Ron Long (1945-2024) passed away in Arizona. The family is working on having a celebration some place in Northern California sometime in the future. He had many medical complications, and fought very hard in the end. Our condolences to his family.
Ron is the son of Coach Doyle Long and Anna (Shuler) Long.
I recently learned that Bruce Knowles passed away. I don’t remember him well but I do remember his family. His parents were Howard and Ruth Knowles. He had a cousin named Larry in the class of 1953 and a half sister named Gwen (Knowles) Russell who was also in the class of 1953. Gwen marred Ira Russell who was in the class of 1951. Bruce also had a younger brother, Kenny.
Our condolences to his family.
Margaret Irene June passed away in Glendale on Jan. 6, 2023 at the age of 75. She struggled with complications of COPD, heart disease and eventually COVID.
Margaret was born in Trona, California, where she grew up and graduated from Trona High School, having kept many of her schoolmates as friends throughout her life.
She moved to Glendale and worked for several years as a server at the Toasted Bun on Glendale Avenue. This is also where she met the love of her life, Larry June, whom she married on Dec. 20, 1977.
Margaret eventually started working at the Glendale Unified School District. She was well loved and appreciated for the devotion to her work and for her kind and generous heart. She retired after 28 years having gained many lifelong friends.
She also became a woman warrior in caring and fighting for her beloved husband as they battled his Parkinson’s disease. Sadly, Larry died in 2016 after 38 years of a wonderful marriage.
Margaret is survived by her brother Michael (class of 1961); many cousins, nieces and nephews; and her cat Pumpkin. She was preceded in death by her husband Larry, older sister Maureen (class of 1960) and her mother Adeta Wells.
Margaret and Larry are buried together at a gravesite next to her mother in Trona, the city where she started her life’s journey.
We all miss Margaret profoundly. Her kindness and generosity touched everyone who was privileged to be a part of her life. She will forever live in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
I recently ran across an article in the Ridgecrest News Review, Community of Trona, the home of several museums by Laura Quezada. One of the things Laura mentions in her article was the Tufa House that was donated to the Searles Valley Historical Society by Robert Schuette. This caught my interest because I had never heard of the Tufa House before but I have heard the name, Schuette, (pronounced “Shooty”) so I sent Bill Schuette, class of 1958, an email to ask him what he knew about the Tufa House.
Bill wrote back and told me that the house was once owned by his grandmother from 1943 to 1960 and that originally it was on homesteaded land on the other side of the Argus Range that was taken over by the Navy when they took over the airfield from the Army Air Force and expanded it into a ordinance testing area.
Henry F. W. Schuette moved the Schuette family from the Los Angeles area to Inyokern, near China Lake, sometime between 1916 and 1930. He worked on the Los Angeles aqueduct project. Henry F. W. and his wife, Johanna, were granted a homestead (by the US government) near of the railroad head known as Brown, on China Lake. In the 1920 US Census Henry is listed as a famer with a stock ranch in Kern county. By 1930 the family had moved to Inyo to an area was described as Township 4 in the 1930 US census. In researching BLM land records I found that Henry homesteaded 160 acres of land in 1916. I will have to do more research because it is common for additional homestead land to be acquired by other family members.
Henry and Johanna had five children: George, Mildred, Henry, Emily and Frederick. Henry F. W. and his children worked the homestead together during the great depression years. He was employed by the Westend Chemical plant on Searle’s Lake, 25 miles from China Lake. Henry died from appendicitis in 1941. The family continued to improve the homestead until the US government took the property by eminent domain to build the Naval Ordinance Test Station on China Lake. This became a weapons test site for Cal Tech during and after WWII. The Rock House, built by the Schuette’s, was moved from the homestead (by the US government) to its current Argus location in Searle’s Valley.
What is made of? I’m eager to find out. Perhaps the SVHS can ask someone for the Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society to examine it. Its appearance in the photo makes me think it is Tufa.
I have much more research to do so check back to learn what I find.
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Anita Aasgard on September 10, 2023, our dear sister, sister- in-law, and aunt.
Anita had several careers and loved hiking, camping and fishing. She enjoyed gardening and everything outdoors. She was an avid writer who wrote inspirational thoughts and kept many journals of her hopes and expectations for herself. She was a good poet and loved to draw. She loved God, her family and friends and her loyal animals. Anita will be missed by all who knew her.
Anita was predeceased by her grandfather and grandmother Al Aasgard Sr. and Rose Aasgard, father Al Aasgard Jr.(Class of 1943), mother Patricia and Harry Pounds all from Trona. She was also predeceased by her brother, Lew Aasgard (Class of 1973) and niece Kayla.
She is survived by her older sister Phyllis, brother-in-law Frank, sisters-in-law Gretchen and Sandy, nieces Hope and Aspen and many loving cousins.
The family will have a service in honor of Anita on April 20th on a beautiful spring day at the Searles Valley Cemetery in Trona.
Patricia Mona (Hall) McGregor went home to Jesus and her Jimmy on Saturday July 20, 2024. Patricia was born in Los Angeles, California June 7, 1931. She was 93 years young. She was the daughter of Harry and Beryl Hall, and they were waiting for her in heaven. Patricia wanted to become a nurse but dropped out of nursing school to marry her high school sweetheart and the love of her life James Richard McGregor who passed April 10, 2008. Patricia met Jimmy at Trona High School in Trona, California. Jimmy joined the US Navy and away they went off on a lifetime of adventure. Patricia worked in the medical profession at the different duty stations as they traveled the country. They had 3 children and when her mother had died suddenly, they raised her younger brother as their own. When Jimmy retired from the Navy Patricia went back to nursing school at Ventura College where at the age of 50, she graduated at the top of her class and became the Registered Nurse that she had put on hold for so many years earlier. Patrica went to work at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura. In later years when Pat retired, they relocated to Bend, Oregon where she went back to nursing. They were both active in the Bend Elks, and she enjoyed working with the Elks on several Charity functions. When Jimmy went to heaven Pat moved back to Ventura County and settled in Leisure Village in Camarillo near family. She was an accomplished artist, and her work is coveted by her family. Patricia’s last residence was at Camarillo Senior Living in Camarillo. Patricia is survived by her 3 children Christine, Bonnie, Kelly, and brother Bob. Patricia is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Patricia lived long enough to recently pin her granddaughter Meghann from Ventura College’s Nursing program. Patricia loved God, her Jimmy, her large family and her country fiercely. She will be missed by many.
The Telescope — 1947 Trona High School
Patricia’s family moved to Idaho in 1948 so she was wasn’t able to graduate with her class and her future husband.
Charlotte was born 14 JUL 1937 and passed away August 7, 2024. The Duffel family came to Trona in 1955 so Charlotte was not a student at Trona High School for very long. She wasn’t there long enough to have a graduating picture in the yearbook.
Her services will be 10 am September 21, 2024 at the Searles Valley Cemetery.
Charlotte will be buried in the Searles Valley Cemetery along with her parents, her sister, Regina, class of 1961 and her brothers, James, class of 1958 and Rex, class of 1959.
Charlotte was also known as Charlotte Van Sickle.
Graveside services were held for Regina at the Searles Valley Cemetery on Saturday, May 25, 2024. where her parents, sister Melva and brothers Sunny and Rex are buried.
The Duffel family came to Trona in 1955 from Arkansas. I can’t tell you much about Regina. Perhaps the classmates and friends who new her best will leave comments.
Bob was born in 1938 in Oklahoma. Shortly after his birth his parents moved to Trona. The 1940 census lists his father’s occupation as a switchman for AP&CC. In the 1950 census his occupation is listed as a switch engine operator. At some point Bob’s father, Cliff became the manager of the Searles Valley Credit Union and then everyone who saved or borrowed money knew the Cliff Jones family. In high school Bob was known as Bobby, which made it confusing when in 1959 he married Bobbie (Halstead) Jones from the class of 1961. He passed away June 30, 2024.
Bob was on the varsity basketball team in high school but from what I’ve heard he spent a lot of time at the Trona Golf Club.
1966 11th hole at old trona golf course.
I wish I could tell you more about Bob but I really never new him. I do know he had children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren that loved him.
Barbara Malcom Obituary
Barbara’s obituary was published on Legacy.com by Glencoe-Hokes Bluff Funeral Home on Apr. 1, 2024:
Funeral service will be 11 AM Tuesday for Barbara Bolding Malcom, 73 of Southside, at Glencoe-Hokes Bluff Funeral Chapel with Rev. Joey Jones officiating. Burial will follow in William-Southside Cemetery. There will be no public visitation.
Barbara gained her wings March 29, 2024 at home surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents: Billie Bolding, Marvin Bolding; step-mom: Doris Bolding; and brother: Jerry Bolding.
Left to cherish the memory of Barbara are her daughter: Kim Malcom (Jimbo) Bearden, son: Johnny (Amy) Malcom; daughter: Callie Bellew (Josh Storey); daughter: JoAnn (Lee) Jones; grandchildren: Daniel (Diamond) Lawson, Nikki Clark, Bailey Rogers, Minda (Tommy) Winn; Courtney Malcom, Shane (Katie) Bellew, JB Bellew (Brittany), Destiny Stargel, Trevor Jones, Hannah Jones, Hallee Jones, Tricia Cannon, Jason Garrett and Jolie Storey; Several great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Joyce Hood, Jim (Emily) Bolding, Jay (Lladi) McDonald, and Kim (Frank) Brunner; host of nieces and nephews; best friend and loving companion: Rufus.
Barbara worked 25 years at Southside City Hall as a dispatcher and like a mother to a host of Jr. firemen and police officers. She is a loving mom. Sister, great-Mawmaw.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Lawson, Bailey Rogers, JB Bellew, Jason Garrett, Shane Bellew, and Shane Stanford.
Honorary Pallbearer is Johnny Malcom and Jay McDonald.
Special thanks to the family of Gentiva Hospice.
Online condolences may be left to the family at:
www.ghbfuneralhome.com.