Category Archives: Death Notice

Milton Michael Teel

Milton Michael Teel — Class of 1961

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Milton Michael Teel (1943-2021)

Mike was born to Clayton and Lydia “Sue” Teel on June 29, 1943 in Webb, Texas. Sue Teel drove the school bus from Argus to the school each day so the Teel family was well know. The Teel Family lived in Argus near the foot the mountains in a house that Clayton Sr. built. I used to visit Mike, quite a bit when I was in elementary school. The Teel family moved right after Pete Teel graduated in 1958 and I never heard from him again. Michael Teel passed away in April of 2021. His memorial was held in his home in Pilot Hill, California.

Mike and his wife, Barbara, had two sons, Ron and Shaun. Pete Teel, Mike’s brother, passed away on October 10, 2021.

My condolences to Mike and Pete’s families.

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William Jon Schultz 1956

Jon Schultz — Class of 1956

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William Jon Schultz (1937-2021)

Jon was born to William and Lillian Schultz in 1937 in California. In the 1940 census I found Jon living with his parents in Johannesburg, Kern County California where his father was working for Atolia Mining Company as a hoist engineer. Lillian had been working as a teacher in Randsburg before she married in 1936.

The Schultz family lived next door to the Hackman’s where I’m sure he met John (Jack) and Roy Hackman. Their father was commuting to Trona to work in the chemical plant so it seems natural to think that Jon’s father and mother also decided to look for work in Trona as well. Jack Hackman graduated from Trona High School in 1951 and his brother Roy graduated the same year Jon did, 1956.

In 1948 Jon’s mother began work as a teacher at the Trona Elementary School and worked there until 1965.

In the 1956 class will it says, “I Jon Schultz do hereby will all my trades and abilities to the teachers and administration. I hope it will help them run this school a little more peacefully.”

Jon died in New Braunfels,Texas Feb 9, 2021.

The family chose not to publish an obituary. If you contact me I can give you the latest address I have for Jon.

We wish to express our deepest sympathies to Jon’s family.

Phyllis Oswald

Phyllis (Oswald) Bettencourt — Class of 1956

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Phyllis (Oswald) Bettencourt 1938-2021

Phyllis was born in the Trona Hospital on June 28, 1938 to Leonard and Marjorie Oswald on June 28, 1938. Phyllis married her husband Bill Bettencourt in 1961. When going to Trona High School Phyllis was was the head majorette when she was a senior, the secretary of the California Scholarship Foundation and a member of the tennis team. In 1956, her senior year Phyllis was homecoming queen. Phyllis has a brother, Don Oswald, who was in the class of 1960.

Phyllis passed away December 19, 2021.

My deepest condolences to Don, Bill and the rest of her family.

A service will be held on January 4, 2022, 10:00am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 608 N. Church St. in Visalia, CA

You can find a complete obituary for Phyllis at:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/visalia-ca/phyllis-bettencourt-10496698

Charlotte Davis

Charlotte (Davis) Moore — Class of 1957

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Charlotte Ann (Davis) Moore 1938 -2021

Charlotte was born to William Clarence and Novella Davis on February 12, 1940 in San Bernardino County, California. She married Gene Moore on February 12, 1961, in Sacramento, California. Charlotte passed away on December 6, 2021.

Charlotte has a sister, Betty Jean (Davis) Cruse , who was in the class of 1963.

There will be no services in keeping with Charlotte’s wishes.

Our condolences to Charlotte’s family.

Benny McCullar

Benny McCullar — Class of 1959

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Benjamin Keith McCullar (1941-2021) was born to Thurman P. and Beatrice McCullar on December 4, 1941 in Oklahoma. He died July 2, 2021 at his home in Grass Valley, California.

Benny played varsity baseball and basketball in high school. The 1959 varsity basketball team won all of their leauge games to become the DIL champions. They played three CIF games before they were defeated by Santa Clara in the fourth game of the playoffs.

The McCullar family moved to Trona from Snyder, Oklahoma in 1955. Thurman worked for Stauffer Chemical in Westend. Thurman died in 1979 and was buried in the Searles Valley Cemetery. Beatrice died in 2008 in Bakersfield. Benny’s older sister, Beth, was a member of the class of 1957. She went to school in Trona for one year before getting married in 1956. Beth died in 2015 in Bakersfield.

Frances Jones

Frankie J (Jones) Young — Class of 1954

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Frances Jeanette Jones was born to Rupert and Edith Jones Nov 17, 1936 in Oregon and passed away Nov 23, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. Her father, Rupert, died in 1974 and her mother, Edith, died in 2008. Frankie has a brother, Bruce who was a member of the class of 1958.

When in high school Frankie was a member of the Girls Athletic Association, Telescope staff and Komerce Klub.

We would like to express our sincere condolences to her family.

William “Bill” Wright — Class of 1972

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William “Bill” Wright Class of 1972 passed away November 13, 2021 with his wife Debra Seagle Wright by his side. Please join us on November 21, 2021 at 1pm at the Trona Elementary School Cafeteria for a celebration of life, with a burial following at the Searles Valley Cemetery. Reception following for family and friends at Trona Elementary School Cafeteria.

Qwen Knowles

Gwen (Holland/Knowles) Russell — Class of 1953

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We just learned of the of Qwen Russell’s passing. She died in December of 2020. 

Gwen was the daughter of Ruth Knolwes and step daughter of Howard Knowles. 

Gwen went by her step father’s name, Knowles when she was growing up but her birth name was Holland. Gwen was the widow of Ira Russell who was in the class of 1951. 
I believe Gwen was living in Ridgecrest at the time of her death. Her brother, Bruce Knowles, was in the class of 1964 and her brother, Kenneth Knowles, was in the class of 1967.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/227241748/gwendolyn-may-russell

Pete Teel

Clayton Howard “Pete” Teel — Class of 1958

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Pete Teel (1940-2021) passed away Kern General Hospital in Bakersfield on October 10, 2021. He had a couple of episodes of Sepsis from a kidney infection. Pete was living in Trona at the time of his death. He was the father of six daughters, grandfather of seventeen grandchildren and great-grandfather of seven greatgrandchildren. His wife, Clora, and daughter, Celeste, are still living in Trona.

Pete was the son of Clayton and Lydia “Sue” Teel. Sue Teel drove the school bus from Argus to the school each day. The Teel family lived in Argus near the foot the mountains in a house that Clayton Sr. built. I used to visit Pete’s brother, Mike, quite a bit when I was in elementary school. The Teel family moved right after Pete graduated. Michael Teel passed away in April of 2021.

Pete Teel’s Interment Ceremony

My condolences to Pete and Mike’s families.

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Richard Gonzalez

Richard Gonzalez — Class of 1958

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Richard Gonzalez (1939-2021) died on about October 14, 2021. He was the son of Al and Maria Gonzalaz and brother of Al Jr. (1936-1991) (class of 1955), Gilbert (class of 1956), Albert (class of 1960), Michael (class of 1963), Charles (class of 1964), Mavi (class of 1966) and perhaps other siblings that I never knew.

I remember Richard from algebra class, my envy of his photography skills and his marriage to one of the cutest girls in the class of 1961. Richard was the yearbook photographer when he was in high school and continued to perform that function as a paid professional photographer after he graduated. Hid father Al, was a photographer for AP&CC. Both Richard’s parents passed away in 2009.

I would like to express my deepest sympathies to his family.

As I learn more I will update this post.

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