Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!James Powers
6/1/2000
Magalia resident James Gilbert Powers, who served in the U.S. Navy with the rank of Ammuntion-2C during World War II, died at Feather River Hospital yesterday.
He was 79.
Born in Charlevoix, Mich., to Abba Bell Pumfrey and Harry G. Powers, he graduated from Northrop University in Los Angeles.
Mr. Powers worked for Northrop Aircraft Corporation as a mechanic for 15 years.
He marriage Marion Lindsey on Dec. 23, 1972, in Westlake.
A member of the Table Mountain Lodge No. 124, the Elks Lodge No. 2026, the High Twelve and the Magalia Community Church, Mr. Powers loved to travel. He visited Australia, Malaysia, Bali, Europe, Japan and China.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons, Gary J. Powers of Gardnerville, Nev., Howard Knott of Hope, Idaho, and Harold Knott of Tuolumne; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to the donor’s favorite charity.
A visitation will be held tomorrow from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Chapel of the Pines Mortuary, and a funeral service will be held Saturday at the Old Magalia Church in Magalia at 10 a.m.
Mr. Powers’ final resting place will be in Green Hill Cemetery in San Pedro.
Chapel of the Pines of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
Joyce Turner
6/1/2000
After a three-month battle with an illness, Paradise resident Joyce Turned died in Chico Saturday.
She was 65.
Born in San Diego to Ernest and Ruth Woodward, she graduated from Coronado High School.
She marriage Kenneth Turner on Aug. 31, 1957, in San Jose, and the couple moved from Campbell to Paradise in 1988.
Mrs. Turner worked as a teacher’s aide in the Campbell Library and the Paradise Library, and was also a volunteer worker for 10 years.
She became involved in the church in 1958, and had been involved in local prayer groups ever since.
In addition to her husband of 42 years, she is survived by sons, Donald of Sacramento, and Robert of Fremont; daughter, Sharron of Santa Cruz; and sister Carol Woodward of Seattle.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Bidwell Chapel of Chico, which is handling the arrangements.
A service will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Bidwell Chapel at 341 West 3rd St. in Chico.
Mrs. Turner’s final resting place will be at Glen Oaks Memorial Park.
Sylva Kuykendall
6/1/2000
A homemaker for 50 years and a part-time receptionist at the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital as well as at private doctors’ offices, Paradise resident Sylva Winnifred Kuykendall died at Chico Creek Sunday.
She was 76.
Born in Colfax, Wis., to Sewel and Clara Sivertson, she moved from Colfax to California at the age of 16 and settled in Gonzales, near Salinas.
She marriage Max Kuykendall in 1941.
A member of the Paradise Lutheran Church, Mrs. Kuykendall was also a former member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas, and she often donated time at church.
She enjoyed cooking Norwegian dishes, painting murals, dancing, making ceramics and listening to all kinds of music and especially radio talk shows.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons, Steven M. of Summit Lake, Wash., and Philip J. and Keith, both of Chico; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Lay Ministry Fund of the Paradise Lutheran Church in care of Sorensen’s Affordable Mortuary in Chico, which is also handling the arrangements.
A funeral service will be held at the Faith Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Mrs. Kuykendall will be buried
in Paradise Cemetery.
Blain Thorpe
6/1/2000
Former Paradise resident Blain Earl Thorpe, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 as a ship’s cook 1C and received the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal with two stars, the American Area Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal, died last Thursday in Vacaville.
He was 84.
Born in Walla Walla, Wash., to Earl B. and Maude Thorpe, Mr. Thorpe was employed as a clerk at Safeway for 26 years.
He loved fishing and hunting, and he had only moved from Paradise last year.
Mr. Thorpe is survived by his son, Jack of Montrose, Colo.; two grandchildren; and two nephews.
He is predeceased by his wife, Susan, who died in 1987 in Paradise; and by his sister, Lois Hibbard.
Graveside services were held yesterday. Mr. Thorpe’s final resting place is next to his wife in Paradise Cemetery.
Chapel of the Pines of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
Polly Bleeker
6/1/2000
Magalia resident Polly H. Bleeker, 76, who had been active in the Paradise Pines Property Owners’ As-sociation since she moved to the Ridge in 1996, died Monday at Feather River Hospital.
Born in Los Angeles to Harry and Bertress Frum, she was a lifelong homemaker.
She had lived in Orange County from 1960 to 1996 before moving to Magalia from San Juan Capistrano.
Mrs. Bleeker enjoyed cooking and decorating, and was a member of the Paradise Alliance Church.
She is survived by her daughters, Michelle Jackson of Chico, Fayedra Matthes of Santa Cruz, and Melanie Gargano of Laguna Nigel; sister, Melva Glavas of Newport Beach; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
She is predeceased by her husband, Melvin, who died in 1996.
A memorial service for Mrs. Bleeker will be announced at a later date.
She will be cremated and scattered with her husband near Pacific Grove.
Rose Chapel Mortuary of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
Byron Smythe
6/3/2000
Magalia resident Byron Meredith Smythe, listed in Microsoft Magazine as a mover and a shaker of people in high technology died Tuesday at his home after a lengthy battle with cancer.
A member of the Who’s Who Registry of Global Business Leaders, he was 46.
Born in Plymouth, England, to Maxene and James Smythe, he was raised in Kent, England, and he attended Ambassador College - an American college - in Bricket Wood, England, where he won a scholarship to attend their campus in Pasadena in 1972.
He earned an associate’s degree in electronic engineering in 1982 and a bachelor’s in computer systems engineering in 1992.
He marriage his wife, Renee M., in 1973.
Mr. Smythe traveled the world giving magazine interviews, introducing new products and giving seminars on electronic technology in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Europe and the U.S. He spoke French, German, Irish and English.
He was a resident of Union City before moving to Magalia four years ago.
Mr. Smythe enjoyed playing the guitar, flower gardening, amateur photography and was an avid reader. He had written a novel and published a book of poetry in England.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Brendan of Magalia; daughters, Serena Smythe-Ecton of Burlingame, and Robyn Smythe of Magalia; mother, Maxene of Northern Ireland; brother, Peter of Beverly, England; sisters, Kerina Clarke of Omagh, Northern Ireland, and Mandy McLister of Ballymena, Northern Ireland; four grandchildren; and three nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions can be made to the National Brain Tumor Foundation or to the Paradise Hospice in care of Sorensen’s Affordable Mort-uary of Chico, which is handling the arrangements.
A celebration of life for Mr. Smythe will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at the mortuary.
Mr. Smythe’s remains will be scattered at sea.
Rose Goodwin
6/3/2000
After an extended illness, Magalia resident and professional belly dancer Rose Ann Goodwin died of cancer at her home Thursday.
She was 53.
Born in Santa Monica to Marvin and Ada Miller, she attended schools in Rosemead.
Before moving to Magalia, Mrs. Goodwin was an office manager for Arthur Cox and Sons, and was a member of Beta Sigma Phi in San Bernardino County.
She was an artist who enjoyed painting, gardening and the Internet.
She is survived by her parents, Marvin and Ada Miller of Magalia; sisters, Sally Miller of Paradise, and Lillian Budge of Kent, Wash.; brother, Michael Miller of Virginia Beach, Va.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Paradise Hospice, 1295 Bille Road, Paradise, CA 95969.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
The Neptune Society of Northern California, Chico Branch, is handling the arrangements.
Paula Acuna
6/3/2000
Former Paradise resident Paula Acuna, 86, who had moved to Richland, Wash., in May of last year, died Wednes-day after suffering a stroke.
Born in Nashville, Tenn., to George and Matilda Ainslie, she was marriage and raised her family in Tennessee.
After her husband, Allen Anderson, died in 1966, she moved to Southern California, where she worked as a secretary in the aerospace industry.
She marriage Clarence Acuna in June 1973.
The couple moved to Paradise in June 1988, to enjoy their retirement years. They attended both the Paradise Ridge and the Magalia Pines Baptist Churches.
Mrs. Acuna moved to Washington after her husband died last year to be near her eldest son.
She enjoyed playing the piano and organ, and had recently been playing the piano for the weekly church services she attended in Richland. She also enjoyed gardening.
She is survived by her sons, Nick of Richland, Wash., and Glenn of Arlington, Texas; brother, George of Tennessee; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Clarence, Mrs. Acuna is predeceased by her son, Bill Anderson.
No local services are planned.
Einan’s Funeral Home in Richland, Wash., is handling the arrangements.
Grace Fosdick
6/3/2000
A Paradise resident since 1988, Grace Ora Fosdick died at Feather River Hospital Saturday.
She was 86.
Born in Council Grove, Kan., to Roy and Fannie Fones, she spent 20 years in the restaurant business before her retirement.
Her husband, Frank, died on December 16, 1987, and Mrs. Fosdick had lived in Paradise since 1988.
She is survived by her daughters, Ora Lee Grumbles of Paradise, Freda Barnes of Grass Valley, and Cora McDonald of Visalia; sons, Roy of Mission Viejo, and Frank of Oroville; sister, Marian Poe of Mission Viejo; brother, Ray Fones of Spokane, Wash.; 17 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Private family services are planned.
Mrs. Fosdick will be cremated at Chapel of the Pines of Paradise, which is handling the arrangements, and she will be inurned in Nimshew Cemetery.
Marian Gath
6/3/2000
A Paradise resident for 25 years, Marian F. Gath, who worked at Sporthaven Health Club in Paradise for 18 years before her retirement in 1997, died at her home Saturday.
She was 80.
Born in Ponca, Neb., to Omer and Deta Douthitt, she attended Wayne University in Wayne, Neb.
A caregiver and babysitter, she had moved to Paradise 25 years ago from Downey.
Mrs. Gath attended the Magalia Community Church.
She is survived by her son, Randall of Magalia; daughter, Debbie Leon of Anaheim Hills; and sisters, Fern O’Neill of Ponca, Neb., Lillian Lindley of Irvine, and Betty Curry of Torrance.
She is predeceased by her husband, Ellis Henry Gath, who died on May 30, 1941.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Gath’s name can be made to the Paradise Hospice and Homecare.
Services were held earlier this week, and Mrs. Gath’s final resting place is Paradise Cemetery.
Rose Chapel Mortuary of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
Ruth Alford
6/6/2000
Paradise resident and previous longtime Oroville resident Ruth Fugate Alford died at Enloe Hospital Monday, May 29.
She was 77.
Born in Tyrone, Mo., to Joseph Kenneth and Gussie Fugate Alford, she was a grocery clerk at Safeway in Oroville for 25 years.
Mrs. Alford was a member of the First Congregational Church, Oroville. She is survived by two grandsons, two granddaughters, one great-grandson, one niece, and one nephew.
She is predeceased by her husband, who died last year; and by her only child, James, who died in 1983.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the First Congregational Church Youth Fund in Oroville.
Services for Mrs. Alford were held Saturday. She was buried
following cremation.
The Oroville Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Thelma Apperson
6/6/2000
A former Paradise resident for 14 years, Thelma Laura Apperson died Saturday in Auburn.
She was 87.
Born in Pontiac, Mich., she had been a resident of Auburn for the past 23 years since she left Paradise.
Mrs. Apperson was a member of the Eastern Star.
She is survived by her daughter, Ann Franklin of Nevada; son, Robert; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
She is predeceased by her husband, Charles E. Apperson.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Inurnment will be in Paradise Cemetery. Chapel of the Hills of Auburn is handling the arrangements.
Mary Aggers
6/8/2000
Formerly a registered nurse at Feather River Hospital for 10 years, Mary Alice Aggers, 76, died at Cypress Acres in Paradise Sunday.
Born in Wessington, S.D., to Harley and Anna Hollister, she attended both Sonoma State and Walla Walla College.
A nurse for 45 years, Mrs. Aggers nursed veterans during World War II, worked at Ft. Lewis Army Hospital and Pacific Union Hospital along with several others, and was also a public health care nurse.
She moved to Paradise in 1978 from St. Helena, and retired after her employment at Feather River.
Mrs. Aggers was a member of the Paradise Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Dorcas Society.
She enjoyed outdoor activities and traveling with her husband, Leslie, whom she marriage in March 1988.
The couple traveled to Paris, Rome, Israel and many other places.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, David Hardcastle of Vale, Ore.; stepson, Lawrence Aggers of Orcut; and four grandchildren.
She is predeceased by four brothers and four sisters.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater North Valley Chapter at P.O. Box 3148, Paradise, CA 95967.
A service for Mrs. Aggers will be held Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Paradise Seventh-day Adventist Church Fellowship Center.
Inurnment will be in private.
Rose Chapel Mortuary of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
James Medve
6/8/2000
Accomplished violinist James Cobman Medve used to play for the officers and for special events when he served as a master sergeant with the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1946.
Medve, a Paradise resident since 1981, died at Cypress Acres in Paradise last Thursday.
He was 86.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, to James and Elizabeth Medve, he learned to play the violin from his father.
He was stationed at Camp Barkeley in Abilene, Texas, during his service in the Army.
On January 14, 1944, he marriage Amanda N. Allen in Rockford, Ill.
Before his retirement, Mr. Medve was a corrugated box salesman for the box division of Continental Can Company.
He moved to Paradise from LaHabra, where he attended the Paradise Alliance Church.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons, James Alan Medve of Alamo, and Ronald Coleman Medve of Mission Viejo; sister, Blanche W. Robey of Columbus, Ohio; and five grandchildren.
A celebration of life service will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Rose Chapel. Pastor Bob Casey will officiate, and the Paradise Veterans Council will be handling the military honors.
Private family services at Paradise Cemetery will follow.
Rose Chapel Mortuary of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
Dorothy Benjamin
6/8/2000
A Paradise resident since 1970, Dorothy Benjamin died Saturday at Paradise Health Care.
She was 95.
Born in Los Angeles to Roscoe and Kathryn Abger, she was an assistant manager for Horn’s Department Store before her retirement.
She was a member of the World Wide Church of God.
A widow, Mrs. Benjamin was an avid reader, gardener and seamstress.
She is survived by her sons, Melbourne Patterson of Angwin, and Eugene and Donald Patterson, both of Paradise; daughter, Mary Kay Porter of Paradise; sister, Virginia Palm of Sunnyvale; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
She is predeceased by her son, Alan Patterson.
At her request, no services are planned.
Rose Chapel Mortuary of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
Debra Gibson-Overton
6/8/2000
Former Paradise resident Debra Kay Gibson-Overton, 41, died Sunday at her home in Chico.
The coroner’s office is awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of her sudden death.
Born and raised in Nevada, she moved to Paradise when she was 15 and graduated from Ridgeview High School.
She marriage David Overton in 1981 and moved to Chico.
Mrs. Gibson-Overton was a beautician for three years.
She was a member of the Cornerstone Ministries Church in Chico.
She collected angels and exotic tropical fish for her home aquariums. She loved animals and often visited the Sacramento Zoo. She enjoyed fishing, the outdoors and family gatherings.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters, Alisa and Angela, both of Chico; sister, Rita Gibson of Southern California; and her friend and surrogate mother, Irmgard Overton, of Chico.
She is predeceased by her parents, John and Juanita Gibson.
Memorial contributions to Mrs. Gibson-Overton can be made to the Debra Gibson-Overton Memorial Fund in care of Sorensen’s Affordable Mortuary, Chico, CA 95928.
A graveside service will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Chico Cemetery, where she will be buried.
Sorensen’s Affordable Mortuaries of Chico is handling the arrangements.
Helen Backstrom
6/8/2000
A former corporate secretary who enjoyed fishing and gardening, Paradise resident Helen Irene Backstrom died Friday.
She was 73.
Born in Glendale to A. and Hazel Brasher, she graduated from Glendale High School.
A divorcee, she moved to Paradise from Desert Hot Springs.
She is survived by her daughter, Linda L. Spear of Paradise; adopted son, Danial E. Cayer of Louisiana; sister, Rosalie Kerak of Paso Robles; and two granddaughters.
A private celebration of her life will be held, and inurnment will also be in private.
Chapel of the Pines of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
Betty Forsberg
6/8/2000
After a 14-month battle with cancer, Betty Marie Forsberg died Saturday in Oroville.
She was 50.
Born in Fremont, Neb., to Drusilla and Gerald Forsberg, she graduated from Coronado High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., and moved to Santa Cruz in 1968.
She worked in sales before entering the real estate business in San Francisco, where she won numerous productivity sales and awards.
Ms. Forsberg moved to Paradise in 1991, pursued a nursing career, and worked as a licensed vocational nurse at Oroville Hospital.
She enjoyed gardening, card crafting and spending time with her schnauzer, Bo Diddly.
In addition to her parents, who live in Mesa, Ariz.; she is survived by sister, Jane R. Anderson, also of Mesa; one niece and one nephew; and dear friend, Don Wakefield.
Memorial contributions in Ms. Forsberg’s name can be made to the American Cancer Society.
Rosalyn Nelson
6/10/2000
A seven-year Paradise resident who, with her father, built the house she lived in for over 45 years in Chatsworth, Rosalyn N. Nelson died on May 26 at Cypress Acres in Paradise.
She was 96.
Born in Brawley to William and Nellie Hails, she was a lifelong homemaker.
She marriage Thomas Nelson on November 15, 1925, in Glendale.
Active in the Seventh-day Adventist Church for all her life, and particularly active with the church’s day-care program, Mrs. Nelson attended the Canoga Park Seventh-day Adventist Community Church before moving from Canoga Park to Paradise.
She enjoyed crocheting, tatting and gardening, and liked to go shelling on the beaches of Mexico. She also liked to sew.
She is survived by her daughter, Mildred Marada of Paradise; and two grandchildren.
She is predeceased by her husband, who died in 1977.
A service for Mrs. Nelson will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 5720 Academy Dr. in Paradise. Pastor Russ Hager will be officiating.
Mrs. Nelson will be buried
in Chatsworth Memorial Park in Chatsworth next to her late husband.
Rose Chapel Mortuary of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
Dorris Bodman
6/10/2000
Former Paradise resident and member of the Board of Realtors and the Business and Professional Women’s Club in Southern California, Doris Olive Bodman died at Beverly Manor Convalescent Hospital in Chico Tuesday.
She was 80.
Born in Elma, Wash., to Ashley and Mary Hesseltine, she was raised and attended school in Vesta and North River, Wash. In the 1970s, she attended San Bernardino Valley College and received an associate degree in sociology.
She marriage Oramel Bodman in 1939 in Washington.
A real estate broker prior to retiring in the early 1980s, Mrs. Bodman was affiliated with Eastern Star. She was also a member of the Catholic Church.
In 1989, she moved to Paradise from Carlsbad, and then to Chico in the early 1990s.
She is survived by her daughter, B. Ann Wesner of Chico; son, Gary Bodman of Temecula; brother, Walter Hesseltine of Chico; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She is predeceased by her husband, who died in 1990.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Peg Taylor Centor (Passages) or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Mrs. Bodman will be buried
in Paradise Cemetery.
The Neptune Society of Northern California, Chico Branch, is handling the arrangements.
Gertrude Wohlau
6/10/2000
A greeter at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Magalia resident Gertrude Wohlau, 80, died Sunday at her home.
Born in Recklinghausen, Germany, she was a self-employed retailer.
A high school graduate, she was widowed when her husband, Ferdinand Wohlau, died in 1991.
A Magalia resident since 1975, Mrs. Wohlau was a member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Ladies Guild; and Club Edelweiss, the German/American Club.
She enjoyed bingo, crocheting, sewing, cooking and traveling.
She is survived by her sons, Frank of Manteca, and Dirk of Paradise; and two granddaughters.
A funeral mass for Mrs. Wohlau will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church on Tuesday at 11 a.m. She will be buried
next to her husband in Magalia Cemetery. Chapel of the Pines of Paradise is handling the arrangements.
