Patterson and Grayson Obituaries 1945, Page 1
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Allport Norman M 450420 p1
Killed in Action in Germany; Tech. Sgt. Norman Allport Added to Casualty List; "Killed in action in Germany on April 7th." That was the fateful message that reached Mr. and Mrs. Norman Allport yesterday morning at their Westley home to tell of their son, Tech. Sgt. Norman M. Allport, serving with the Army Engineers. A native of Canada, the deceased was 24 years of age and had spent virtually his entire life here coming to Westley when he was a year old. A graduate of Patterson High School with the Class of 1939, he later graduated from Modesto Junior College and was employed in San Francisco following that. Anxious to get into service when the war started, he was held back by the technical difficulties surrounding his foreign birth, and had to wait until he was inducted in August 1943. He trained at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, and was sent to North Africa soon after our forces invaded that area, to serve in a battalion that was engaged in training men for replacements. Later his outfit went to Italy and he spent considerable time in that country, being transferred to France about four months ago. In his late letters he told of a recent furlough to Paris and of going on into Germany. Beside his parents, he is survived by a brother, Daryl, serving in the Navy, who is at present stationed at San Pedro, and a sister, Mrs. Vera Franklin of San Francisco, who is visiting here at present with her baby.
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Allport Norman M 450427 p1
18th to Die; Norman Allport (picture) Whose death in action in Germany on April 7th was reported last week. His is the 18th name to be added to the list of dead from Patterson Township.
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Anderson Walter 451012 p6
Bud Anderson's Brother Passes; Crows Landing, Oct. 10 - Walter Anderson, a resident here from babyhood until after his return from service in World War I, passed away Thursday at Los Angeles. In ill health for the past several years, he and his family had moved to the South two years ago. Funeral services were held at Modesto on Monday afternoon, interment following in Citizens Cemetery. Anderson was 49 years old and was a member of the Modesto police department for several years. He is survived by his wife, Edith, a son Dale, and one brother, James E. Anderson of Patterson.
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Anderson, Swan 450202 p1
Swan Anderson, Long Resident, Passed Friday; Swan Anderson, Patterson resident for the past twenty-eight years, passed away Friday morning at a Stockton hospital. He had been in falling health for some time and had been receiving hospital treatment for two months. A native of Sweden, he was 74 years of age, and came to this country at the age of 20. Eight children survive him – Mrs. Alice Brazil of Petaluma; Mrs. Rosie Breshear of Patterson; Otto of Modesto; Ernest of Sacramento; Alder of Santa Rosa; Ted of Honolulu and Morris and Roy of Patterson. Fourteen grandchildren also survive the deceased. Funeral service were held on Monday afternoon at Evans Funeral Chapel with M. V. Cheek officiating followed by interment in the Del Puerto Cemetery.
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Bain LS 450504 p1
Sailor Killed in Explosion at Vernalis; Explosion of the hydraulic gear on a plane catapult resulted in the killing of one sailor and injury of three others at the Vernalis Naval Auxiliary Air Station Thursday night of last week. According to the news released by the Navy, L.S. Bain, aviation machinist's mate first class, of Pisgah, Alabama, was killed; V. H. Singler, chief aviation machinist's mate of Modesto was seriously injured, and three others received lesser wounds.
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Barbour Joe 451019 p1
Joe Barbour Passes Away Thursday Night; Another link with the early days of Patterson was severed Thursday night of last week as Joe T. Barbour passed away at a Modesto hospital, failing to rally from a stroke suffered two weeks previous. Joe was as much a Patterson institution as the Plaza and he and his horse were a familiar daily sight as he made his rounds with his delivery service, often with a youngster or two dangling their legs over the side. Because, while Joe always had a joke for everyone, he had a special soft spot in his heart for kids and horses. He was 74 years of age, a fact which will come as a surprise to many, as he was vigorous and kept up his work until the last. Going home on a Friday evening he failed to appear next day and a search revealed he had been stricken some time during the night. A native of Missouri, Barbour had resided here for 32 years, coming here shortly after the new town was organized. He is survived by one son, Reo, of Bellflower. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Evans Funeral Chapel, with Rev. John T. Bickford in charge. Interment followed in Del Puerto Cemetery.
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Bartling Wlm A 450518 p4
Vernalis Pilot Dies in Crash; A Vernalis Air Station fighter pilot was instantly killed Monday morning when his plane crashed east of the San Joaquin River near the Maze Highway. Engine failure was the apparent cause according to witnesses who heard the plane come down. Ensign William A. Bartling was the pilot. His widow, residing in Modesto, survives him. He was from Missouri.
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Barutha Stanley J 450309 p1
One Killed, One Hurt by Hit-runner; Sailors From Air Station Highway Victims; Described by officers as "so soggy with booze that he was unable stand", William H. Lynch, 33, Crows Landing laborer, killed one sailor and badly injured another late Sunday night when he struck them with his car as they were walking from Crows Landing to the Air Station. Stanley J. Barutha, 19, was carried about 50 feet on the hood of the car and then hurled clear. His neck fractured by the blow, he survived, but a short time.
Tossed to one side; Chas. Bailey, also 19, was tossed about 12 feet to one side. While he received internal injuries, his condition was not believed serious. Both had been assigned to the Crows Landing station only a short time. Even after hitting the men, Lynch was too far gone to realize what was happening and insisted on going on to the Air Station with a sailor he was driving home, and reporting the matter there, instead of stopping to aid his victims, officers state. Lynch and another laborer, Chas. G. Johnson left a Crows Landing cafe when it closed at midnight and offered to drive the sailor, Sherman Biles, back to the base. They were about 200 yards from the intersection of the road into the Navy field when they overtook the two sailors walking along the right-hand shoulder of the highway and crashed into them. Into custody; Shore Patrolmen took the two into custody when they arrived at the gate and Highway Patrolman E.L. McCabe was summoned. In the meantime, Johnson started to wander off and it is said the Navy boys worked him over a little on general principles as they rounded him up again. Lynch was lodged in the county jail on a manslaughter charge, while Johnson was held on a drunk complaint, pleading guilty to the charge in the Newman Justice Court. According to McCabe, he picked up Lynch about five years ago on a drunk driving charge. At that time he had no driver's license, nor did he have any when arrested this time.
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Barutha Stanley J 450413 p1
For Killing a Sailor---a Six Months Vacation; The District Attorney's office could not find sufficient evidence to warrant prosecution on a manslaughter charge. And so William H. Lynch, 33, Crows Landing laborer, is enjoying a six-month's vacation at the county road camp in the hills following his plea of guilty Wednesday to a drunk driving charge. As added punishment, his drivers' license was suspended for one year This in the face of the fact that he was arrested five years ago for drunk driving and had no license then, and had none when he was arrested on the night of March 4th after his car had struck and killed 19 year old Stanley J. Barutha, sailor at the Crows Landing Air Station. Held on a manslaughter charge following the fatality, the complaint was reduced to the misdemeanor rating last week and Lynch pleaded guilty before Judge J. Lee Robertson, sitting in the Modesto Justice Court, Wednesday Flagrant Case; According to the evidence compiled by Highway Patrolman E. L. McCabe, Lynch had left a Crows Landing cafe with a companion, Charles C. Johnson, at the midnight closing hour and started to drive a sailor friend back to the station. Near the junction of the station road, Lynch struck two sailors walking along the edge, killing Barutha and injuring his companion. The sailor in the car tried to make him stop and aid them, according to the former's story, but Lynch refused and went on in to the station, where the Shore Patrol took over handling of the case. Both Lynch and Johnson were reported to be in a highly intoxicated state by the officers.
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Borges Joe 450330 p1
Joe Borges Dies in Initial Assault; Pfc. Joe F. "Smokie" Borges was killed in action on Iwo Jima on February 21st, two days after the initial landing, according to a Marine Corps telegram received by his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Joe Borges of Fortuna. The deceased was 20 years of age and had been employed by J. F. Ramos prior to his enlistment in the Marines on March 19, 1944. He was serving in the 4th Marine Division. He was the brother of Mrs. Joe Estrada, residing on the Pomegranate avenue dairy ranch owned by Ramos.
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Broadway Alfred 450215 2
Former Resident Passes Away; Alfred Broadway, former Patterson resident, passed away at Modesto Friday. He was a native of England, aged 59 years, and is survived by his wife, Minnie, sister of Mrs. H. H. Stewart of Patterson; a daughter residing in England, and two sisters. Funeral services were held at Modesto Monday afternoon with interment there.
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Bunker Wim E 450629 p5
W. E. Bunker of Gustine Passes Away; William E. Bunker, native West Sider and member of a widely known pioneer family, passed away Monday morning in the West Side Hospital, as the result of a heart attack. In ill health for several months, he had entered the hospital five days before his death for treatment. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning from the family home south of Gustine, then to the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in that city where Mass was said by Rev. Joseph Losada. Interment was made in Hills Ferry Cemetery. Bunker was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Hunker, nee Elizabeth Dunning, who came to the West Side in 1868 to settle first in the Cottonwood district, later moving to the present home. Born 72 years ago, he spent most of his lifetime there, except for the brief period in his youth when he attended school in Oakland, managing extensive ranch interests, active in civic and community affairs, and serving as county supervisor for his district over a period of 22 years. Interested in education, he also served for years as a member of the governing board of the Gustine Grammar School and was a member of the original board of trustees, which organized the Gustine Union High School district, continuing in that position for 24 years. Surviving are his wife, Rose and two sons and a daughter. They are Edwin and Paul Bunker and Mrs. Elizabeth Munhall. In addition, there are six grandchildren and two brothers; Fred of Gustine and David of San Jose.
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Campbell Peter M 450525 p1
Sudden Passing of Visitor Wednesday; Peter M. Campbell, father of Mrs. H. S. Arnold passed away Wednesday evening a few hours after he became ill at the Arnold home on North Fourth Street. A resident of Hobson, Montana, he had spent the past few winters with his daughter here and had been planning to leave for his home shortly after the extended visit. A native of Ontario, he was 82 years of age. Besides Mrs. Arnold, he is survived by two sons, R. H. Campbell and J. C. Campbell, both of Hobson, and six grandchildren - one of them Verna Mae Campbell, who has also spent the Winter here with her aunt and attended school, being a member of the Las Palmas graduating class. The remains were shipped to Lewistown, Montana, yesterday by the Evans Funeral Chapel for services and interment in the family plot. Mrs. Arnold and Verna Mae accompanied them
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Case Arthur D 450112 p1
Second Son Lost by Former Westleyite; War Department casualty lists include the name of Staff Sgt. Arthur D. Case of Westley this week, reported killed in the European Theatre. Case was the son of Everett Case, migratory fruit worker who has been working in the Westley area at various intervals and has maintained that post office as his address. At present he is in Yakima, Washington. This is his second lost in World War II.
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Cleckler John E 450720 p2
Killed in Upset on River Road; John E. Cleckler, employed at the Lathrop Army Depot, was fatally injured Sunday afternoon when his car turned over while traveling along the River Road. Cleckler was southbound when he struck a very rough spot in the road near the entrance to Camp 1 of El Solyo Ranch. According to Highway Patrolman E. L. McCabe who arrived at the scene shortly afterwards, his car had gone out of control, swerving first to the left and then back to the right side of the road where it skidded crosswise and turned completely over, throwing him out in the maneuver. He was badly hurt in the spill, and survived but a few minutes. Coroner J. K. Ransom advance a theory of heart attach, but this was not born out by testimony of friends whom he had stopped to visit a few moments before, who said he was in normal health at that time. Funeral services were held at the Evans Funeral Chapel Tuesday followed by interment in Del Puerto Cemetery. A native of Texas, Cleckler was 68 years old. He is survived by his wife, Rose; a daughter and son, Anna Marie and Robert, who made their home with their parents; two other sons, J.D. and Ray, who live in Waco, Texas.
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Condell Lyle A 450427 p1
Navy Surgeon Kills Self; Lieut. Comdr. Lyle A. Condell, Navy flight surgeon, committed suicide at his Modesto home Saturday afternoon, shooting himself in the heart with a .22 pistol. Formerly stationed at the Vernalis Auxiliary Air Station, he had just returned from Watsonville, where he was assigned, for the weekend. Ill health and fear of being taken off active status were given as motives for his act. He had seen 28 months overseas service on a destroyer and in New Guinea operations.
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Corbin Leonard 450921 p1
Mother's Dream Foretells Marine's Fate; Fate of the last prisoner of War on the local casualty list was marked off this week as a Marine Corps telegram told the parents of Leonard Corbin, former local boy, that he had been lost in the torpedoing of a Jap prison ship on October 24, 1944. Corbin had enlisted in the Marines prior to Pearl Harbor and was one of the early casualties, being captured in the first days of the war. Following his capture, he was lost track of but his mother, Mrs. Charles Corbin of Merced, never despaired of his ultimate rescue – "until I dreamed one night that I saw him on a sinking ship; and then I lost hope," she wrote in a letter to Mrs. Melvin Skidmore of the Sunflower Ranch, where Corbin was employed while residing here. Leonard received his grammar school education here. The family moved away about eight years ago.
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Corvello Margaret J 450216 p2
Services Held Monday for Mrs. Corvello; Mrs. Margaret J. Corvello passed away at her home at the south end of the Colony Friday evening. A native of the Azores, she was 58 years of age and had resided in this country for the past 25 years. She is survived by her husband, John Corvello, and three children - Mary, John and Joseph, all of Crows Landing. Two sisters reside in the Azores Islands. Funeral services were held at Sacred Heart Church Monday morning Rev. Manuel F. Rose in charge, followed by interment in Hills Ferry Catholic Cemetery at Newman.
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Crooks William M 450330 p6
Newcomer Dies at Grayson; William M. Crooks passed away at his Grayson home Tuesday. A native of Texas, he was 77 years of age, and had come to California but four months ago. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Quincy M. Crooks, and four children – Mrs. Jewell Van Valkenberg of Dallas, Texas, W. M. Crooks of Westley and Porter Crooks and A. E. Crooks of Patterson, as well as five grandchildren. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at Modesto, followed by interment in the Masonic Cemetery there.
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Donated by Gale and Jean Stroud
May 2008
Stanislaus Obituary Index
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