Joseph Taylor
Joseph Lee "Joe" Taylor, a resident of Porterville, died there Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003. He was 52.
Services and interment were already held.
Mr. Taylor was a native of Kansas City, Mo., and a resident of Porterville. He attended Southside Assembly of God Church. He enjoyed the outdoors and fishing. Taylor was also a plumber for five years.
Survivors include his companion of 14 years, Sherrill Cook of Porterville; a daughter Becky Taylor of Chattanooga Tenn.; a son Joe Taylor of Chattanooga Tenn.; his sister Linda A. Thompson of Strathmore; his parents, Raymond and Katherine Taylor of Porterville; two brothers Raymond Donald Taylor of Kansas City, Mo., and Larry Ray Taylor of Santa Cruz; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Taylor was preceded in death by a brother and sister.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myersfuneral.com.
Myers Funeral Service in Porterville was in charge of arrangements.
Bruce Ward
Bruce Cogswell Ward, a resident of Strathmore, died in Visalia Friday, Nov. 28, 2003. He was 83.
A service will be at 1 p.m. today at St. John's Episcopal Church in Porterville. Interment will take place at Frazier Valley Cemetery in Strathmore.
Mr. Ward was a lifetime resident of Tulare County. He graduated from Strathmore Union High School in 1938. He attended Porterville College for a short time and worked for Commercial Tire Service. Ward was also a member of the United States Air Force and earned his pilots wings in 1943. He retired as a major in 1947. In his civilian life he was an insurance agent for Cal-Farm Insurance and at the time was also a citrus rancher in Strathmore. He retired from the insurance company in 1987. He was a member of the 8th Air Force Heritage Society, p-38 Association, 8th Air Force Historic Museum. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, skiing and being a handyman. He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Lindsay for 25 years.
Survivors include his wife Norma Ward of Strathmore; two daughters Edithe E. "Edye" Ward of Fresno and Gail Ward-Wrigler of Mill Valley; a sister Kathrine Vandervote of Whittier; and four granddaughters.
Webb-Sanders Funeral Home in Lindsay is in charge of arrangements.
Linda Champion
Linda Marlene Champion, a resident of Porterville, died there Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003. She was 51.
Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Myers Chapel in Porterville. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sanger Cemetery District in Sanger.
Mrs. Champion was a native of Stockton and a resident of Porterville for 17 years. She worked for Wal-Mart in the photo department as a photo technician for eight years. She loved to make crafts and garden.
Survivors include her mother, Dottie Avery of Porterville; her daughter, Danelle Kidder of Porterville; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Champion was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce Champion, in 1984; her father, Daniel Avery; and her sister, Donna Avery.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, 2720 Gateway Oaks Dr., Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95833-4304; or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1211, Porterville, CA 93257.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myersfuneral.com.
Myers Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Tomas Sanchez Jr.
Tomas Sanchez Jr., a resident of Porterville, died in Madera Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003. He was 1.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon today at Myers Chapel in Porterville. A graveside service will be at 12:30 p.m. today at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Porterville with the Rev. Juan Manuel Flores officiating.
Survivors include his parents, Tomas and Josefina Sanchez of Porterville; two sisters, Elizabeth and Sanjuana Sanchez, both of Porterville; his grandmothers, Maria Sanchez of Porterville and Antonia Gonzalez of Mexico; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myersfuneral.com.
Myers Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Newman Bergman
Newman John Bergman, a resident of Strathmore, died in Porterville Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003. He was 88.
A service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Myers Chapel in Lindsay (Sonlight Church), with the Rev. Mark Wilson of Sierra Baptist Church in Visalia officiating. Interment will take place at Lindsay-Strathmore Cemetery.
Mr. Bergman was a native of Pasadena, and a resident of Strathmore. He was a citrus ranch foreman for 40 years.
Survivors include his daughter, Wanda Reeves of Strathmore; his son, Eugene Bergman of Anaheim; six brothers, Victor Bergman of Fresno, Truman Bergman of Stockton, Roy and Marvel Bergman, both of California, Emeral Bergman of Los Angeles and Wesley Bergman of Washington; his sister, Carole Lofstedt of California; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Mr. Bergman was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Bergman, in 2003.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myersfuneral.com.
Myers Funeral Service in Lindsay is in charge of arrangements.
Michael Schulz
Michael Brian Schulz, a resident of Porterville, died there Monday, August 2, 2004. He was 51.
A service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Westfield Christian Church in Porterville with the Rev. Tom West, officiating. Following cremation, inurnment will be private.
Mr. Schulz was a native of Rockford, Ill. and a resident of Porterville for 30 years. He was a welder for T. Post Manufacturing for 20 years. He was a local musician for over 30 years and attended Westfield Church in Porterville.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Vickie Schulz; two sons, Ryan Ruby of Tulare and Jacob Ferguson of California; two daughters, Katie Schulz of Porterville and Brandi Brooks of Tulare; two brothers, John Schulz of Rockford, Ill. and Robert Schulz of Colleyville, Texas; his mother, Shirley Schulz of Rockford, Ill.; three grandchildren; and his nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Schulz in 1991.
Memorial contributions may be made to the donors favorite charity.
Whitehurst Loyd Funeral Service in Porterville is in charge of arrangements.
Cynthia Davis
Cynthia Choate Davis, a resident of Raymond, Maine, died Sunday, July 11, 2004.
Services were held.
Mrs. Davis was a native of Portland, Maine and a former resident of Porterville and Springville.
She is survived by her husband, Ed Davis; one daughter, DeeDee; her mother, Maryjane; four sisters, Mary Hebdon, Jayne Pergl, Deborah Wolff and Joan Faleay; one brother Steve Choate; two grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Bill.
Hall Funeral Home in Casco, Maine were in charge of arrangements.
Robert Otto, Sr.
Robert "Bob" P. Otto, Sr., formerly of Porterville, died in Vista, Saturday, July 31, 2004. He was 74.
Services and inurnment will be private.
Mr. Otto was a native of Culver City and a resident of Porterville for over 30 years. He graduated from Fairfax High School in Hollywood in 1948 and attended the University of Arizona on a football scholarship. He also attended UCLA and graduated from San Jose State. He served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1953. He was an educator for 33 years and coached football, wrestling, track, basketball, diving and swimming at Porterville and Monache high schools. He was the head varsity football coach for Porterville High from 1967 to 1969 and started the school's wrestling program. He was a work education coordinator for Monache High from 1970 to 1981. He sold real estate for Letsinger Realty and was a financial planner for T.M.I. until he retired in 1988.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Betty Odiorne Otto of Vista; two sons, Robert Otto Jr. of Porterville and Brian Otto of Vista; one daughter, Barbara Love of Bend, Ore.; and six grandchildren.
Cremation Services, Inc. in Vista is in charge of arrangements.
Mark Lira
Mark Eric Lira, a resident of Porterville, died Sunday, August 1, 2004. He was 44.
A service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Peers Lorentzen Funeral Service in Tulare.
Mr. Lira was a native of Visalia and a lifetime resident of Tulare County. He was the co-owner of M&V Balloons in Lindsay and also worked as a handyman.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Lira of Porterville; one son, Daniel Molina of Mesa, Ariz.; one daughter, Gisselle Lira of Visalia; three brothers, Richard Lira of Long Beach, Jesse Lira and Raul Lira, both of Visalia; and three sisters, Nellie Lira of Dinuba, Florence Lira and Crysela Lira, both of Visalia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paquita and Jesus Lira; and his sister, Vanessa Perezchica.
Peers Lorentzen Funeral Service in Tulare is in charge of arrangements.
Donna Buford
Donna J. Buford, a resident of Porterville died there Wednesday, August 4, 2004. She was 71.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Myers Chapel. Internment will be at Hillcrest MemorialPark. Mrs. Buford was a native of Oklahoma City, OK, and a resident of Porterville for 71 years. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by one daughter, Bobbie Buford of Porterville; four sons, Paul Bradley of Porterville, Ben and Randy Buford of Fresno, and Rick Bradley, no town listed; three sisters, Maria Paguia, Lillian Goss and Debi Escobiza, all of Porterville; one brother, Paul Smith of Porterville, many nieces and nephews, 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Buford was preceded in death by her husband Sonny Buford, her son Donnie Buford and her sister Carolyn Spears.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myersfamily.com.
Myers Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Larry Parker
Larry D. Parker, a resident of Porterville, died there Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004. He was 47.
A service will be at noon on Saturday at Bartlett Park in Porterville with Gayle Gerretson of the Church of Christ, officiating.
Interment will be private.
Mr. Parker was a native of Bakersfield and a resident of Porterville for 47 years. He was a truck driver and mechanic for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Cindy Parker of Porterville; his daughter, Deidra Parker of Porterville; one step-son, Deon Duke of Porterville; one brother, Wayne Parker of Porterville; two sisters, Regina Parker of Arkansas and Sherry Ross of Fresno; his mother, Hazel Parker of Porterville; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Delbert Lee Parker, in 1997; and one nephew, Jason Dewayne Parker, in 1995.
Whitehurst Loyd Funeral Service in Porterville is in charge of arrangements.
Nancy Hill
Nancy Gail Hill, a resident of Porterville, died there Thursday, August 12, 2004. She was 57.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Myers chapel.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Vandalia Cemetery in Porterville.
Mrs. Hill was a lifelong resident of Porterville. She was a custodian with Wal-Mart Distribution.
She is survived by her husband of seven years, James Hill of Porterville; her father, James Harvey McLaughlin of Porterville; two sons, John Todd Stewart and Shannon Craig Hudson, both of Stockton; two step-daughters; one step-son; one sister, Joan Brogden of Porterville; three brothers, James McLaughlin of Paradise, Jack McLaughlin and Ralph McLaughlin, both of Porterville; and nine step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Flora Marie McLaughlin; two brothers, Robert and Jerry McLaughlin; and three sisters, Barbara Wells, Roberta Neeley and Jean Ledford.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society of Tulare County, 211 North Encina, Visalia, CA 93291.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myersfuneral.com. Myers Funeral Service in Porterville is in charge of arrangements.
Velva Doering
Velva Doering, a resident of Porterville, died Thursday, August 12, 2004. She was 96.
Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Peers Lorentzen Funeral Chapel in Tulare.
A service will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Tipton Methodist Church.
Interment will be at the Tipton-Pixley Cemetery.
Mrs. Doering was a native of Findley, Idaho and a long time resident of Tipton. She was a nurse and a memeber of the American Auxillary in Tipton for 53 years. She was also a member of Tipton Methodist Church, Tipton Community Club, Tipton Women's Club and the Tulare Union High School Band Boosters.
She is survived by her two daughters, June Reagh of Diana, Texas, and Vicki Ketchie of Springville; two sons, Jack Wininger of Kilgore, Texas, and William "Mike" Doering of Tulare; two sisters, Evelayne Corley of Pawhuska, Okla. and Bonnie Tarquino of McKees Rock, Pa.; 11 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William "Bill" Doering; one granddaughter; five brothers; and four sisters.
