MARILYN LAUX TIBBITS, 76, of Tucson, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. She is survived by her husband, Charles Tibbits; sons, Jeffrey Laux, Steven Laux, Douglas Laux; and daughter, Dr. Michele Pavlisin. Marilyn graduated from the U of Illinois with a BA in Fine Arts. In 1947 she marriage Gregory Bernard Laux, a construction engineer, and they started their family near Chicago. Following the death of her husband, she returned to Freeport, Illinois in 1963. She worked for her father in his securities business, sold real estate, and became a para-legal. In 1982 she marriage Charles Tibbits and they moved to Tucson in 1986. Active in So. Arizona Water Color Guild, the Delta Gamma Sorority, playing Bridge at her Ventana Canyon Club, she still spent much time doing water colors, and took part in regional shows. There will be no funeral service. A family memorial is planned for the children at her Tucson home. In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donations to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, 1050 N. Dodge Blvd. (at Speedway).
BUFTON, John Ronald, 60, of Tucson, died Monday, May 29, 2000. He was born on September 12, 1939 in Los Angeles, CA. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Bufton; daughter, Heidi Tekunoff; son, John Bufton; stepsons, Kirk and Eric Schmitt, and Ryan Needler; stepdaughter, Meghan Needler; half-sister, Patricia Kreds; and grandchildren, Adriel Hong, Emily and Daniel Tekunoff, and Ryan Schmitt.
Ron served in the U.S. Navy as a chaplain's assistant on the USS Kearsarge. He served as pastor of Church of the Light in McKinleyville, CA for 10 years. He was an accomplished artist in metal sculpture and watercolor, and was a world renowned miniaturist. He was a member of the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts. He attended Foothills Community Church.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 3, at 2:00 p.m. at Foothills Community Church, 3301 W. Overton Road, Tucson, with Rev. Jon Farmer officiating.
Arrangements by ARIZONA MORTUARY UNIVERSITY CHAPEL.
R. JOHN HENRY, 47, of Benson died Tuesday, May 30, 2000. He was born January 11, 1953 in Alamogordo, NM. He is survived by son, Eric; and daughter, Renee of Las Vegas, NV; parents, Wendell and Peggy Henry of Las Cruces, NM; sister, Debbie Roubidux of Corpus Christie, TX.
A graveside memorial service will be held on Sunday June 4th at 2:00 p.m. at Evergreen Mortuary and Cemetery, N. Oracle and W. Miracle Mile. No flowers please.
JOHNSTON, Agnes Rose, 99, of Tucson, formerly of Dent, MN, died June 2, 2000. She was born September 10, 1900 near Dent, MN, daughter of the late William and Augusta Du Ball Hancock. She was marriage April 12, 1919 in Little Falls, ND to Earle King Johnston who preceded her in death on December 5, 1984. Survived by grand-children, Richard William Johnston of Denver, CO and Sarah Johnston Dugger of Strasburg, CO; great-granddaughters, Abby Reed Johnston and Hannah Rose Johnston both of Denver, CO; a step-great-grand-daughter, Melissa Dugger of Strasburg, CO. Many nieces and nephews including Jean Dreyfuss and James Hauglum both of Tucson. Mrs. Johnston was predeceased by her sons, Willard Earle Johnston and Richard Wallace Johnston. Service Monday, 11:00 a.m. at EVERGREEN MORTUARY. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at EVERGREEN MORTUARY & Cemetery, N. Oracle & W. Miracle Mile.
LEE, William "Bill" age 70, of Tucson, formerly of Minneapolis, Minnesota, died May 31, 2000. He is survived by his wife, Betsy; two daughters, Linda K. Lee of Columbia, MO, Robin R. Lee of Eugene, OR; and son, David W. Lee of Snoqualmie, WA; stepdaughter, Mary Ellen Charles of Arizona City, AZ; five granddaughters, Jamila and Tahira Terkman of Columbia, MO, Mary K. Lee of Snoqualmie, WA and Kasandra Stevens of Arizona City, AZ; and great-granddaughter, Soriah Prokopich of AZ; three grandsons, Jason Prokopich of AZ, David J. Lee of Snoqualmie, WA and Matthew Stevens of Arizona City, AZ. Private services will be held at Evergreen Mortuary.
ROBERTS, KENNITH E., 49, of Tucson, passed away on Monday, May 31, 2000. He is survived by his wife, Patsy; mother, June Roberts; brothers, Bill, Jeff, Keith, and Tom, all of Ohio; mother-in-law, Maggie McDowell; brother-in-law, Gary McDowell, both of Tucson; plus beloved nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be at ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, 1050 N. Dodge Blvd., at Speedway, Saturday, June 3, 2000 at 2:00 p.m., Rev. Norbert Kinne, of Tucson World Prayer Center, officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior. Services and burial will conclude in Thomasville, North Carolina.
SHAW, Nathan R., 26, of Tucson, died May 1, 2000. Son of Linda L. Owens of Tucson; brother of Lea N. Colville of Missoula, Montana; grandson of Dollas Carlson of Tucson. Funeral services private. Interment in Billings, Montana. Arrangements by ABBEY FUNERAL CHAPEL, 3435 N. 1st. Ave., (888-1111), Tucson, AZ.
ALTMANN, Walter Thomas, Sr., a pioneer in Native American healthcare, passed away August 1, 2001 in Scottsdale, AZ. Known to many as Walt, he was born October 30, 1919 in Washington, D.C. He was a graduate of Gonzaga College. He began his career in hospital administration as the Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Air Corps Hospital in Waycross, Georgia during World War II. After his wartime service, he served as the hospital administrator for the Ware County Hospital in Waycross, 1946-48, and later over the two facilities in the Halifax District Hospitals in Daytona Beach, Florida, 1948-49. He was the founding administrator and organizer of the Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia during 1949-1953. He was honored in June, 2000, at the hospital's 50th anniversary for multiple accomplishments, including being the first hospital to receive full accreditation in its first year of operation from the organization that preceded the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, becoming a model hospital for hospitals with 100+ beds wanting Federal funding. In 1953, he joined the Indian Health Service as the hospital administrative director over 11 hospitals in the Phoenix area. He held a variety of administrative and management positions in Phoenix and later Albuquerque until 1959, when he accepted the position of hospital administrator of Oshrin Hospital in Tucson. During his 12 years at Oshrin in Tucson, he also was the administrator and participating owner for the Valley House Convalescent Center during 1963-65. During his time at Oshrin, thousands of Native Americans were cared for under contract from the Indian Health Service. Upon the closing of Oshrin in 1971, Walt returned to the Indian Health Service as the Area Executive Officer in Phoenix, overseeing nine hospitals in four states. He retired from Federal Service in 1981. During his 28 years working in Indian health care, TB was controlled; he helped guide the building of the Phoenix Indian Medical Center and the improvement of Indian health care facilities in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. His academic accomplishments include a Bachelor of Laws from the American School of Law in Chicago, 1961; course work at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, 1938-41, in pharmacy; and chairman of the advisory and organizing committee at the University of Georgia's School of Hospital Administration and serving as a Professor of Hospital Administration, 1950-51. He is an U.S. Army World War II veteran. He was preceded in passing by his wife of 58 years, Eleanor in September, 2000. He is survived by three children, Walt Altmann, Jr., of Phoenix, Christine McGarvey of Tucson and Jon C. Altmann of Phoenix. He has nine grandchildren and two great-grand-children. Visitation will be held 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, August 6, 2001 with a 7:00 p.m. Rosary at Whitney & Murphy Arcadia Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Funeral Mass will be at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2001 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11001 N. 40th St., Phoenix, with military burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of AZ, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix. Walt's wishes were that, in lieu of flowers, friends make donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in his name and Eleanor's, P.O. Box 29119, Phoenix, AZ 85038.
WYMORE, Durward "Cotton", 87, passed away in Tucson on July 28, 2001. Preceded in death by his daughter, Elaine and son, Larry. Survived by wife, Lolita; daughter, Barbara (Arley) Brewer; daughter-in-law, Marlene Wymore; stepchildren, Stephanie (Hap) Holly, Cynthia Anderson, Christine (Tom) Smith; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and three sisters. "Cotton" was an avid member of the Desert Harness Driver's Club. Memorial service will be held at a later date in Texas and "Cotton" will be laid to rest at Oberlin Cemetery in Oberlin, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to Dayspring Campground, West, Texas. Arrangements entrusted to ARIZONA MORTUARY UNIVERSITY CHAPEL.
Jesus O. Valle, 57, of Tucson, Arizona, passed away August 02, 2001. Beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather. Survived by wife, Guadalupe Valle; father, Roberto Valle; daughters, Mary (Jose) Valle, Evangelina (Claudio) Escobar, Yvette Valle, Patricia (Ken) Valle, Jaqueline Valle, Sue Ellen Valle, Carmen (Mark) Alvarez and Linda Kunst; sons, Jesus, Alberto and George Valle; also survived by four sisters; three brothers; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 05, 2001 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at CARRILLO'S TUCSON MORTUARY (North Chapel), 204 S. Stone Ave., with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass will be offered on Monday, August 06, 2001, 9:00 a.m. at St. Augustine's Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave. Interment to follow at Holy Hope Cemetery. Arrangements by CARRILLO'S TUCSON MORTUARY.
TORNBERG, Virgil G., passed away at home on August 3, 2001. Survived by wife of 50 years, Rita; three sons, James, Ronald, Gary; brother-in-law, Jay Marks; sisters, Violet Stough; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Virgil was born in 1927, a Tucson resident since 1929. He entered the U.S. Navy at age 16 during WWII. Assigned to Amphibian Forces he participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was very proud to be a 50-year member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 570. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post 7399.
Virgil asked to be cremated and returned to the land he loved and helped fight for. No service is planned.
