Mr. Pilcher, as his students most commonly referred to him, was best known for the sweepstakes-winning bands he produced during his decades-long tenure at Trona High School
Malvern is the son of Malvern Robert Stevens Sr and his wife Mildred. He was born in Los Angles, and he was raised in Westend where his father was a Shift Forman for the West End Chemical Company. Malvern graduated with the Trona High School class of 1953. During his high school years Malvern served as president of the THS chapter of the California Scholarship Federation, he was a member of the Marching Band and the Dance Band, and the Varsity Club. He lettered in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track.
After graduating Malvern attended the University of Southern California and Brigham Young University where he was a Cadet in the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corp. After finishing his education Malvern served in the US Air Force.
In 1971 Malvern returned to Trona as a teacher for a brief time but the special education program he was hired for was eliminated due to changes in state laws.
According to his daughter, Malvern frequently expressed his love for Trona. Malvern passed away on May 28, 2023, while living in Joplin, Missouri.
His services will be held July 7, 2023, at 11:00 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
Peggy (Pearlie) May Mills, passed away from CV-19 complications on 17 Dec 2020. Peggy was born 1 Jul 1924 in Englewood, KS to Henry and Ina Ford. She graduated from High School in 1942. She spent 2 years in Colorado Springs, CO during WWII then moved on to Glendale, CA and then Lancaster CA.
While working in a bank, she met J.D. Mills who she was married to for 53 years. They lived in Westend, a small company town (no longer in existence) in Searles Valley where she worked for the Trona Joint Unified School District for 21 years until her retirement in 1983.
They raised two sons in Westend, John who lives in Colorado Springs, CO with his wife Jeanne and Mike, who lives in Bakersfield, CA with his wife Trish. She grew to love the desert. The family explored every dirt road or track for miles around in a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
She and J.D. moved to Ridgecrest, CA, where she was a longtime volunteer at the Maturango Museum. Then to Lancaster, CA where J.D. passed in 2002. Peggy moved to Magnolia Place Assisted Living in Bakersfield to be near family in 2018.
Peggy enjoyed the retired life, traveling to Italy to visit John in the US Air Force, numerous times to Hawaii with her sister-in-law, Mildred and husband Charlie Rader as well as many areas of the United States pursuing her genealogy hobby.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, J.D., sisters Bonnie, Bertha, and Ina, and brother Henry Alonzo, Jr. She is survived by her two sons, their wives, step-grandchildren Mark Palmer and Carrie McBryant, and step great- grandchildren Josh McBryant and Audrina Arrowood and a step-great-great grandson, Matty Navarro.
Services are pending.
The children of Martin Joseph Hicks sadly announce the passing of their father. He was born 10-2-1931 and passed away on 2-16-2019. He was a Trona High School teacher, football coach, basketball coach, track coach, and elementary school teacher from 1981 to 1999.
Services will be held on Saturday March 9th at 2:30 at the Murrieta Community Center, 41810 Juniper Street,Murrieta, Ca 92562
February 16, 1936 – January 5, 2019
Obituary of Coach Paul Monroe Branum
Paul Monroe Branum of Fort Smith, Arkansas passed away peacefully January 4, 2019 at age 82. Born February 16, 1936 in Vinita, Oklahoma, Paul was the sixth of seven children of James Madison Branum and Gladys Mae Toler Branum.
He excelled in sports at Holdenville High School (OK) and he chose to take his talents to Murray State College (OK) and Austin College (TX). Paul graduated from Austin College and earned his Masters from East Texas State. In 1959, he married the love of his life, and wife of 59 years, Nicolette Brown of London, England.
Paul’s passion was coaching football. He coached the first integrated high school football team in east Texas, and spent over 20 years (1971-1991) coaching on the only sand football field in America at Trona, CA. His coaching career spanned 6 decades and influenced many lives. From his dust bowl roots, he was able to instill strength and resilience into generations of young athletes. He retired to Emory, Texas, in 2003, and eventually moved to Fort Smith to be closer to grand-kids.
He is survived by his wife Nicolette Cecile Branum; son Paul Branum and wife Joanna of Greely, Colorado and their children Aliyah, Caedmon and Jackson; son Russell Branum and wife Marilin of Greenwood, and their children Elissa Lucero and husband Michael, Matthew Branum and wife Haley, and Emily, Olivia and Ivalynn Branum; son David Branum and wife Jennette of Overton, Texas, and their children, Devin Branum and wife Devon, Karmen Lantz and husband Dillon and their children Emily and Lucas, and Katrina Hughes and husband Jonathan; daughter Suzanne Crable and husband Tom of Cincinnati, Ohio and their children Matthew and Jonathan; his sister Beverly Vannoy and husband Donald of Oklahoma, as well as his brother James Branum of Texas.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday 3 pm at Methodist Village in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Flowers will be shared profusely amongst patients and staff. Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral home. Memorial donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alz.org To leave an online memory, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Ricardo “Ric” Rasines, age 90, died peacefully in his sleep on October 5, 2017, after a valiant battle with cancer. Ricardo was comforted in his passing with his family by his side.
Ricardo was born June 27, 1927, in Barre, Vermont the son of Antonio Rasines and Baselisa Peral.
Ric thrived while growing up in Barre, where he attended Spaulding High School and met his best friend, Bob Abbiati, and soul mate Annie Lasorsa. Ric, while an fine student, excelled at playing football. Nicknamed “the bulldozer”, Ric, a running back, was consistently handed the football after which he would bulldoze his way down the field for another touchdown. Ric led the Spaulding team to a state championship and in the process earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Vermont. To this day his accomplishments on the football field are legendary.
In 1950, after graduating from college with a teaching credential Ric entered the Navy. Shortly after discharge he married his still then girlfriend, Annie Lasorsa. In 1952, Anne gave birth to their only child, Douglas. Eight months later, Ric and Annie packed their belongings into their new Oldsmobile and moved across the country from Vermont to Trona, California where Ric had accepted a teaching position at Trona High School.
Ric and Annie found Trona to be a wonderful place to raise a family and greatly enjoyed the company of so many lifelong friends. While living in Trona, Ric and Annie often spent weekends and summer vacations at various beach locations along the southern California coast, where they loved being able to enjoy the sunshine without the desert heat.
Ric worked for 34 years at the Trona Unified High School District first as a teacher, coach, then later as a boy’s counselor, principal and school administrator. In 1988 Ric and Annie retired and moved to Solana Beach, Calif. They much enjoyed the “laid-back” beach community lifestyle and time spent walking while taking in the scenic ocean views and socializing with the members of the “New Englanders” club.
Ric, a loving father, continued to enjoy fitness activities and always relished a good joke. Kindhearted, he always put the concerns of others above his own. Although relatively small in stature, Ric cast a large shadow of influence upon those who came to know him and enjoy his company over the years.
Ric is survived by his son, Douglas; daughter in-law, Deborah; grandson, Nicholas and his wife Rachel; sisters, Dolly, Rachel and Lisa; numerous loving relatives; and many dear friends.
At Ric’s long-held request, he will be cremated and have his ashes scattered at sea.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Ric’s name to the American Cancer Society.
Ric was one of those people from which I learned little gems of wisdom that have stuck with me all of my life. – David
Name: Lewis L. Arnold
Email: lparnold@verizon.net
Comment: I was faculty in 1958-59. I was the football coach and we had an undefeated season, the only team to beat Palmdale High School. I was 1st Lt. ROTC Commander.
Please notify me of reunions of my students and athletes from those years. I would like to hear from them and invite any to my 80th birthday celebration on April 13th. Reach me by my email.