United States High School Yearbooks by County
John P. Martin
Mass of Resurrection and Christian Burial for John P. Martin will
be held at Annunciation Catholic Church in Leadville on
Thursday, July 31, at 5:30 p.m.
John P. Martin was born in Leadville on Aug. 12, 1907, living
here until he moved to his daughter’s in 1991. He died in
Columbia, Mo., on Nov. 7, 2002.
He was preceded in death by his wife Thelma Martin.
He is survived by his daughters Maureen Ruble, Patricia Miller
and Lucile Martin; six grandchildren; and four great
grandchildren.
David John “Skeeter” Switalski
David John “Skeeter” Switalski, 43, died July 13 in Saguache
County following a work-related accident.
He was born Oct. 1, 1959, in Flint, Mich., to Donald and Arlene
(Gorsalitz) Switalski.
He served in the U.S. Army. and was the owner of S & H
Excavation, Buena Vista, living and working in Park and Chaffee
counties for the last 20 years.
He will be remembered as a caring father: quick with a smile or to
lend a helping hand.
He was a highly skilled excavator and took pride in the work he
did and he had a passion and enthusiasm for life that will be
missed by everyone who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his brother.
He is survived by his daughter Linsey Ann Hoyt Switalski; son
David James Hoyt Switalski, Buena Vista; brothers Daniel and
Donald; and sisters Sheryl and Teresa.
Private cremation was held with a graveside service on July 22 at
Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the David J. Switalski Memorial
Account to benefit Linsey and David, in care of Collegiate Peaks
Bank, P.O. Box 3009, Buena Vista, CO 81211.
Arrangements were handled by Runyan Mortuary.
Lawana Mae Bartell
Lawana Mae Bartell, 77, died July 15 at her home in Fort
Morgan, Colo.
She was born Oct. 16, 1925 in Garber, Okla., to Athol V. and
Kathryn (McLaughlin) Rhodus.
She married Donald E. Bartell on July 1, 1944, in Muskogee,
Okla.
After WWII, they lived in Leadville until 1975 when they moved
to Fort Collins.
They lived in Fort Collins until 1981 when they moved to Greeley
and finally settled in Fort Morgan in 1998. He died on March 24,
2001.
She was a homemaker and worked for years as a Selective
Service Agent with the federal government. She was a member of
St. Helena Catholic Church in Fort Morgan and a member of the
Beta Sigma Phi sorority for more than 50 years. She was also a
member of the senior bridge club at the Hillcrest Apartments in
Fort Morgan.
Some of her hobbies included oil painting, gardening, fishing and
camping. She also enjoyed playing golf with her family and
skiing in the winter. She and her husband loved music and loved
to go dancing.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband Donald.
She is survived by her daughter Donna J. (Thomas C. Johnson)
Bartell-Johnson, Littleton, Colo.; son Kim David (Beth A.)
Bartell, Fort Morgan, Colo.; brother Lee Rhodus, Arvada, Colo.;
sisters Beverly Blamey and Darlene Lindbloom, both of Denver;
grandchildren Dawn (David) Booth, Abilene, Texas; Sarah E.
Bartell, Kate M. Bartell and Scott A. Bartell, all of Fort Morgan;
and Kamala (John) Madden, Littleton, Colo.; and great
grandchildren Christine and John Booth.
Visitation, rosary and vigil were held July 18 at Bailey Funeral
Home in Leadville. Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 19
at the Annunciation Catholic Church.
Interment followed in St. Joseph Cemetery in Leadville.
In honor of her husband, memorial gifts may be given to the
Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, c/o Heer & Jolliffe Mortuary,
225 E. Platte Avenue, Fort Morgan, CO 80701.
Local arrangements were handled by Bailey Funeral Home.
William F. Distler
William F. Distler, 85, retired president of Climax Molybdenum
Co., AMAX INC., died in Scottsdale, Ariz., on July 4. He was
born in Denver, Colo. In 1939, he graduated from the
Colorado School of Mines and started working at the Climax Mine
in 1953 as assistant mine superintendent.
In 1966, he attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard
Business School. In 1977, he was awarded the
“Distinguished Achievement Medal” by the Colorado School of
Mines for significant achievements in the mineral industry.
During his career as a mining engineer, he worked his way
through the ranks, from the Miami Copper Co. in Arizona; to
manger of AMAX's highly acclaimed “Henderson Project” in
Colorado; to president of the Molybdenum Division of AMAX.
He retired in 1983.
He was one of the founders of the National Mining Hall of Fame
and Museum in Leadville.
He was a member of MMSA; AIME; CSM Alumni Association;
Colorado Mining Association; and the Mining Club of the
Southwest. He was a director of the Colorado National Bank of
Denver and the Lutheran Medical Center Foundation. He is listed
in Who's Who in America.
He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years,
Della.
He is survived by his wife Marie, and her daughter, Zoe Frazier;
children Bruce Distler; Emily (Thomas Kraus) Distler; Marilyn
(Paul) Bugg; granddaughters Laura and Katie Bugg; and sister
Letha Daniels.
A memorial service will be held Aug. 28. In lieu of flowers,
contributions may be made to the Colorado School of Mines
Foundation Scholarship Fund, 923 16th Street, Golden, CO 80401-
0005.
Doris Jean Draper-Wooten
Doris Jean Draper-Wooten, 66, died May 21, 2003, after a threemonth-
long illness.
She was born in Enid, Okla., on Jan. 22, 1937, and grew up in
Cleo Springs and Locust Grove, Okla.
She joined the WACs (Women’s Army Corps) when she was 18
years old.
She met her husband Jearl Dee Wooten in the service; they later
separated.
She moved to Leadville in 1976 where she resided the rest of her
life.
She was survived by a special friend of 28 years, James Talbert;
her sister, Sarah Lorrita Martin, Pierce City, Mo.; a nephew in
Fort Smith, Ark.; a niece in Springfield, Mo.; five grand nieces
and nephews; one great grand niece; and many friends and
relatives.
