This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: James Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8109 Message Board Post: Visiting Mother Passes Away Mrs. Sally Kustowski, 84, passed away from natural causes at Mojave Hospital Saturday, November 17, 1956. Born in Poland, Mrs. Kustowski was the mother of Mrs. Klementyna James of Mojave, whom she had been visiting for the past three weeks. Also surviving is a son, Julian of Inglewood where the mother had resided before coming to Mojave. Memorial services were held in O'Donnell Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, November 20 at 10:00 a.m. with Dr. Phelps officiating. The body was shipped to Boston, Mass. for interrment. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 22 Nov 1956

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8108 Message Board Post: Five Die in Head-on Crash Six Miles South of Mojave Four Mojave Marine Base residents were instantly killed involved in a grinding head on auto crash 6 miles south of Mojave on Hwy. 6 last Saturday, November 17th at approximately 4:45 p.m. A fifth person; died about three hours later in Mojave Hospital bringing the score for death to five according to a California Hwy. Patrol report. A reconstruction of the fatal crash was given by James F. Russell, 39 of Rosamond who was going south when he saw a car approaching at high speed from the rear, This car was later established as being driven by David W. Grayson, 28 of Lancaster. “He started to pass me," said Russell, but there was not enough room so I pulled over to the right. The Grayson car hit my left rear fender and glanced off directly in the path of a north-bound vehicle which patrol officials said was driven by Sgt. Fremont Thoe, 22, a marine stationed at MCAAS. Killed instantly were Sgt. Thoe, Robert A. Kulp, a civil service employee at MCAAS, his wife, Exie, all passengers in the Thoe vehicle. Sgt. Thoe's wife Margaret died later in the Mojave Medical Center. . George Pritchard, Jr., 29, a passenger in Grayson's car was also killed when pinned under the car. Grayson was critically injured and was brought to the Mojave Hospital. He was later transferred to the Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster. The dead were brought to O'Donnell Funeral Home in Mojave where the following arrangements were made. Sgt. Thoe and wife, Margaret were shipped to Pontiac, Michigan for double services. Mrs. Thoe was a native of Dusseldorf, Germany .and her body will be shipped back there. George Pritchard Jr. will be interred at Joshua Memorial Park with graveside services, Nov. 23. Mr. Robert Kulp's body will be shipped to San Francisco for services while his wife, Exie will be interred in Greenlawn Cemetery in Bakersfield. Transcriber’s note: The names according to the California Death Index are: THOE, FREMONT JONDORAN b. 19 Apr 1934, Minn. THOE, MATHILDE MARGRET b. 28 May 1933 KULP, EXIE VERNELL b. 05 Jul 1933, Okla. KULP, ROBERT ADRAIN b. 30 Jun 1918, Calif. PRITCHARD, GEORGE b. 02 Dec 1926, N Mex. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 22 Nov 1956

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Estelle, Miles, Davidson, James, Smith, Bullington, Vial, Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8107 Message Board Post: Rosamond Resident Passes Away A resident of 12 years, Mr. Joe Harvell passed away Thursday, February 21, 1957 at Tulare where he was being treated for illness in the Tulare Hospital. Mr. Harvell, a native, of Alabama, had resided in Rosamond off and on for many years, but had been a permanent resident the last 12 years. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Leona Harvell and 15 children: Ester Estelle, Houston, Texas; Ernest Harvell, San, Diego; Mary Ardell Miles, Virginia; Anna May Davidson, Beaumont, Calif., William Cecil Harvell, Joe Burt HarveIl, Claudy Harvell, Robert Louis Harvell, Lois Aline James, Pearly Jean Smith, Dorothy Dee Bullington, Fanny Vaye Vial, Lorna HarveIl, Wanda June Harvell and Richard Harvell, all of Rosamond. He is also survived by his 34 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. Services were held at the, Wayside Chapel, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. The officiant was Rev. Jack Eubanks. Internment was at the Joshua Memorial park in Lancaster. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 28 Feb 1957 ,

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8106 Message Board Post: Eastern Kern Wreck Kills Four People Death claimed four persons late Saturday afternoon, January 5th when a car driven by Howard Lee Bellamy, Sgt.l/C 25, Co. "B" 72nd Tank Battalion, Camp Irwin, was hit by another car, driven by Gerhardt Eric Schulte, 588, of 304 8th St., Edwards, California, 13 miles east of Mojave on Hwy. 466. California Hwy. Patrol officer Ernie Allington, who investigated, said that the Bellamy vehicle, traveling west, came upon a slow moving car, lost control and slid broadside, crossing center line where it was struck by the Schulte vehicle. Bellamy was cited by the California Hwy. Patrol. Killed instantly was an unidentified youth 16 to 17 years old with blonde hair, blue eyes, 6 ft. tall and weighing 180 lbs., prominent front teeth and a faded tatooed G on right forearm. All efforts to identify him so far have proved futile. He was thought to be a hitch-hiker in the Bellamy vehicle. Also killed and a passenger with Bellamy was Sgt. 1/C Arthur A. Hanson, also of Camp Irwin. There were no witnesses to the fatal accident and officers are awaiting a chance to interview Bellamy, the only survivor, who lies critically injured in Edwards AFB hospital. Both Gerhardt Schulte and his wife, Hazel were also killed in the wreck, which brings the traffic death toll for Kern County to 12 for January. A coroner's inquest held Monday, January 7 in Mojave fixed the blame for the accident on Bellamy who will probably be charged with manslaughter. Bodies of the "John Doe" victim and the Schultes were taken to the O'Donnell Funeral Home in Mojave, where arrangements are pending for the as yet unidentified victim. . Funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Schulte will be held on Saturday, January 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Grace Lutheran Church, Lancaster, with Rev O. W. Meeker officiating. Interment will be in Joshua Memorial Park and a color guard and pall bearers will be provided by Edwards A.F.B. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 10 Jan 1957 CADI Transcriber’s note: The name according to the California Death Index is: SCHULTE, GERHARDT E. b. 14 Aug 1896, Ill. HAZEL E. SCHULTE b. 27 Feb 1901, Mich. GARY MAYSE b. 24 Mar 1940, Calif. ARTHUR HANSON 01 Sep 1920 Identity Made On John Doe The unidentified teen-age boy who was killed in the auto accident on January 5 has been identified by his brother-in-law as Gary Mayse, 16, of Visalia. Richard Collins, manager of the O'Donnell Funeral Home in Mojave, where the body was taken following the accident, said the boy was hitch-hiking home after a visit to Oklahoma. He was picked up in Barstow by Sgt. Hanson and Bellamy of Camp Irwin, the day of the crash which killed him and Hanson and seriously injured Bellamy. Also killed were Mr., and Mrs. Erie Shulte of Edwards. Start of the identification came from a Barstow resident who told officials he remembered talking to the boy who said he was on the way to Visalia. After the boy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Mayse became alarmed at his continued absence from home, they made a missing person report to the Visalia Sheriff's Office which led to the identification The body was shipped to Visalia for funeral services and interment. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 17 Jan 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8105 Message Board Post: Fred Hamilton Passes Away In Wisconsin Fred M. Hamilton, '87, brother of Truman, who was Mojave Constable for many years, passed away April 4, 1957 in Monroe, Wisconsin after a lengthy illness. He had lived for many years in Willow Springs, a community founded, by his father, Ezra. We featured Fred as an old timer in the Desert News on October 21, 1948. He came to Willow Springs area in 1895 after his father had discovered a rich gold mine named the Lida, in honor of his wife. In order to assure himself of sufficient water, Ezra bought Willow Springs from the Beale estate and founded the town which was a stop on the old stage line route. The buildings were built of native rock and many of them are still in use. Fred told of an attempted hold-up in Mojave in1907. He had stopped at one of the 13 saloons for refreshment when he noticed two shifty-eyed characters looking at him. He reached in his pocket for his gun and turned the tables. They' surrendered peacefully and the local sheriff bought them a drink before taking them to the local hoosegow. Seems this was a custom in the early days. He is survived by his wife, Dora E. who was with him when he passed away. Funeral services and interment were in Monroe, Wisc. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 11 Apr 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bright, Pitner, Hoff, Reynolds, Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8104 Message Board Post: Willah Fleming Passes Away In Tehachapi Mrs. Willah Maud Fleming, a long time resident of Mojave, and a trustee of the Mojave Community Congregational Church, passed away suddenly Wednesday morning, June 12 in a local hospital. Mrs. Fleming has left instructions that no flowers be sent to her funeral. She has asked that all donations be sent to the building fund at the Congregational Church. She was a former partner with Art La Point in the operation of the Mojave Variety Store which was sold to the Robinettes, now currently operating it. She also formerly worked at Carol's Department Store before going into business. Mrs. Fleming was born in Goodson, Missouri on October 20, 1894. She has resided in Mojave since, 1931 and lived on the corner of L and Belshaw Sts. Mrs. Fleming is survived by three sons, William and wife Geraldine of Castro Valley; Tom and, wife Ardis of San Leandro; Jerry and wife Nadine of El Monte. Also surviving is a daughter, Welcome Rose Bright and husband Jack of Monolith as well as eight grandchildren; Linda, Claudia, Rhonda, Karen, Andrew, Janice Donna and John. Last but not least is a great granddaughter Teri Leah Bright of Mojave and a brother-in-law and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Fleming of Mojave. She's also survived by her brother, Scott Pitner of Spokane, Washington and 3 sisters, Gail Pitner, of Couer d'Alene, Idaho; Nell Hoff and Nida Reynolds, both of Spokane, Washington. Services for Mrs. Fleming have not yet been set. Arrangements are being handled by the O'Donnell Funeral Home, Mojave. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 13 Jun 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Meeks, Howard, Smith Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8103 Message Board Post: Boron Resident Passes Away ‘Doc’ Findley, as his many friends called him, passed away on Tuesday, October 7th from Coronary Thrombosis. Osie Rueben Findley, born 48 years ago, Nov 24, 1908 in Hinton, Oklahoma was a mill mechanic at the Pacific Borax plant and resided in their trailer court with his wife Stella Gertrude. Services were held Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in the Community Baptist Church in Boron, with Rev. Earl Reavis and Rev. Harold Burgess officiating. Interment was in the Barstow Cemetery. Surviving him: his wife and a daughter Ila Gertrude at their home in Boron, two sons, Alfred Oren Findley and Donny Eugene Findley, with another son, Osie Rueben Findley Jr. in Bakersfield. Three sisters also live in Boron, Mrs. Ola Meeks, Josephine Howard and Hazel Smith. His two brothers, Olduff and Ralph reside in Oklahoma. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 10 Oct 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Meek, Harvard, Smith, Cinyard Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8102 Message Board Post: Boron Resident Passes Away Della Arcennie Findley passed away in her home in Boron November 4th. Mrs. Findley was born February 14, 1875 in Oklahoma and had made her home in Boron for the past four years. She was an active member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Boron. Survivors include sons James of California City, Osie of Boron, Ralph of Hinton, Oklahoma, daughters, Ola Meek, Josephine Harvard, and Hazel Smith of Boron, a brother, Ed Cinyard of Oklahoma and 24 grandchildren and 21 great- grandchildren. Funeral services and interment will be held in Hinton, Okla. Local arrangements by O’Donnell Funeral Home. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 08 Nov 1956

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8101 Message Board Post: Muroc Pioneer Called by Death Another pioneer of this area has passed away. Mr. Minto Farrow, one of the original owners of the land at what is now Muroc passed away Sunday evening at his place of residence in Mojave. Mr. Farrow had been in the area since 1900. It was about 1920 that Mr. Farrow and a Mr. Corum, both owned land in the Muroc area. They decided that the population there warranted a post office. Corum was the name selected for the town. However, communication was received from the postal authorities that there was already a Corum, California. The two men were stymied for a while, then the late Mr. Farrow suggested that they spell CORUM backwards, hence MUROC was born. Arrangements for Mr. Farrow's services are under the direction of a funeral home in the Los Angeles area. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 27 Jun 1957 CADI b. 19 Jan 1895, d. 24 Jun 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8100 Message Board Post: Rancher Passes Charles Elrich, retired rancher of the Spring Valley Ranch in Tehachapi passed away February 10th in a Bakersfield Hospital. Elrich, about 77 years old was born in Yugoslavia. He had lived in the Tehachapi-Mojave area for several years. Graveside services will be held today in the Tehachapi Cemetery at 10 a.m. Rev R. W. Moorman, of the Com. Cong. Church of Tehachapi will officiate. Funeral arrangements will be under the direction of O'Donnell's Funeral Home in Mojave. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 14 Feb 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Shelton, McMiniment Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8099 Message Board Post: Hold Memorial Services For Mearl Craig The many friends of Mearl H. Craig were saddened by his sudden passing Sunday, October 21st. Mearl, a long time resident of Mojave was born August 30, 1896 in Minot, North Dakota. Since his coming to Mojave, he has been active in civic and church activities. A member of the Mojave Lions Club, he was recently installed to serve as 2nd vice-president. Mead also served as trustee on the Mojave Unified School District Board for two years. A member of the Com. Cong. Church where he also served as Moderator, his interests also included the Educational Building now under construction. Mead devoted much time and effort in the building and planning of this Sunday School unit, truly a memorial to him. Other associations include his membership in the Masonic Lodge, North Dakota. Funeral services were held in the Com. Cong. Church Wednesday with Dr. Torrance Phelps officiating. Interment followed in the Mojave Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of O'Donnell's Funeral Home, Mojave. Survivors include widow, Myra Craig of Mojave, a son, Kenneth Craig of New Jersey and two sisters, Mrs. Esther Shelton of Fullerton, California and Mrs. Ruth McMiniment of Lakewood, Calif. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 25 Oct 1956

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8098 Message Board Post: Non Collision Wreck Kills Two Men Two Boron residents, Homer Bud Cooper and Wallace Daniel: were killed Saturday morning at 1:45 p.m. on Highway 466, four miles east of Boron when their car left the road, hit the Santa Fe Tracks, broke off a telephone pole and tore its way 1500 feet into the desert. Thurston Cooper, a brother of Bud lies in Mojave Hospital, critically injured but improving. No visitors allowed. The men were reportedly on their way to a fishing trip when the accident occurred. Bud Cooper was in the generall contracting business and Daniel was his foreman. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 11 Jul 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8097 Message Board Post: Fatal Accident Sat. Kills One Saturday, October 27th a fatal accident occured on Highway 466 two miles east of the Muroc Junction Road. Killed when she lost control of the car she was driving was Dinah Connell of Hollywood. Miss Connell is the Ex. Councelor of the Jewish Employment and Counselor Service in Los Angeles. With her in the car was James T. Smith of Lancaster who received major injuries. Both Mr. Smith and Miss Connell were taken to the Mojave Medical Center where the driver was pronounced dead on arrival. Mr. Smith was dismissed from the Mojave Hospital Sunday, October 28th to go to Lancaster. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 01 Nov 1956

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8096 Message Board Post: Injuries fatal To Charles Colby On Tuesday morning July 2nd, Charles Irving Colby fell 40 feet from the scaffolding on which he was working at California Portland Cement Company and although he was rushed immediately to the Mojave Hospital, he was pronounced dead on arrival, death having been instantaneous. He was employed by the Buffnell Corp. on a contract job. Inquest was held the following morning at the Sheriffs' office in Mojave, with Deputy Sheriff Fidler as the investigator. Funeral services for Mr. Colby will be held at 11:00 a.m. this coming Saturday, July 6th at the O'Donnell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James C. Thompson of the Community Congregational Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Joshua Memorial Park, Lancaster. He is survived by his wife, three children and two brothers. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 04 Jul 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8095 Message Board Post: Boron Worker Fatally Injured At PCB Mine Claude Clarkston, 48, an employee of Pacific Coast Borax Co. in Boron was killed late Saturday July 6 when a heavy caterpillar tractor tipped over on him, pinning the unfortunate man between the machine and a bank of borax. A witness to the fatal accident, W. H: Wamsley told Deputy Coroner Richard Gervais that Clarkston was operating the tractor pushing borax down a trap door. As he backed up to push another pile forward, the back end sank and the massive vehicle pinned him to the bank. i His fellow employees worked for a long time to get him out but when the man was taken out at 7:30 p.m. he was pronounced dead by a local doctor. The body was removed to the O'Donnell Funeral Home in Mojave and funeral services will be held today, (Thursday) at the Boron Community Baptist Church with Rev. Earl J. Reavis officiating. Interment will be in the Mojave Cemetery. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 11 Jul 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8094 Message Board Post: Dies At Home Ray C. Cheesman, 68 passed away at his home in Boron on Sunday, November 18th. Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church in Boron Wednesday. November 21st at 11 o'clock a.m. Interment was held in the Barstow Cemetery. He was a member of the Mojave Lodge I.O.O.F. #457 and a member of I.O,O.F.Benefit Club. His presence in the Lodge will be sadIy missed. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 22 Nov 1956

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8093 Message Board Post: Accident Kills Young Matron Beverly Vicki Carpenter, former resident of Long Beach and just dmoved to Mojave on Barstow Road was killed Tuesday night. in an auto crash on Hwy. 6 and Ave. B, one mile south of the Kern County line. Two other vehicles, a car and a pick-up, figured in the fatal accident. According to Highway Patrolman, R. L. Pfieffer, Mrs. Carpenter was northbound on Hwy. 6 shortly before 7 p.m. when she went over the center line of the highway and collided with a car and a pick-up, both driven by residents of Lancaster. Word reached Mr. Ivan Carpenter shortly after and not having any transportation, he went to the Mojave Sheriff's substation and an officer drove him to the County Line where he was picked up by an L. A. County Sheriff's unit and taken to the scene of the accident. The body was taken to Mumaw Funeral Home in Lancaster where arrangements are pending. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 12 Dec 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Pruitt, Bokis, English, Moore, Graves, Walker, Meyers, Smith Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8092 Message Board Post: Seleta A. Bowers Passes Away A pioneer Mojave resident for the past twenty-one years passed away this past Friday, October 25th at 2:45 in the early morning hours. She was Mrs. Seleta Alice Bower whose home was at 2101 Panamint Street. Her passing was at the Mojave Hospital at the age of 62 years. A widow, she is survived by five daughters, only one of whom, Norma Jean Bokis, lives here in Mojave. The others are: Ruby English of Taft, California: Dorothy Moore of Redlands, California: Blanch English of Boron, California: and Georgia Graves of Santa Monica. Alice also leaves three sisters, Irene Walker and Orma Meyers in Missouri and Mary Smith of Michigan, also another brother George Pruitt in Missouri. Services were held in the O’Donnell Funeral Chapel at 10:30 o’clock on Monday with Rev. Coe officiating. Mrs. Rachel Hodges was organist as well as soloist. Burial followed the services in the Mojave District Cemetery. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 31 Oct 1957 CADI Transcriber’s note: The name according to the California Death Index is: BAUER, Seleta Alice b.10 Dec 1895, Missouri d. 25 Oct 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Gibson, Claypool, Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8091 Message Board Post: Mother, Two Tots Die In Boron Blaze Tragedy greeted Clarence William Bent when he returned home last Sunday afternoon. Usually when he returned after only a short time away, he was greeted by his wife Catherine Faye, and the chubby arms of little 3 1/2 year old Barbara Faye, and her big brother William Joseph who was going on five. But Sunday afternoon all he found was a smoldering mass of ruins. Reportedly the two children were already asleep in their little beds when the fire started and their mother was most likely napping also. None of the three were able to escape the flames. The Boron ambulance took them to the Mojave Hospital, where little Barbara Faye was pronounced dead upon arrival at 6:45 P.M. Little William followed her that same night at 10:35. The mother hung on to life until Monday afternoon at 1:55 when she too followed her children into the Great Beyond. Now a stunned father and husband sits alone. There will be a Visitation at the O'Donnell Funeral Home Wednesday evening, with joint services for the three at 10:00 A.M. Thursday at the Boron Community Baptist Church, the Rev. Reavis officiating. Mrs. Bent is also survived two sisters and a brother, Mrs. June Elaine Gibson of Boron, Miss Wilma Doyle Claypool and the brother, Charles Earl Claypool. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 15 Aug 1957

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Haddan, Price, Cruickshank, Rohrs, Heil Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8090 Message Board Post: Desert Weatherman Backus Passes Away in Berkley Oscar J. Backus, well - known Mojave Area Weatherman and rancher died Sunday afternoon, February 24, 1957 in a Berkley Sanitarium where he had been rnoved after a two month's stay in a hospital. A desert pioneer, he and his wife, Merritt, came to this area in 1914 after driving a Maxwell car all the way from Ford City, Pennsylvania, It was in that city he and a relative designed and patented a toilet bowl valve under the name of the Eljer Company. Mr. Backus was born in Oakland, California on September 29, 1880 where he lived for a time before going east. He homesteaded 160 acres and practically with his bare hands made a ranch here. One of his projects was an almond orchard which was moderately successful. He also had a complete machine shop and was constantly tinkering on something or other. He served on the Mojave School Board from 1936 to 1940 and was credited with obtaining Federal money to provide the modern gym and swimming pool which many enjoy. Later ceremonies provided a plaque with his name which was affixed to the buildiilg naming. it after him. Perhaps his best known work was as a U. S. Co-op Weather Observer and he recently received a 20 year pin for this voluntary work. His precise records at the ranch settled many questions about weather in the Mojave area. He was a prime organizer and chairman of the East Kern County Soil Conservation District and also organized and headed the Ancient Valley Civic Improvement Association. His work in, civic affairs over many years would be difficult if not impossible to match. . Survivors include a sister; Mrs. Edith Haddan and two nephews, Dr. Rodney Haddan and Dr. Nulco Haddan;.a niece, Mrs. Andrew Price all of' BerkeIey. "Two other nieces and nephews of a deceased sister are Mrs. Helen Cruickshank, Mrs. Elizabeth Rohrs of Orange City and Wendel Heil of Seattle, Washington. Memorial services for Oscar J. Backus are being held at the Backus Home, Saturday, March 2 at 3:00 p.m. Dr. Torrance Phelps of the Mojave Community Church will conduct the services with tributes being given by Mr. Robert Ulrich, Superintendent of Mojave Schools; Dr. Roy Knapp, District Superintendent of Antelope Val1ey Joint Union High School and Junior College; Mr. Harry Levy, of East Kern County Soil Conservation District and Mr. James Churchill, Supervisor of Attendance and Child Welfare, Antelope Valley. For his many friends who wish to honor his memory an Oscar J. Backus Memorial Scholarship, has been set up at the Mojave High School to which they may contribute. 28 Feb 1957 Memorial Services For O. J. Backus A very fitting memorial service in the memory of Mr. Oscar J. Backus was held in his home on Sunday afternoon, March 3, 1957, by many of his friends and relatives. The room was decorated with almond blossoms from the trees which Mr. Backus had planted many years ago and which yearly gave him a great deal of pleasure. The memorial service was conducted by Dr. Torrance Phelps and tributes to the life of Mr. Backus were given by Mr. Levee of the East Kern Soit Conservation District, Dr. Roy Knapp, Superintendent of the Antelope Valley High Schoo1, Mr. James Churchill, Attendance Counseler at the Antelope Valley High School and Robert P. Ulrich, Superintendent of the Mojave Unified School District. Attention was called to the many accomplishments of Mr. O. J. Backus during his lifetime and particularly to the accomplishments he had gained as a result of his unselfish service in public life. It was pointed out that the school children and youth dally enjoy the splendid school facilities which he and his colleagues secured for the Mojave School District. Motorists benefit from the highway improvements which he succeeded in securing' in behalf of greater traffic safety. Attention was called to his interest and accomplishments in the field of Soil Conservation and the part he played in organizing Soil Conservation Districts. He was a specialist in the measurement of weather and his records have long been beneficial to the Edwards Air Force Base and the Mojave Marine Station as they develop their facility and installations. Industrial firms interested in coming into the Mojave area have also been requesting the type of weather information which Mr. Backus maintained. Mr. O. J. B.ackus was always. interested in planning for the future and served on many planning and advisory committees. Of particular importance was his service on the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Board of Trustees of the Mojave Unified School District when the new high school was being planned. Last summer Mr. Backus served on the Mojave Advisory Committee to the Kern County Planning Commission and an expression of opinion from the Kern County Planning Commission was read at the memorial services. An inventive mind guided Mr. Backus to a number of inventions, a number of which1 have become widely used throughout the nation. This inventive spirit often prompted him to think of Cal Tech and other institutions of higher learning. His library gave evidence of his interest in the scientific world. A number of his friends have suggested that a life lived so unselfishly and so generously in public service should have a lasting memorial and that a scholarship to some higher institution of learning which might be available to a high school graduate each year be established. A scholarship of this kind in the amount of approximately $1,000 could be made available from an endowment of approximately $20,000. Many endowment funds of this type are invested in excellent securities by our institutions of higher learning and the dividends and proceed from them are used for scholarships for high school graduates. The details of this type of scholarship and the investment of endowment funds would have to be very carefully developed. There are those who have however, suggested that funds might be contributed to an O. J. Backus Scholarship. Those who are interested are invited to contact the principal of the Mojave High School, Mr. Robert W. Wisgerhof in regard to further details and information. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 07 Mar 1957