Geraldine Jonker, 88
ESCONDIDO - Geraldine "Gerry" Jonker, 88, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2000, at Palomar Medical Center.
Born Dec. 8, 1911, in Clarence, Iowa, she lived in Escondido for eight years. She was a real estate agent for Parsons Realty for 15 years before retiring, having received her real estate license at age 63. She was co-owner of Oceanside Nursery and Florist from 1946 to 1965 and owned a flower shop in Beverly Hills from 1965 to 1971. She was past president and lifetime member of the Oceanside Soroptimists, a member of the Hollywood Soroptimists. She served two terms as president of Mother's Club at the Carlsbad Army-Navy Academy and was a member of Casa de Cuna.
Mrs. Jonker is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Gerald and Kathy Meacham of San Marcos and Dr. L. Anton and Debbie Jonker of Fresno; daughter and son-in-law Mary Lynn and Bill McPherson of Valley Center; brother Wilbur Robson of Iowa; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at Valley Center Cemetery, with the Rev. Richard Miller officiating. Burial will follow.
The family suggests memorial donations to Elizabeth Hospice, 150 W. Crest St., Escondido, CA 92025.
McLeod Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Mary Eldridge, 78
VISTA - Mary C. Eldridge, 78, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2000, of a heart attack at her home.
Born Oct. 31, 1921, in Prague, Okla., she lived in Vista for six years. She worked for North Coast Printers before retiring.
Mrs. Eldridge is survived by her sons, Gary Eldridge and Bill Eldridge, both of Vista; sister Maxine Amato of Oroville; grandchildren Peter, Todd, Lisa and Christine; and great-grandchildren Bryan, Ricky, Kristina, Levi and Spenser.
Telophase Society is handling arrangements.
Lawrence Williams, 86
SAN MARCOS - Lawrence Ezra Williams, 86, died Monday, Feb. 7, 2000, of cancer.
Born April 14, 1913, in Ogden, Utah, he lived in San Marcos for 30 years. He was the owner of Williams Brothers before retiring and a member of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Academy of Model Aviation, Club Palomar Flyers, AMA, Flightmasters Hall of Fame since 1984 and a member of the Mormon Church.
Mr. Williams was preceded in death by four brothers. He is survived by his brother, Thomas Granger Williams of San Marcos; and sister Lucille Williams Plank of San Marcos.
Telophase Society is handling arrangements.
Guadalupe Ramirez, 84
OCEANSIDE - Guadalupe S. Ramirez, 84, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2000, of colon cancer, at her home.
Born Sept. 7, 1915, in El Paso, Texas, she lived in Oceanside for five years. She helped to develop the Sylmar Head-Start Center, the North Valley Occupational Center, the Chicano Studies Department at CSUN, the Northeast Valley Health Corporation and was a founding member of Los Angeles Mission College and the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens and La Raza Unida party under which she ran for the 39th District Assembly. She was a member of St. Ferdinand's Church in San Fernando for 35 years.
Mrs. Ramirez was preceded in death by her husband, Manuel C. Ramirez, in 1983. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Martha and Robert Jimenez, Eriana and Robert Guerrero of Oceanside; grandchildren Roberto A. Jimenez, Christina A. Munoz, Christopher Munoz and Maricela G. Ramirez-Guerrero; and several nephews and nieces and adopted grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, at Mira Costa College Student Center, Aztlan A, B.
The family suggests memorial donations in honor of her commitment to education to the BECA Foundation, 310 Via Vera Cruz, Suite 101, San Marcos, CA 92069.
Richard McLaughlin, 57
CARLSBAD - Richard C. McLaughlin, 57, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000, in Pasadena.
Born Feb. 7, 1942, he lived in Carlsbad. He was a construction project manager for Krafco in King of Prussia, Pa., for two years and a volunteer for Project Wildlife, Meals on Wheels and the Museum of Making Music, all in Carlsbad.
Mr. McLaughlin is survived by his wife, Ann E. Peiffer McLaughlin; stepmother Marge McLaughlin of Mesa, Ariz.; stepsons Mark Bricker of Kutztown, Pa., and James Bricker of Kempton, Pa.; daughter Sharon A. McLaughlin of Carlsbad; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at Keller Funeral Home in Fogelsville, Pa. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m.
The family suggests memorial donations to the American Heart Association, 212 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18016.
Keller Funeral Homes Inc. is handling arrangements.
Melvin Voight, 88
LA JOLLA - Melvin J. Voight, 88, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2000, at Scripps Memorial Hospital.
Born March 12, 1911, in Upland, he lived in La Jolla for seven years. He worked for UCSD.
Mr. Voight is survived by his wife, Neha Voight of San Diego; son Paul W. Voight of Beckley, W.Va.; daughters and son-in-law Marjorie Huskins of Rolling Hills Estates and Dolores and Lorie Scott of Cardiff; brother Adolf F. Voight of Ames, Iowa; grandchildren Carolyn, Steven, Susie, Sandra, Katherine, Martha, Valorie, Suzanna and Peter; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Telophase Society is handling arrangements.
Michael Bates, 84
ESCONDIDO - Michael Bates, 84, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000, in Escondido.
Born April 11, 1915, in Benton, Ark., he lived in Escondido. He was a carpenter before retiring and served in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Bates is survived by his son, Michael L. Bates Jr. of Escondido; daughters Joyce Brandos of Escondido and Phillis Osburn of Visalia; and two grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at Oak Hill Memorial Park.
Alhiser-Comer Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Louise Collins, 79
CARSLBAD - Louise R. Collins, 79, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000, at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside.
Born June 6, 1920, in Wilsey, Kan., she lived in Carlsbad for 27 years. She was a homemaker and a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for 40 years and of the Rancho Bernardo Art Club.
Mrs. Collins is survived by her husband of 56 years, Max F. Collins of Carlsbad; son Ron Collins of San Diego; brother Walter Schanfeldt of Fairfield, Iowa; and four grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at noon Friday, Feb. 11, at El Camino Mortuary in San Diego, with Chaplain Phil Deming officiating. Burial will follow at El Camino Memorial Park.
The family suggests memorial donations to the Arthritis Foundation, San Diego Area Chapter, 9089 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92123.
El Camino Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Margaret Schoeffel, 78
ESCONDIDO - Margaret Grace Schoeffel, 78, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000, at her home.
Born Dec. 21, 1921, in Chicago, she lived in Escondido for 15 years. She was a school clerk for the Cook County school system in Illinois for 13 years and a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church in San Marcos.
Mrs. Schoeffel is survived by her husband, George Schoeffel of Escondido; sons and daughters-in-law Thomas Quirke of Chicago, Ill., Brian Quirke and Maryelen Zagotta of Homewood, Ill., William and Hollie Quirke of New Lennox, Ill., and Terence and Joan Quirke of Tinley Park, Ill.; sisters Dolores Lotter of Homewood, Ill., and Catherine DiSanto of Flossmore, Ill.; and 13 grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be held at Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church in Illinois. Inurnment will take place at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Worth, Ill. A private cremation is planned.
Allen Brothers Mortuary, San Marcos Chapel, is handling arrangements.
Winston Stewart, 67
VISTA - Winston G. Stewart, 67, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000, at his home.
Born July 29, 1932, in Butler, Okla., he lived in San Diego County for 52 years. He was a truck driver for CPS Pumping Service for 30 years.
Mr. Stewart is survived by his wife of 48 years, Shirley Stewart of Vista; daughters Terry Forsberg of Tampa, Fla., and Cynthia Corvinus of Alamogordo, N.M.; brother Robert Stewart of Boise, Idaho; sisters Lula Schledwitz of Boise and Lois Fleming of San Diego; and six grandchildren.
A private cremation is planned with cremains to be scattered at sea.
Allen Brothers Mortuary, San Marcos Chapel, is handling arrangements.
Edna Merrick-McArthur, 87
ESCONDIDO - Edna Helen Matilda Merrick-McArthur, 87, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000, in Escondido.
Born Dec. 2, 1912, in East Lincoln, she lived in Escondido. She served on the board of directors for North County Serenity House in Escondido for 13 years.
Mrs. Merrick-McArthur is survived by her husband, Mac McArthur.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at North County Serenity House in Escondido.
The family suggests memorial donations to North County Serenity House Edna McArthur Scholarship Fund, 130 S. Fig St., Escondido, CA 92025.
Melvin Keffer, 89
ESCONDIDO - Melvin Park Keffer, 89, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000.
Born Dec. 12, 1910, in Carmen, Okla., he lived in Escondido for 42 years. He was a teacher for the San Marcos Unified School District for 18 years.
Mr. Keffer is survived by his wife of 67 years, Juanita Keffer; son Jim Keffer of La Mesa; daughters Melvita Chicone of Mira Mesa and Phoebe Gentis of Corona; and grandchildren Desiree, Shane and Tyler Gentis and Jenna and Emeri Keffer.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Light and Life Free Methodist Church in Escondido.
His body was donated to Loma Linda University School of Medical Science for research.
The family suggests memorial donations to the scholarship fund at Light and Life Christian Day School, 120 N. Ash, Escondido, CA 92027.
Ramon Ratekin, 83
SAN MARCOS - Ramon Dale "Jack" Ratekin, 83, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000, at a local convalescent home.
Born Sept. 8, 1916, in Rulo, Neb., he lived in San Marcos for 20 years. He was a quality controller for Knudson Co. and worked in the creamery business for 62 years. He was a member of the Demolay Saxophone Quartet in high school, performing live radio shows. He attended the University of Nebraska and served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans.
Mr. Ratekin is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lulu E. Ratekin of San Marcos; son and daughter-in-law James S. and Patty Ratekin of Garden Grove; and granddaughter Jennifer Ratekin of Vista.
A private service and cremation are planned.
Allen Brothers Mortuary, San Marcos Chapel, is handling arrangements.
