Frances Wilma Martinez
Former Del Norte and Alamosa resident Frances Wilma Martinez, 72, died April 5, 2004, in Denver.
She was born Dec. 17, 1931, in Del Norte, the daughter of Jacob Montoya and Grace Montoya.
She married George H. Martinez Jan. 12, 1950, in Taos, N.M.
Mrs. Martinez retired as a nurse practitioner/lab technician from St. Joseph Hospital in Denver.
Her hobbies included embroidering, cooking, baking, bingo, 5-cent slot machines and being with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include daughters, Elizabeth (Donald) Jehle, Salida; Georgianne (Mike) Martinez-Montano, Englewood; Grace (Valentino) Griego, Alamosa and Anna Lynn Martinez, Pueblo; sons, Michael Martinez, Littleton; David (Bertha) Martinez, Littleton and Jonathan (Bobbie) Martinez, Englewood; 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; sisters, Rube Aguilar, Albuquerque, N.M. and Victoria (Ernie) Maestas, Thornton; brother, Jake (Estella) Montoya, Del Norte and by several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mrs. Martinez was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Grace Montoya and her husband, George H. Martinez.
A vigil service with Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church in Del Norte. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church. Interment
will follow at Del Norte Cemetery.
Arrangements are in care of Romero Funeral Home of Alamosa.
Ashley Michelle Tharp
Ashley Michelle Tharp, 18, Buena Vista, died June 8, 2003, at the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida, following a one car accident.
She was born April 3, 1985, in Denver to Cynthia A. Tharp and Douglas G. Jordan.
Ms. Tharp was a talented, active and outgoing person and was involved with schoolmates and visited all teenage ministry groups with all her friends. She was a member of the Youth Outreach and a youth volunteer for Saint Rose of Lima Church.
She was a 2003 graduate of Buena Vista High School where she was an honor student and athlete.
Ms. Tharp is survived by her mother, Cynthia A. Foster-Tharp, Buena Vista; father, Douglas G. Jordan, Buena Vista; brothers, Joshua M. Tharp, Boulder (Navy) and Tyran M. Tharp, Norfolk, Va. (Navy); grandfather, John William Foster, III, Dallas, Texas; great-grandmother, Antoinnette Rossie, Denver and 11 uncles and 12 aunts.
A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today and the funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Buena Vista. Private cremation will be held following services.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ashley Tharp Memorial Fund in care of Peoples Bank, PO Box 1620, Buena Vista, CO 81211.
Arrangements by Runyan Mortuary, Buena Vista.
Maxcine Ruth McDowell
Maxcine Ruth McDowell, 94, died June 19, 2003, at Col-umbine Manor where she lived for about a year.
She was born Nov. 27, 1908, in La Junta to John and Myrtie (McCollum) Jewell, as the fifth of seven children.
The family moved to Delta, where she graduated from high school. She attended Western State College and graduated with a degree in teaching in 1928.
She taught for two years in Ouray, for one year in Crawford and for six years in Cedaredge, before marrying Theodore I. McDowell June 29, 1938, in a double ceremony with her sister, Genevieve.
After a honeymoon at Niagara Falls, N.Y., they packed all their belongings onto a D&RGW train and moved them over Marshall Pass to Salida. In 1946, their only child, Marcia Mae, was born. The family lived in Salida since 1938.
Mrs. McDowell taught fifth grade at Longfellow Elementary School for 11 years where she was loved by her students. She loved her students and especially loved teaching music and to sing harmony. She finished her teaching career by teaching one year in Vona, at the age of 73.
She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a sewing club, and Salida First Baptist Church. She was active in her church, teaching Sunday School, playing the piano and serving on various committees and boards.
Her greatest expertise and love was being a homemaker. She was a fantastic cook and loved to have guests in her home.
Mrs. McDowell was preceded in death by her parents; all of her brothers and sisters; her husband and her grandson, Tim Vance.
She is survived by her daughter, Marcia (Harold) Vance, Salida; grandson, John (Amy) Vance, Lakewood; great-grandson, Luke Vance and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1-4 p.m. today at Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Salida. Interment
will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to First Baptist Church through Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Maxcine Ruth McDowell: funeral notice
Funeral services for Maxcine Ruth McDowell were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Salida.
Pastor Harold Vance officiated. The pianist was LaDonna Abbadusky and soloists were John and Amy Vance, Charles and Carol LaRue and Russ and Lynn Purcell.
Musical selections were 'The Old Rugged Cross,' 'I Believe In A Hill Called Mt. Calvary' and 'Cornerstone.'
Pallbearers were Dick Murphy, Ron Anderson, John Vance, Ron Stowell, Paul Vance and Jim Minor.
Honorary pallbearers were Herb Cole and Don Coffey.
Interment
was in Fairview Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Harry Cullen Auld
Harry Cullen Auld died June 18, 2003.
Mr. Auld was born Dec. 22, 1905, in a small town in southern Illinois.
He spent his adult life as an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force. He was one of the fortunate people who love their work so much, it seemed like playing.
After 30 years he retired in Arcola, Ill., where he was active with his church.
Mr. Auld moved to Colorado after his wife, Mary, died in 1994.
He kept active with his hobby of beading angels and was proud that his angels went all over the world.
Mr. Auld is survived by his son, Harry (Jo Ann), Howard; granddaughters, Kathy Prewett (Larry) and Kimberly Miner (Tim) and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the First Lutheran Church in Salida.
Grace A. Hilderbrand
Grace A. Hilderbrand, 91, died June 27, 2003, at Columbine Manor Nursing Home.
She was born Jan. 10, 1912, in Sherman, Ill., to Frank and Cora (Gregg) Yocum.
She married John Brown in Ogallala, Neb., in 1931 and remarried John Hilderbrand in Ogallala in 1973.
Mrs. Hilderbrand was a factory worker for TRW until her retirement. She loved gardening, all types of flowers and sewing.
She was a resident of Salida for the past five years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husbands, John Brown and John Hilderbrand.
She is survived by son, Jim (Robin) Brown, Salida; daughter, June Flores, Ogallala, Neb.; seven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Interment
and services will be held Wednesday afternoon in Ogallala, Neb.
Services are with Gubser Funeral Home, 602 N. Spruce St., Ogallala, NE 69153.
Local arrangements were with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Dick Wittwer
Dick Wittwer, 84, Buena Vista, died June 29, 2003, at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center.
He was born May 25, 1919, in Lebanon, Kan., to Frank A. and Agnes B. Wittwer.
Mr. Wittwer served in the Army in Europe as a sergeant during World War II.
He married Josephine M Wisniewski.
Mr. Wittwer retired from Commonwealth Edison Electric Co., Chicago, Ill.
He was a member of the local Sportsman�s Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1166. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and target shooting.
Mr. Wittwer is survived by his wife, Josephine Wittwer, Buena Vista; sons, Carl (Rae) Wittwer, Sarasota, Fla.; Robert (Ellen) Wittwer, Nashville, Tenn.; Thomas Wittwer, Redwood City, Calif. and James (Karin) Wittwer, Buena Vista; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jack Wittwer.
Viewing will be from 6-8 p.m. today at Runyan Mortuary, Buena Vista. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wed-nesday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Interment
will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Runyan Mortuary, Buena Vista.
Dr. J. Howard Goddard
Dr. J. Howard Goddard died May 1, 2003, in Daytona Beach, Fla., following a fall at home which led to complications and pneumonia.
Dr. Goddard was born July 17, 1910, in Pittsburgh, Pa. His wife of 62 years is Dr. Hazel Goddard. His children are David Goddard and wife, Linda, Colorado Springs and Joan Maute and husband, Mark, Naperville, Ill. He is also survived by six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary where he received his doctorate of theology. He was founder and president of Mid South Bible College (renamed Creighton College) in Memphis, Tenn.
The Goddards relocated to Wheaton, Ill., where Dr. Goddard was Bible professor at Wheaton College.
Before retirement, he was a consultant for David C. Cook Publishing Co.
He served on the board of directors for Christian Counseling Ministry of which his wife, Hazel, is founder and president. Dr. Goddard served as Chaplain of Premier Designs, Inc., Dallas, Texas, in his later years.
He continued to mentor pastors and peers through correspondence, sharing his love of scripture and Christian literature.
Dr. Goddard�s interment
at the cemetery in Buena Vista will be a private family ceremony.
The public is invited to his memorial service at 1:30 p.m. May 24 at First Baptist Church of Buena Vista. Chaplain Bill Bryan of Dallas Theological Seminary will speak.
Dr. Goddard�s wishes are that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Christian Counseling Ministries, P.O. Box 789, Buena Vista, CO 81211.
Jerry Gunkel
Jerry Gunkel, 60, died of natural causes May 4, 2003, at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida.
He was born March 17, 1943, in Salida, to Louis G. Gunkel and Blanche C. Miles Gunkel.
Mr. Gunkel graduated from Salida High School in 1961 and joined the Navy, serving in Key West, Fla. during the Cuban crisis.
After completing his service career he moved to St. Louis, Mo., and worked at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corp. as an aviation mechanic. His love of airplanes led him to take flying lessons and he became a commercial pilot.
He spent most of his 20 years in the St. Louis area as a corporate pilot and manager of Thunderbird Aviation.
After retirement from flying, he followed a dream he had as an adolescent and returned to Salida to develop the Gunkel property above Maysville.
He started Monarch Spur Campground the summer of 1998 and it now has 30 recreational vehicle sites, two cabins and numerous tent sites.
Mr. Gunkel is survived by his sister, Elsie Porter, Lar-amie, Wyo.; nephews, David and Jerry Porter, Greeley; stepson, Kevin Handley, Tennessee and various relatives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Honorary pallbearers will be Calvin 'Slick' Evans, Bob Kraemer, Bob McBride, Dennis McCarger, Al 'Skip' Procter, John Sterle and Kenneth 'Chico' Wertsbaugh.
Priscilla Lane, Mr. Gunkel's general manager and sweetheart of two-and-one-half years, invites friends and family to a celebration of his life at 3 p.m. Friday at Monarch Spur Campground.
There will be a service led by brother Kenneth Covey of Anchorage, Alaska, and music by Jim and Jeanne Martin of the Z Bar Wranglers. A potluck, with area people bringing dishes to share, will follow.
Contributions may be made to the local humane society or to Salida Mental Retardation Developmental Opportunities.
John Andrew Williams
John Andrew Williams, 80, Salida, died May 4, 2003, at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Williams was born March 30, 1923, in Nebraska City, Neb., to Abraham and Jessie Mae (Sharpe) Williams. He grew up in Idaho Springs.
After graduating from high school he joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served for three years. Mr. Williams served on the USS Basboro as a machinist�s mate 2nd Class in the Asiatic-Pacific area.
He worked for Mountain Bell as a repairman and retired in 1979.
He moved to Salida in 1980.
Mr. Williams was a life-time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
His interests included hunting, fishing and the mountains.
He is survived by his wife, Verna Culp Williams, Salida; granddaughter, Jessica Strickland, Lakewood; brothers, George Gress, Battle Mountain, Nev. and Earl Williams, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; step-children, Charles (Tamara) Culp, Karen (Jesse) Purdy and David Culp. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Williams was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Williams; daughters, Mary Louise Hankins and Patricia Marie Strickland.
It was at his request that cremation take place and no services be held.
Arrangements were with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Shane Bart Berry
Funeral services for Shane Bart Berry were held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Rev. Jim Jennings officiated.
Several musical selections were played on CD.
Pallbearers were Evan Cook, Travis Williams, Sam Williams, Tyler Berry, Buck Sage and Thadeus Wolff.
Honorary pallbearers were Wes Sage, Scott Taylor and Shawn Cline.
Interment
was at Fairview Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Judy Owens
Funeral services for Judy Owens were held at 2 p.m. Friday at Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Rev. Rick Gregory officiated.
The following musical selections were played on CD: �One Day At A Time,� �Life�s Railway To Heaven� and �Softly And Tenderly.�
Pallbearers were Tim Denison, Kameron Simon, Alan Owen, Steve Wait, Rob Collins and Bill Hayes.
Honorary pallbearers were Kyle New, Kody Simon and Devin Collins.
Interment
was at Fairview Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Joseph G. 'Joe' Gerk
Joseph G. 'Joe' Gerk, 76, died May 12, 2003, at his home in Iliff.
He was born May 9, 1927, at the home of his parents, Jake Gerk and Margaret Sommer, in Iliff.
Mr. Gerk graduated from Iliff High School in 1945.
He married Corinne DeSoto June 5, 1948.
Mr. Gerk was a self-employed auto mechanic in Iliff since 1948.
He was a lifetime member of St. Catherine Catholic Church, a lifetime member of the Sterling Elks Lodge No. 1336, a charter member of the Iliff Lions Club, initial board member of the Iliff Community Center and longtime Mayor of Iliff.
Mr. Gerk loved spending time with his grandchildren, hunting, fishing, gardening and reading. He liked wine-making and was an avid Colorado Rockies fan.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Corinne Gerk, Iliff; children, Ken and Peggy Gerk, Greeley; Peggy (Jim) Lueck, Iliff; Jim and Mary Gerk, Fort Morgan; Chas and Debbie Gerk, Greeley; Geoff and Peggy Gerk, Howard; David �Dewey� Gerk, Greeley and Richard and Dena Gerk, Haxtun.
Surviving grandchildren are Beth Gerk, Kelly and Jason Bush, Kendra Gerk, Nicholas Lueck, Alison Lueck, Paul Gerk, Adam Gerk, Matthew Gerk, Tony Gerk, Andy Gerk, Ashley Gerk, Tyler Gerk, Sam Gerk, Mitch Gerk, Jake Gerk, Megan Gerk and Joey Gerk.
Other survivors are great-grandchild Mackenzie Bush; brothers and sisters, Lawrence Gerk, RoseMary Rizzolo, Marge Schmitt, Stan Gerk, Dorothy Fehringer, Regina Sande, Agnes Gerk, Rita Fehringer, Herman Gerk, Loretta Gerk, OSF and Bill Gerk.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Margaret Gerk.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, with a Vigil and Rosary service at 7 p.m. at Tennant Funeral Home, 330 S. Second St., Sterling.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Catherine�s Catholic Church in Iliff. Officiant will be Fr. James Baird. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Catherine building fund or to Hospice of the Plains in care of Tennant Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1547, Sterling, CO 80751.
