Onace Long 1925-2016

8 Replies

HP0008 - Edited

I have recently learned of the passing of Onace Long. He was born in Panama, Oklahoma in 1925. He came to Trona as an athletic coach and teacher in 1957. This was about the same time as his cousin Coach Doyle Long and Coach Carl Bledsoe also came to Trona from Oklahoma. He was my C team football and C team basketball coach as well as my P.E. teacher.

I do not know what other classes he taught but I was a student in his bookkeeping class.  He eventually became the elementary school principal. Onace retired in 1988 but even after he retired he continued to teach as a substitute teacher. He has been a prominent resident of Trona for over 50 years and will be remembered fondly by hundreds of former students, parents and residents of Trona.

No date has been set for services.

FORMER TRONANS CLUB PICNIC 2016

4 Replies

copy-cropped-whitelaw-36

2016 has come fast, hasn’t it? It doesn’t seem like two years since the Centennial Celebration, but it’s time again to plan for the 2016 Former Tronans Picnic. This year the Picnic will be held on October 8th. That’s the second weekend in October. The Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Show will also be at that same time, so be sure to walk through and see some of our local artists and their presentations.

We would appreciate hearing from you whether or not you plan to attend. Let us know how you and your family are doing and be sure to verify your address, phone number and email address (if you have one). Thank you to all who made donations to cover our expenses last time! Please get your response forms in by 30 September at the very latest.

TIME AND PLACE

Our Picnic will be held on Saturday, October 8th beginning at 10:00 AM at the our usual meeting place, the Trona Elementary School (the Round School) on Athol Street.

FOOD

Sack lunches (sandwich, chips, fruit cup, dessert) are available for $8 each. Please include payment with your response as these lunches must be pre-ordered. Beverages will be provided by the club.

The Trona Community Church always sponsors a pancake breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. The cost is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children seven and under. It is a great way to start your morning!

The Trona Elks will have a deep-pit BBQ (beef or pork) Saturday evening from 3 p.m. until gone. If you’re interested, call the Trona Elks and let them know. Food is also available at the Trails Drive-in and at Esparza’s Family Restaurant (old Theater) on Main Street.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

The Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society will be celebrating their 75th annual Gem-O-Rama on October 8th and 9th. Free Plant Tours by bus at 11, 11:40, 12:20, 1 p.m. and 2:30 on Saturday only. For additional information, please refer to the flier included in this letter.

The museums of the Searles Valley Historical Society – Old Guest House, History House, and the Trona Railway, will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Fire Museum will be open on Saturday only.

LODGING

Pinnacle Inn Clarion Inn Comfort Inn
84368 Trona Road 901 N. China Lake Blvd. 507 S. China Lake Blvd
Trona, CA 93562 Ridgecrest, CA 93555 Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 372-5795 (760) 446-7910 (760) 375-9731
Hampton Inn & Suites Spring Hill Suites (Marriott) Heritage Inn & Suites
104 E. Sydnor Ave. 113 E. Sydnor Ave 1050 N. Norma
Ridgecrest CA 93555 Ridgecrest CA 93555 Ridgecrest CA 93555
(760) 446-1968 (800) 741-5072 (800) 843-0693
Best Western China Lake Inn
400 S. China Lake Blvd
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
760 371-2300

Camping is available at Valley Wells for a nominal fee (only for the weekend).

We’re looking forward to seeing all our friends. Please let us know by returning the enclosed attendance form.

See you at the Picnic!

Nicki (Weidenbenner) Johnson

Enclosures

The Former Tronans Picnic? takes place October 8th, 10AM – 2PM in the Trona Elementary (round) School. All Former Tronans are invited to come and it’s FREE! PDF forms (Info on the Picnic, a RSVP form, and the Gem and Mineral Show, also on the same weekend) can be downloaded here:

2016 Letter Download

2016 Letter Response Form Download

Gem Show Flyer Download

 

 

Joe Henry Ellis (1932-2016)

1 Reply

Joe Henry Ellis — Ventura, CA

Joe Henry Ellis, beloved father and husband, shuffled off his mortal coil on January 24th, 2016 after a long illness.

Joe Henry was an extraordinary man. We who loved him remember camping trips, his love of the outdoors, Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes, deep and inspirational conversations, and an incredible personal presence he conveyed to all who knew him.

Joe was born in Arkansas, one of five siblings, to Henry and Alta Vay Ellis. His family moved to Texas and then to California, finally settling in Trona where he spent his high school years. He joined the Navy in 1951 and served in the Korean War. It was during that time that he went on a blind date and met the love of his life, Patricia Louise Bates, who was in nursing school at the time. They marred and settled in Ventura, the home of Patricia’s family for generations. Joe took on several jobs to support his wife and growing family as he finished his education to become a teacher. (1) After Joe earned his teaching credential and graduate degree he got a job at Ventura High School where he taught for 31 years in the history department. During this time he was active in Sacred Heart Parish, took up golf and dragged his growing family across every campground in the western United States and to his cherished Lake Tahoe.

Joe pursued two major passions throughout his life; his family and his teaching. He will be remembered by generations of students as a compassionate and enthusiastic educator who encouraged his students to succeed. He had a knack for finding their strengths but it was his caring attitude that brought many of them back to visit him at school and at his home. Towards the end of his illness while at a local hospital, a nurse caring for him shared that he was the only teacher who reached out to her and told her she had the potential to go to college.

During his retirement Joe and Patricia were fortunate to travel to many exotic places around the world. They sail around the Horn and cruised Alaska, pet koalas in Australia and drank wine throughout Western Europe.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Patricia; His three daughters Kathleen (Gary Stanley); Elizabeth (Thomas Letus); Margaret (Joseph Sofer) ; his son Joseph, grandchildren Richard, Anita, Jennifer, John, and Mary; and six great-grandchildren. The unconditional love he showed all of us will be greatly missed but we know that it is only a short time before we meet him again. “We’re glad you made it to the top of the mountain, Dad. We’ll see you there someday.”

A celebration of his life will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday, February 9th at ten o’clock am.

In lieu flowers donation may be made in Joe’s memory to Ventura High School. The Joe Ellis Scholarship Fund.

  1. Joe & Patty settled first in Ontario after they were married.  He attended Chaffey College, then he transferred to UCR.  He worked nights at Lockheed Ontario After being laid-off moved his family to Ventura.  He finished his BA and MA in history at UCSB.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/joe-ellis-obituary?pid=177525705

Alfred Kennedy – Class of 1954

1 Reply

An email from George Sherman brings the following sad news:

“I’m very sad to have to report that Al has passed away.  Thank you to Ann Tankersley for alerting me about it this morning.  I just talked on the phone to one of Al‘s sons who verified that Al passed away late last Saturday night (early Sunday morning).  His obituary should be posted in the Ridgecrest Daily Independent starting tomorrow (which can be viewed at http://www.ridgecrestca.com/obituaries), and his funeral will be at the Holland and Lyons Mortuary in Ridgecrest at 10 AM [Saturday Jan 30, 2016].  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend because I will be in Memphis at the time.  When Al was in Trona High, he went under the name Alfred Adams, but his official name is Kennedy.  He was married to  Dolores (Abbott) Kennedy (Trona High School 1955)”

David Pillott : Class of 1956

Leave a reply

David passed away on December 19, 2015 at 5:00 PM. He passed quickly and ever so peacefully in the home that he built in Idaho and loved and cared for surrounded by his family.

Being at home under the care of family and hospice provided a peaceful ending to a long hard battle for a little over a year and a half, with many trips to Minnesota for treatments.

Ralph Edward Martin – Class of 1964

Leave a reply

Ralph Edward Martin, age 69 of Lexington, passed away following a long battle with lung cancer, Thursday, October 15, 2015 at his home. Ralph Edward Martin was born September 22, 1946 in Broken Bow, OK, the only son of John Lewis Martin and Edith Viola (Claunch) Martin. He spent his early years in the Criner and Dibble area before moving to Trona, CA. He attended Trona Unified Schools, graduating from Trona High School in 1965. While in high school he was in ROTC and was in a Chess Club. Ralph joined the United States Army in 1969, and was proud to serve his country. After being honorably discharged for medical reasons, Ralph married his best friend and love of his life, Ms. Kathy Giraud. They were married on April 10, 1971 in Las Vegas, NV. Together they raised two children, son Shad and daughter, Sarah. Ralph first worked installing water and sewer lines for a few years. Then he began working for Midwest Communications building teletypes and selling contracts. In 1974 he took a job with Teletype Corporation in OKC. After several years with this company, Teletype merged with AT&T and he was transferred to Albuquerque, NM in 1982. Because of his physical battles, Ralph returned to Oklahoma in 2012 to be close to his mother. Throughout his life, Ralph loved being in the outdoors, he enjoyed elk hunting at Mt. Taylor, NM and camping and fishing with his family and friends. More recently he and Kathy would take meaningful daytrips all over Oklahoma enjoying new scenery. Ralph will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed!

He was preceded in death by: His parents, John Martin and mother, Vi Martin in May of this year. Ralph is survived by: His wife, Kathy of the home; Son, Shad Martin of Albuquerque, NM; Daughter, Sarah Martin and husband Brenden Patterson of Beaverton, OR; Grandson, Eli Patterson and A host of other family and friends.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Thursday, October 22, 2015 at Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel in Purcell, OK. Another memorial service will be held at a later date in Albuquerque, NM. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell, OK. Send online condolences @ wilsonlittle.com. In lieu of flowers the family request that you send memorials to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Drive Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601.

Roberta “Robi” (Wilson) Reece – Class of 1958

Leave a reply

Roberta “Robi” Reece
Apr. 2, 1940 – Oct. 2, 2015
San Jose, formerly of San Juan Bautista
Friends are invited to join family for a Celebration of Robi’s Life at South Valley Community Church, 8095 Kelton Dr., Gilroy on October 24, 2015, at 11:00am.
Robi was born in Trona, CA and moved to the Bay Area in the early 1960’s to begin her family. She spent 35 years residing in San Juan Bautista, where she was a teacher’s aide at San Juan School and later became the receptionist at SVCC Church in Gilroy for 20 years.
Robi is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Gina Reece and her grandchildren, Emily and Jacob all of Aurora, Oregon. She is also survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dee Ann and Michael Harn and her grandchildren, Mikaela and Kylee all of San Jose, California.
Robi loved life! In her memory, if you wish, the family requests donations be made to the , SVCC, or your local Christian School. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?pid=176031090#sthash.16kT6WKX.dpuf