Gary Norton went to school in Trona until the 6th grade. After that he visited Trona many times during the summer. Gary passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2018.
Services will be Friday, February 2, at 10:45. 10:15, at .Riverside national memorial cemetery ,reception just inside the entry.
(Catherine Goodman/Brooks) passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2018.
On January 14, 2018 Catherine went home to be with the lord. She was born in Coalinga, CA on September 16, 1937 to Walter and Bonnie Goodman. Walter was an oilfield worker and Bonnie had taught school but was a stay at home mom taking care of Catherine and two older sisters Bonnie M. and Avery D. Later a fourth child, Dorothy M., come into the family. Her father was said to have commented that “4 queens beats 3 aces anytime.” All of her childhood family are deceased.
Soon her father was placed in charge of a company oil field, near Maricopa, Ca and the moved to a company home on the lease. Later tragedy struck the family when her father died suddenly. Faced with the task of supporting herself and 4 girls, her mother needed to return to school to complete the courses need to re-instate her teaching credentials. During this time the 4 girls were placed in the David and Margaret school for girls in La Vern, CA
Upon getting her teaching credentials updated her mother moved them to a home she purchased on King St. in Bakersfield, Ca. When the older girls reached the dating age her mother felt more comfortable taking teaching jobs in smaller communities where she believed she could better watch her girls. She moved to Frazier Park, Ca and taught school there for several years. After the two older girls had married the mother took a teaching position in Trona, CA , and moved there with the two remaining girls.
Catherine and sister Dorothy both attended Trona High school. Catherine married a local boy and had three children. Dorothy and Valerie Brooks still reside in Trona, while her son Brian Brooks resides with his family in Forsyth, Georgia.
In 1976 Catherine had divorced and moved to Las Vegas, where she earned a real estate license. While attending a real estate conference she met a young man and re-married. By 1981 the marriage and fallen apart and Catherine moved to Upland, Ca where she worked at various sales jobs. Eventually she returned to her real estate profession and sold new homes for the J.M. Peters company located in Southern California.
Eventually, she met and Married Stan Andersen who resided in Washington State.
Catherine could not get the desert out if her soul and she and Stan bought a home in Trona and lived part time on the desert and part time in Washington State.
They sold their home in Trona and moved to Ridgecrest where they were residing when she passed away.
She is survived by her husband Stanly Andersen, her daughters Dorothy and Valerie Brooks of Trona and her son Brian Brooks of Forsyth Georgia. She has 9 Grand children, 14 great grand children and 3 great, great grand children.
On Feb. 10th at about noon family and friends will meet to celebrate Catherine’s life. Directions are: From intersection of Drummond street and Norma drive North on Norma about 2 blocks, turn right at big Rodeway Inn sign, Then go to Heritage club house at end of street.
Wanda (Stafford) Brown passed away after having a heart attack on January 7, 2018. She will be missed by family, friends and classmates
The THS Class of 1968 is having their 50th Anniversary Reunion April 13-14, 2018 at the 4 QUEENS HOTEL & CASINO in Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Class of 1968 is having a reunion in Las Vegas and has decided to open up their celebration to the THS Classes of 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970 and OTHER interested Trona High School graduates.
For everyone that wants to join the party, the Host Class of 1968 is planning a Registration Reception for all classes on Friday (4/13) night at the Royal Pavillion, located inside the 4 Queens Hotel & Casino.
A Buffet-Style Banquet Dinner for all classes is scheduled for Saturday (4/14) night at the Longhorn Room, located inside Binion’s Gambling Hall, across the Fremont Street Experience from the 4 Queens Casino.
GENERAL PROGRAM:
Friday Evening – Royal Pavillion, 4 Queens Casino
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm Check-In (get name tags and programs), Informal Mixer, Reception Room with tables and chairs, finger foods, photo exhibits and memorabilia.
Saturday Evening – Longhorn Room, Binion’s Gambling Hall
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Visiting, Cash Bar, Welcome Announcements
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Buffet–Style Banquet Dinner (three entrees)
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Class Photo, Group photos, Informal Visiting & Rockin’ Out (bring your favorite ‘60s music)
Gail (Rollins) Baker, class of 1961 passed away December 2nd 2017.
Wilda Gail Baker born June 17th 1943 in Red mountain California returned to her heavenly father December 2nd 2017. “Gail” loved the gospel and loved serving others in her community. She was always quick with a smile or an encouraging word. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She loved music, and gardening but most of all she loved her family. She is proceeded in death by her parents Marrion Rolins and Wilda Rolins, Her daughter Dinah Defelix, and her loving husband James Baker. She is survived by her son James Baker and 4 grandchildren.
Services with be held and Holland and Lyons Mortuary Chapel, 216 S Norma St., Monday December 11th at 10 am. Graveside services will follow at Rand Cemetery in Johannesburg, California.
Dennis Duane Sizemore of Ridgecrest died Nov. 30, 2015, from injuries sustained in an accident. He was 71.
Dennis was born to Verna Kathleen Cagle and John Edward Sizemore on Jan. 29, 1944, in Joplin, Mo. He was raised in Galena, Kan., eventually settling in Trona, where he graduated from high school.
Dennis worked as a welder, pipe-fitter, millwright, and supervisor at Kerr-McGee. He later worked at IWV Water District and retired from the city of Ridgecrest in 2000 as manager of the wastewater treatment plant.
Dennis’ life-long passion for horses was manifested in his superior horse training, horseshoeing and team roping abilities. He was a volunteer member of the Tulare County Mounted Search and Rescue Team. His latest adventures were with Harley motorcycles and a Goldwing trike, on which he and Karen cruised to Montana.
Dennis is survived by his wife Karen; children Darryn Sizemore, Tiffaney Frodin, Cathleen and Chris Beausang, John and Stacey Connolly, David Connolly and Russ and Hope Fielder; grandchildren Kodi Frodin, Katy and Gavin Fielder, Shawn Connolly and Josh and Ben Grindheim.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, at the All Faith Chapel, China Lake. In lieu of flowers, donations to Wounded Warrior Project in Dennis’ name would be appreciated (support.woundedwarriorproject.org).
Arrangements were by Holland & Lyons Mortuary.
— Submitted by the family of Dennis Sizemore
More sad news: Art Castillo (THS-67) passed away on 11/29/17. There isn’t any information about a funeral yet. Sgt. Arthur A. Castillo served as a medic US Army in Vietnam and was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/185788252/arthur-acension-castillo/photo
News of another alumni passing has come our way. Arlene Frances (Slafter) Austill of the class of 1949 died in 2013 in Arizona.
Arlene F, (Slafter) Austill was the daughter-in-law of Delbet “Bert” Austill. Bert was the man who managed the old theater in Austin Hall and was a projectionist in the Fox Theater. She married David Austill while she was still in High School and they remained in Trona into the 1960’s.
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