OBITUARIES: ’67 GALS

 

Robin Marie (Feist) Smith, 58, of Glendale, AZ, passed away January 27, 2008, surrounded by her loving family. Robin was born in Easton, PA, and moved to Phoenix with her parents and two brothers in 1951. She graduated from Camelback High School in 1967 and married James R. Smith in 1968. They had two beautiful daughters, Lynn and Sandy and a son, Curtis. Robin loved her family and looked forward to every summer when her three grandchildren would spend their summer vacations with them. Her home was always open to family, friends & neighbors, sharing many happy hours and special events with them. Survivors included her husband, Bob; 3 children; 3 grandchildren; father; and 2 brothers. (excerpted/edited from The Arizona Republic, 1/29/2008)

 

Mary Elizabeth (Reade) Baumann, 57, of Phoenix, passed away December 10, 2006.  Mary was born in Globe, AZ, and attended Loma Linda Elementary School and 3 years at Camelback High, before she and her family moved to Chula Vista CA. There, she attended beauty school and obtained her cosmetology license.  After a short stay, she moved back to Phoenix.  In 1972, Mary began her long career with the Dept. of Public Safety. During this time she met Wayne Baumann and they married in 1978.  Both spent long careers in Public Safety and retired in 2002.  Survivors included Mary’s mother, Lorena Reade; a sister, Carole Robinson; and a brother, Arthur Reade Jr, Camelback class of ’61. (excerpted from The Arizona Republic, 12/13/2006)

 

Elizabeth Clare (Betty) Bleier, 58, of Phoenix, passed away February 19, 2008. Betty was a truly kind person. Born in Glendale, CA, Betty was preceded in death by her father, Edward, and her brother, Michael. Survivors included her mother, Ella Mae Bleier; sister, Patty Aker; and brothers, Bill & Paul Bleier. Betty was Dillard's Box Office manager until early retirement in 1999. She was very active at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church as a past Sodalist and Parish Council President. (excerpted/edited from The Arizona Republic, 2/22/2008)

 

Pamela Jean (Spangler) Evans, 56, of Glendale, Arizona, passed away on July 17, 2005, following a brief illness with breast cancer. She was born in Dearborn, MI, to Donald and Evelyn Spangler. She was employed with APS as a Project Design Engineer. Survivors included her husband, James M. Evans; daughters, Andria Romano of Los Angeles, CA, and Abigail Scott of Milwaukee, WI; sister, Linda Spangler of Peoria, AZ; and brothers Donald and Stuart Spangler of Prescott, AZ.

 

Jana Van Voorhis, 58, a fourth generation Phoenician, passed away April 15, 2007. She was born to Mary Jane Knorpp Van Voorhis and Peter Courtlandt Van Voorhis. She attended Madison #1 Elementary and Camelback High School, and also 2 years at Phoenix College. She loved babies, animals, angels, heart shaped rocks, writing poetry, her friends, family, and her church. Survivors included her sister Viki Thomas and brother Wes Van Voorhis. (excerpted from The Arizona Republic, 4/21/2007)

 

Sherrill Ann Weaver, 61, of Phoenix, passed away on July 19, 2011, after a short bout with cancer. She was born in Ashland, Ohio to Bill and Louise Weaver. Sherrill attended Camelback High School and received undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education at Arizona State University. She retired in 2000 from the Casa Grande School District after working many years as a math teacher and a guidance counselor at Casa Grande Jr. High School. Sherrill was adventurous, fun-loving and compassionate. She enjoyed reading, traveling, family and friends, and was a staunch supporter of "A League of Our Own", a group of former female softball players who met annually to renew old friendships. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors included her brother, Steve; sister, Karen Holloway; and her partner in life, Sherry Burgamy. A Celebration of Life was scheduled for September 13, 2011 (excerpted/edited from The Arizona Republic, 7/24/2011)

 

 

OBITUARIES: ’67 GUYS

 

Stan Thomas Bell, 58, of Phoenix, AZ ended his brief battle with cancer on May 2, 2007. Known affectionately as Stan the Man, he was humble, kind, gentle, faithful, courageous, and because of his many friends, Stan was a rich man. Born in Bloomington, IL in 1948 then moved to AZ in 1953 with his family. He graduated from Camelback High school and attended Glendale Community College as well as ASU. As a business man and owner of his own company, Automotive Brake and Supply, Stan was a hard working man who enjoyed serving his customers. He was preceded in death by his father William D. (Bill) Bell and his eldest brother Gary Bell. Survivors included his wife of thirty years, Mary; his two daughters, Lindsey and Lauren; his mother Mary Grayce Bell; and his siblings Zane, Bev and Sheila. (excerpted from The Arizona Republic, 5/8/2007)

 

Delbert Eugene Carr, 61, of Show Low died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, in Tucson. He was born in Phoenix to Virgil and Velma Carr, raised in Phoenix and attended Camelback High School, where he excelled at football, playing quarterback. He served in the U.S. Army in 1969. He had lived in Show Low for 21 years, where he worked in dry walling. Delbert was an expert in his trade, as evidenced by his business card: “Mentor of Broken Homes in Show Low.” He had served as a counselor for AA. He had a very generous heart and was always there for family and friends.

 

Jeffrey Lee Gayne, 20, of Phoenix, Army Corporal / E3, 27th Infantry, died 14 June 1970 of wounds from an explosive device.  His Vietnam Wall panel is 09W, Wall line 053.  Survivors included his wife.

 

William Robert “Bill” Gooding, 28, of Vancouver, Canada, disappeared on an April 1978 flight from Bellingham WA to Phoenix.  He was accompanied by his father, Robert, and brother, Paul.  Robert and his wife, Vera, had moved to Phoenix in 1950 from Gnadenhutte, Ohio. Paul had been in construction with his father since 1975.  Bill was a tennis professional. (Excerpted/edited from the Arizona Republic, 6/27/1978)

 

Ron William Painter, 61, of Phoenix, slipped quietly away on May 11, 2011. He was born to Bill and Freida Painter. Ron graduated from Camelback High School and went on to become a journeyman plumber, where he put to use his natural curiosity of how things worked.  Ron had a big heart with limited time, and was most at home spending time with his many friends, picking the guitar and reminiscing about their many adventures. Survivors included his mother, Freida; sister, Lisa; daughter, Mysti ; and son Kade Painter Buckley.

 

David Thomas Schaffer, 20, of Phoenix AZ, a South Vietnam war casualty, died Aug 28, 1969.  He was a member of the United States Marine Corps, with rank of Lance Corporal.  He was a Rifleman in Unit B CO 1/3D MARS 3D MAR DIV – see http://www.virtualwall.org/ds/SchafferDT01a.htm for more details.

 

Donald A. VanLeeuwen, 57 of Camp Verde AZ, died July 14, 2007, after a tragic accident.  He was born in Spring Lake, MI, and attended Camelback High School in Phoenix.  He is preceded in death by his son, Joseph; his sister, Connie; his parents, Ollie & Alma; and his soul mate of 20 years, Marjorie Hardt.  Survivors included his children, Jeff & Jodi; 2 brothers; and 2 sisters.

 

Robert Paul Whitmer, Sr, 58, of Mesa, AZ passed away suddenly on December 7, 2007. He served proudly as a member of the United States Coast Guard for 30 years. Survivors included his wife, Dianna; mother, Marceline Whitmer; brothers and sister: Evan, John, Donald, George and Karen; and his five children: Natalie, Patrick, Michelle, Melissa, and Robert.  (excerpted/edited from the East Valley Tribune, 12/12/2007)