life, Harold Smith, on October 23, 1939. They spent the rest of their lives here in the Rogue Valley.
Esther was extremely hard working, loved a challenge and never gave up. She ran their 40-acre ranch in Phoenix and cared for their daughters while Harold worked in the woods building roads for Plumley Logging Inc. She loved gardening and always grew an extensive flower and vegetable garden. She was enthralled by the variety of wildbirds she attracted to her gardens and feeders. Esther loved the outdoors. She spent many happy days hunting, fishing and traveling with Harold.
Esther was a creative, talented person who taught herself sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting and oil painting. She loved spending time with her family and was a great encouragement to everyone. Even her great-grandchildren were deeply impacted by her love and support. She taught her family the virtues of hard work, determination and thriftness.
Esther and Harold spent 64 wonderful years together before he preceded her in death in 2003. She is survived by their their three daughters, Glenna Smith of Medford, Peggy Watts of Mesa, AZ, and JoAnn Hunter of Talent. She had nine grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.
Her love and legacy will never be forgotten. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements: Memory Gardens Mortuary, Medford.
Kevan James Thatcher-Stephens
July 8, 1987-February 11, 2005
Kevan was born at home in Norfolk Massachusetts on July 8, 1987. When Kevan was a toddler his family moved to South Pasadena California. Kevan spent most of his life in South Pasadena, going to the beach, playing sports, acolyting at his church and attending local schools. In the summer of 2003, before his sophomore year, Kevan and his family moved to Ashland, Oregon. In Ashland Kevan found a world of wonderful friends, caring teachers and joy.
On the evening of February 11, 2005, an accident took his life and that of another driver. Kevan died at Providence Hospital with his parents and closest friends holding his hands.
This child raced through life filled with genius, joy, love and confusion. Kevan's death leaves a space which will never be filled in the lives of those who remain, including his father James Richard Stephens, his mother Patrice Thatcher, his sisters Annie Thatcher-Stephens and Karma Stephens, his grandmother Rosemary Thatcher, a large extended family and many, many close friends.
Kevan's life will be celebrated at 4:30 in the afternoon on Friday, February 18, at St. Marks' Episcopal Church in Yreka California, the church where Kevan was baptized. Fr. Denis M. O'Pray of Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel California and the Reverend Julie Honig Smith of St. Barnabas Mt. Shasta will serve with Fr. Morgan Silbert of Trinity Ashland attending.
Flowers are not necessary. Those wishing to remember Kevan might make a donation to Siskiyou or Jackson County Head Start or Early Head Start Agencies. They save children and families.
Olga M. Wade
Olga M. Wade died peacefully in her sleep at almost 90 years old on February 14, 2005.
Mrs. Wade taught fifth grade for over twenty years at the Hardie School in Beverly, MA. Ashland, Oregon has been her home these past three years, living with her only daughter's family.
Olga was born of Polish immigrants, she was proud of the fact she graduated from the University of Illinois during the great depression. She loved to talk of growing up helping in her parent's bakery.
Mrs. Wade was so proud of her many students, especially those who came to visit her and told of their successes.
Olga lived a good life for over fifty years surrounded by her wonderful neighbors on Country Drive in Beverly.
She was married
fifty-five years to her late husband, Williams Wade, an engineer and inventor. Bill Wade was proud of his wife, Olga, especially when she received her Master's Degree in Education from Salem State College.
Olga Wade was a member of the Beverly Teachers Association, Beverly College Club, the Christian Women's Organization, The Current Events Club, and contributed time to many local events.
She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Lucy Barth (Wade-Hayford-Stern) of Ashland, OR; and by her granddaughter, Crystal Stern of Clearlake, California; and by her brother, Chester Gawlowicz of New Bedford, MA.
Funeral services will be held at the Campbell Funeral Home in Beverly, MA. Final burial in St. Casmirs Polish National Catholic Church in her family plot in Pelham, New Hampshire.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Susie T. Riggi
A funeral service for Susie T. Riggi will be at 10 a.m. Friday, February 18, 2005 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors, Grants Pass. Private mausoleum entombment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Mrs. Riggi, 89, of Medford (formerly of Grants Pass) died Monday (February 14, 2005) at Orchard Assisted Living in Medford.
She was born Susie Taibi on March 1, 1915 in Niagara Falls, New York. On July 21, 1934 in Niagara Falls, she married
Joseph S. Riggi, who preceded her in death in 1981. She moved to California in 1945.
Mrs. Riggi worked for 18 years as a supervisor at Foix French Bakery in Los Angeles, CA. She also owned and operated two family restaurants with her son in Glendale, CA. In 1979 she moved to Grants Pass.
Susie enjoyed oil painting and ceramics and made delicate ceramic roses. She also enjoyed reading murder mysteries, watching her favorite TV detectives and attorneys, and getting together with family and friends to play poker.
Survivors include three children, Claire Moretti of Medford, Phil Riggi of Las Vegas, NV, and Carmen Bojarski of Grants Pass; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements: Hull & Hull Funeral Directors, Grants Pass.
Velma L. Sommerer
Velma L. Backes Sommerer, 73, of Central Point, died Feb. 6, 2005 after a two week battle with lung and brain cancer, taking her to our Lord above so quickly.
A celebration of life will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, (Feb. 20, 2005) at her home, 206 Kings Way, Central Point.
On March 15, 1950 she married
Arthur Backes, who died in 1975. They have three children Eugene Backes of Sutherlin; Questa Knight of Sams Valley; and Jay Backes of Medford. In 1979 she married
Henry Sommerer of Medford, who died in 2002.
Velma loved the woods and enjoyed hunting deer and elk, fishing and mushroom hunting.
She dearly loved her three children; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The love of her life were her great-grandkids, Kaytlyn and "Two Bits" Brandon Tyler, who she saw daily. Also surviving are two sisters, Katherine Hall and June Diess.
Ann Gladys Smith
Ann Gladys Smith, 74, of Merlin, died Tuesday (Feb. 15, 2005) at Three Rivers Community Hospital. Arrangements: Chapel of the Valley-L.B. Hall Funeral Home, Grants Pass.
Edith Adams
Edith Adams, 87, of Medford, died Tuesday (Feb. 15, 2005). Arrangements: Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary, Medford.
Marian B. Thurston
Marian B. Thurston, 88 (Sept 8, 1916), of Jacksonville, died Tuesday (Feb. 15, 2005) at Rogue Valley Medical Center, Medford. Arrangements: Conger-Morris Funeral Directors of Medford.
Edward D. Powell
Ed passed away peacefully on January 26, 2005 of lung cancer, he was 48 years old.
Ed was never alone in life and died at home surrounded by his family and friends.
We invite you to come share your memories of Ed with us at a celebration of his life at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Table Rock Fellowship, 3610 N. Pacific Hwy., Medford.
Elizabeth S. Cannon
The informal gathering for family and friends for Elizabeth Sarah Cannon will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, at the family home.
Mrs. Cannon, 84, of Medford, died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005.
She was born March 29, 1920 in Little Rock, AR. In 1949 she married
Donald M. Cannon, who preceded her in death in 1973. She had lived in the Rogue Valley since 1977, moving here from Lakewood, CA.
Mrs. Cannon had worked for the Jackson County Airport security, where she operated the baggage x-ray equipment for approximately ten years. She had been an Administrative Assistant for the ARC of Jackson County Advocates for the Developmentally Disabled, for approximately eight years.
She enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles.
Survivors include: two daughters, Kathy White of Medford; Valerie Williams of Palm Desert, CA; a son, Paul White of Spokane, WA; a sister, Margie Hemler of San Clemente, CA; a brother, Billy Coleman of Pt. Hueneme, CA.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Our sincere thank you to Providence Hospital for all of your care and support.
Arrangements: Memory Gardens Mortuary.
