Archive - 2013 - Obituary
March 13th
Harry LeRoy Whitman
1935-2013
The Lord chose Sunday, March 3, 2013 to quietly and peacefully bring Harry home after a year-long battle with cancer. The Lord had placed Harry on this sod on Feb. 17, 1948 to spend some time raising a beautiful family and doing a few things that God had planned for his life, including two years of service to our country in the U.S. Army.
Shirley Nakken
1935-2013
Darlis Shirley Nakken, age 77 and long time resident of Bishop, passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at the Renown Medical Center in Reno.
Shirley was born in Grass Valley on Aug. 25, 1935 to Floyd and Dorothy (Lutz) Dorrell and was the oldest of three children. A 59-year marriage began Jan. 17, 1954 when Shirley and John eloped to Reno. They moved to Bishop in 1965.
Shirley enjoyed gardening, was an avid bowler and served as secretary of the Wednesday night bowling league for more than three decades. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Lillian (Jo) Lavell
1940-2013
Lillian (Jo) Lavell, 72, of Gridley, Calif., passed away on March 11, 2013 in Chico. She was born April 6, 1940 in Loma Linda to Gene and Florence Stockman.
March 8th
Ralph A. Reeve, Sr.
1917-2013
Ralph A. Reeve, Sr. was born in what is now known as Coos Bay, Ore. on Nov. 20, 1917 to George and Wilda Reeve.
His family moved to Azusa when he was a small child. His uncle, Alex Reeve was a rancher in the Owenâs Valley. Ralph spent many of the years he grew up in the Owenâs Valley.
In 1937, Ralph married Louella Iris Reeve. Together they had five children, Judith Lee, Janet Kay, Cheryl Ann, Carol Lynn and Ralph Alex Reeve. Two of his daughters passed in infancy, Janet Kay and Carol Lynn.
Dawson âBudâ Reed Kilpatrick
1918-2013
Durango, Colo. resident Dawson âBudâ Reed Kilpatrick died on Sunday, March 3, 2013, after a short stay at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. He was 94 years old.
Bud was born to George and Bessie Kilpatrick on his family farm in Lincoln County, Tenn.
March 6th
John Kennedy
1915-2013
John Kennedy, 93-plus years old, a resident of Oasis in Fish Lake Valley for the past 26 years, born in Death Valley between 1915 and 1919, passed away Feb. 12, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family.
Marie E. Spor
1930-2013
Marie E. Spor was called home to heaven on Feb. 18, 2013 in Bishop at Northern Inyo Hospital.
She was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Nov. 15, 1930 to Orvis and Isabelle Myers where she grew up and attended Our Lady of Victory Catholic Academy.
James Lee Ditty
1935-2013
A memorial mass is scheduled for James Lee Ditty at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 9 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church with an interment at East Line Street Cemetery followed by a potluck at his home at 2300 Loch Lomond. Bring your favorite dish and share a story about our wonderful father.
Mario G. Barsi
1930-2013
Mario G. Barsi, a resident of Chalfant Valley for the past three-and-a-half years, born Dec. 4, 1930 in San Francisco, passed away March 1, 2013 at Northern Inyo Hospital with his daughter Gina and her husband Steve by his side.
Mario was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Jan Barsi.
Mario and Jan owned the Lee Vining Market for many years. They resided in Lee Vining for 35 years.
March 4th
Albert Joe Balen
1938-2013
Albert Joe Balen, 74, of Yorba Linda, passed away Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 at his home.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia Diane Balen; children, Gregory Balen of Agoura Hill, Denise Freeze of Anaheim Hills and Timothy Balen of Moscow, Idaho; granddaughters, Laura and Erin Freeze and Natalie Balen; grandsons, John and Erik Balen; sister, Joanne Balen of Marietta, Ga.; as well as many friends considered family.
