Category Archives: Alumni

Estela (Quezada) Johnson — Class of 1944

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Estela Q Johnson Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Estela Q Johnson of Trona, California, who passed away on April 11, 2023, at the age of 96, leaving to mourn family and friends. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Estela Q Johnson to pay them a last tribute.

She was predeceased by : her parents, Eduardo Quezada and Eloisa Quezada of Bustillos; her husbands, Charles Clifford Paine and Joe; her son Steven Mark Paine; and her siblings, Alice Korba Criger, Manuel and Raul.

She is survived by : her children, Charles Clifford Paine Jr., Dr. Rita Rich (Darrell Rich), Edward Paine (Maria Paine), Terri Clarke (Steven Clarke) and Mary Lynne Bachman (Michael Bachman).

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 27th 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Hk Holland Memorial Chapel (216 S Norma St, Ridgecrest, CA 93555). A mass will be held on Friday, April 28th 2023 at 10:00 AM at the Saint Ann Catholic Church (446 W Church Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555).

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Ridgecrest.

I believe that whoever wrote the above obituary was incorrect about Raul and Manuel proceeding their sister in death. I’m pretty sure they are still alive.

Be sure to read the second obituary from the Ridgecrest Independant. The story of how Estela ended up in Trona is very interesting.

https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/ca/trona/estela-q-johnson-16272048?em=6

https://www.ridgecrestca.com/obituaries/maria-estela-quezada-paine-johnson-november-30-1926-april-11-2023/article_5d3da34e-def5-11ed-be00-83911874fa4c.html

Patricia Stevens

Patricia (Stevens) Banks — Class of 1953

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Patricia (Stevens) Banks passed away on April 19, 2023, after suffering a stroke on the previous Saturday.

The funeral will be on Monday, April 24, 2023 in Spanish Fork, Utah.

Patricia Louise Banks (Pat), passed away on April 19, 2023, surrounded by many of her children and grandchildren. Pat was born in Trona, California on the 22nd of January in 1936 to Hershel and Zelia Stevens. She was the eldest of four, and is survived by her three younger brothers, Joel, David, and Douglas. As a child, Patty loved to read and learn. Fostered by her mother she developed an interest in family history at the early age of ten. She also learned to sew, cook, and play the piano as a young girl. These skills and interests were enjoyed by her and appreciated by her family and friends throughout her life.
In school, Pat was known for never speaking in class. Those who knew her can attest to the fact that she was not talkative. Luckily, while attending BYU, Pat met her sweetheart, Ray Hagan Banks, and he talked enough for the both of them. A match made in heaven, they were married in the Manti LDS temple on June 2, 1955.
As a child, Patty always loved babies and always wanted to have many children. Her wishes came true and she is survived by children Jay (Jean) Banks, Orange, CA; Ken (Tina) Banks, St. George, UT; Bryce (Clare) Banks, St George, UT; Kathryn (Larry) Wolod, Houston, TX; Brynna (Scott) Cadman, Etiwanda, CA; Duane (Kirsten) Banks, Kaysville, UT; Karen (Shane) Gillett, Houston, TX; Glenn (Debby) Banks, Albuquerque, NM; Mike (JoLynn) Banks, Gold Bar, WA; 24 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Pat and Ray settled and raised their children in Fontana, California. Pat was a consummate homemaker, and her children and grandchildren fondly remember how hard she worked to give them a loving home. Her interest in sewing served her well as she homemade much of her children’s clothing. Her delicious meals, pies, and monster cookies will also always be remembered!
Although she was raised in a small town, Pat had a love of travel. Every summer Pat and Ray took their children camping all over the United States, and once their family was raised they began to travel all over the world! A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, faith was an essential part of her life and she truly loved the Lord and His gospel. Together with Ray, she served LDS missions in Russia, Thailand, and closer to home in Springville, Utah. Pat’s childhood passion for family history rubbed off onto Ray, and they spent many years traveling the world to learn more about their ancestors. Pat was doing family history until the very end, and we know her legacy will live on. She led a long, faith-filled and interesting life and those who knew her will continue to learn from her example. Patricia will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held on April 24, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint, 1552 East 750 South, Spanish Fork, Utah. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.

Published by Walker Funeral Home – Spanish Fork on Apr. 22, 2023.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/patricia-banks-obituary?id=51702398

 

Elizabeth Richmond Colter — Class of 1946

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Elizabeth Richmond Colter “Liz” 92, formerly of Phoenix, Prescott and Eagar, Arizona, died Wed., November 2, 2022 in Dana Point, CA. Born February 17, 1930, in Philadelphia, PA. Liz was the daughter of John O’Donnel Richmond and Emily Acker Richmond. Both her siblings, Lee Richmond Barker and Lincoln Acker Richmond predeceased her. Survivors include five children: Emily Taranta, Nancy Greene, John Harrison (Barbara) Colter, Mary Lee (Marsden) Stewart and Ann (Kyle) Matthews; 18 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She attended the University of Arizona where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and Mortar Board. She was Student Body Secretary in the 1949-1950 school year and met her husband James Harrison Colter “Jim” while in college. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. at Burnham Mortuary, Eagar, AZ.

Posted online on December 01, 2022

Published in The Arizona Republic

Elizabeth and her husband Jim were married at the China Lake Navy Base in the base chapel by a Navy Chaplin, Lieutenant Commander W. I. Wolfe in 1950. Elizabeth came to China lake in 1944 when her father, John O Richmond became commander of the Navel Ordinance Test Station at China Lake. She began school in Trona because at time there wasn’t a high school in the Indian Wells Valley.

Bakersfield, California •
Mon, Nov 6, 1950

Austin Smith Class of 1948

Dr. Austin Smith–Class of 1948

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Austin Smith was born on SEP 19, 1929, in Minersville, Beaver, Utah and he passed away on AUG 8, 2022, in Fremont, Alameda, California. His parents were Othello and Addie Smith. Othello Sr. worked in Village Maintenance as a painter until AP&CC sold all the houses and laid off all the Village Maintenance workers. After that Othello became an insurance agent.

Austin Smith was the second of four Smith brothers who attended Trona High School. Austin was in the class of 1948. After high school Austin attended UCLA and then medical school to become a surgeon.

Austin’s oldest brother was Othello Smith (1927-2000) who was in the class of 1946. Othello joined the Marine Corp, so he did not graduate with his class.

Othello Smith Jr.
Othello H Smith Jr.

After being in the Marines Othello returned to Trona Othello married Viola Heseman (1927-2001) who was a member of the class of 1945. Viola taught elementary school in Trona for a few years in the 1950’s. Othello and Viola remained in Trona until their deaths. Their children also went to Trona High School.

Pauldin Smith and Norma Hall Smith
Pauldin and Norma Smith

Pauldin Leroy Smith (1931-1996) was in the class of 1949. Pauldin married Norma Hall (1931-1987) Norma was also in the class of 1949.

Pauldin Smith
Pauldin Smith
Norma Hall
Norma (Hall) Smith
Chadwick Smith 1951 Telescope
Chad Smith

Austin’s youngest brother was Chadwick E. Smith 1934-2018). Chad was in the class of 1951. You can read Chad’s obituary at: 

https://www.premierfuneral.com/obituaries/Chadwick-Smith/#!/Obituary

Pat Hurlocker

Patrick Wendell Hurlocker — Class of 1949

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 Pat Hurlocker, class of 1949, passed away on Mar. 28, 2023. He had just turned 92 on St, Patrick’s Day. Pat had been married 72 years to Val (Pipkin) Hurlocker, class of 1950. He had seven children, fifteen grandchildren and nine Great grandchildren.

Pat was born in Beltrami County, Minnesota to Harold and Isabell Hurlocker on March 17, 1931. He had one brother and five sisters, most of them attended Trona High School. Holly (Hurlocker) Farrah was in the class of 1951, Kathleen (Hurlocker) Roche (1935-2014) was in the class of 1953, Paul Hurlocker (1938-2001) was in the class of 1957, Sally Hurlocker (1940-1998) was in the class of 1958, and Alicia (Hurlocker) Philpot was in the class of 1959.

Paul played football, basketball, and track in high school. He was a class representative, the varsity club treasurer, and a member of the physics club.

He will be missed by his wife, his family, and his friends.

Jess Ygnacio Dominguez — Class of 1959

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Linda Cunningham Monroe asked me to pass this along:

I am sad to report the passing of our friend, classmate and very talented artist, Jess Dominguez, class of 59. Jess was the “best of the best!” He was smart, compassionate, thoughtful, kind, funny and talented.

He taught at San Diego State University and retired from there in 2002.

In our 50-year reunion book he said that the lesson he had learned from life was to follow your heart, do things for the right reasons and judge yourself before you judge others”. That would be Jess, listening, observing, always learning, and forever accepting.

If you visit San Diego, you will likely see one of his many sculptures. I will send photos of just a few.

Rest in Peace, Jess.

Linda

If you’d like to contact his wife, Mary Lynn you can email her leave a message here and I will forward it to her or contact me and I will send you her contact information.

More Photos

Jess Dominguez

This life-sized bronze sculpture depicts Fred Lebow (1932–1994), who is best remembered as the founder of the world-renowned New York City Marathon and longtime president of the New York Road Runners Club. The sculpture was created by Jesus Ygnacio Dominguez and shows Lebow in his trademark running suit and hat, checking his watch as runners cross the finish line.

The statue, named Forever at the Finish Line, currently stands at 90th street and the East Drive at Central Park. On the first Sunday of November, however, park workers lift the 600-pound sculpture from its sturdy base into a truck, carefully driving it to a location near the Marathon’s finish line.

Judy Atwood — Class of 1960

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Judy Atwood was diagnosed with stage four cancer on the 8th of February after being hospitalized on the 1st of February. She passed away February 22nd. A Celebration of Life service will be on April 15th at the First United Methodist Church in Arroyo Grande, California. The time is not set yet but will probably be at 11:00 a.m. She is survived by: Cristy (Atwood) Van Hook (class of 1966) and her husband, Lamar; her nephew, Cody Castleman and her cousins. Special friends she worked with in Kansas also survive her and she will be missed by the congregation of the church in Arroyo Grande.

John Deyoung 1962

John DeYoung (1944-2023) – Class of 1962

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John, class of 1962, died February 6, 2023, at home.  He had Leukemia.  He lived in Brentwood California with his wife Jean DeYoung.  He was 78 years old.  

If more information becomes available, I will post it.

John had four sisters, Dorothy DeYoung) Farrah (1932-1992), class of 1950; Carolyn (DeYoung) Morse (1940-2021) class of 1959; Paula (DeYoung) Wong, class of 1964, and Roberta (DeYoung) Adams, class of 1967. John also had a cousin, Linda (DeYoung) Bishop, class of 1959 who is also a THS alumnus.

John DeYoung