Bertha Cupp, 92
RAMONA - Bertha E. Cupp, 92, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001, in San Diego County.
Born Feb. 6, 1908, in Washington, Kan., she lived in Hemet for 33 years and had lived in Inglewood for many years. She moved to Ramona one year ago. She was a member of the Community Christian Church of Hemet and a volunteer for the Red Cross, receiving awards for her service to the Blood Bank. She enjoyed leather crafting.
Mrs. Cupp is survived by her daughters, Jean Thornton of Mission Viejo and Linda Dowle of Ramona; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Community Christian Church in Hemet, with the Rev. John Scott officiating. A private interment will take place at Inglewood Park Cemetery, where she will be buried next to her husband.
The family suggests memorial donations to Community Christian Church, 41762 Stetson, Hemet, CA 92543.
Bonham Bros. & Lee Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Marguerite Swerdfeger, 83
ESCONDIDO - Marguerite Swerdfeger, 83, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, in Escondido.
Born Nov. 22, 1917, in Harrisonville, Mo., she lived in Imperial County most of her life and moved to Escondido in 1997. She graduated from Central Union High School in El Centro and worked as chief probation officer of Imperial County before retiring in 1973.
Mrs. Swerdfeger was preceded in death by her husband, Wilmer A. Swerdfeger Jr., on Oct. 23, 1971. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Wilmer Allen III and Nancie Swerdfeger of Bakersfield; daughters and son-in-law Marigene Roberts of El Cajon and Julie Ann and Mike Burton of Valley Center; brother and sister-in-law Joe and Jeanette Hurst of Oceanside; sisters and brothers-in-law Bernice and Joe Qualls of Apple Valley and Barbara and Ed Blackman of El Centro and Fort Collins, Colo.; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
No formal service will be held at the request of the deceased. A private cremation will be held. A casual luncheon celebrating her life will be held at noon Sunday, Jan. 21, at the home of Mike and Julie Burton at 14783 Cool Valley Rancho Road in Valley Center, (760) 749-7361.
Leonard Murray, 93
ESCONDIDO - Leonard D. Murray, 93, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, from complication of a stroke, at his home.
Born Oct. 8, 1907, in Seattle, he lived in Escondido for 40 years. He attended Seattle Prep Catholic High School and was an assistant territory accountant for Union Oil Co. before retiring in 1970 after more than 42 years. He served in the Home Defense Infantry during World War II and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Escondido.
Mr. Murray was preceded in death by his mother and father, Jessie Elizabeth McConville and Daniel Cameron Murray; brother Donald Murray; and sisters Geraldine and Evelyn Murray. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, R. Elizabeth Fair Murray of Escondido; son and daughter-in-law Gerald Robert and Judith Murray of Roosevelt, Utah; daughter and son-in-law Barbara Jean and Greg Meyer of Enumclaw, Wash.; grandchildren Craig Leonard Murray, Eric George Murray and Jon Thomas Murray; and great-grandchildren Brandon Lee, Katelyn Elizabeth, Olivia Renee and Devon William Murray.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, March 25, at El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego.
El Camino Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Edward Pietrenka, 51
ESCONDIDO - Edward P. Pietrenka Jr., 51, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, in Escondido.
Born Jan. 17, 1949, in Chicago, he lived in Escondido for 14 years. He was a construction project manager for Von's grocery.
Mr. Pietrenka is survived by his wife of 24 years, Andrea Pietrenka of Escondido; son Eddie Pietrenka III of Escondido; daughter Becky Pietrenka of Escondido; and brother Mike Pietrenka of Escondido.
Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at McLeod Mortuary Chapel. A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. at the mortuary chapel, with interment following at 3 p.m. at Oak Hill Memorial Park.
McLeod Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Irene Halaka, 54
OCEANSIDE - Irene Edna Halaka, 54, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, of coronary failure, in La Jolla.
Born March 15, 1946, in Atlantic City, N.J., she lived in Oceanside for eight years. She was an entrepreneur.
Mrs. Halaka was preceded in death by her mother and father, Honora and Renta Crossley. She is survived by her husband of 20 years, Nabih Halaka of Oceanside; sons John Halaka and Ross Halaka, both of Los Angeles; brothers Walter Crossley of Coco Beach, Fla., and Louis Crossley of Miami; sisters Honora Matthews of Macon, Ga., and Isabel Perkins of Miami; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Eternal Hills Mortuary. A memorial service will follow. A private cremation is planned.
Eternal Hills Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Paul Pelletier, 58
RANCHO BERNARDO - Paul Alfred Pelletier, 58, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, at his home.
Born Nov. 24, 1942, in Fall River, Mass., he lived in Rancho Bernardo for 16 years. He was a procurement specialist at General Dynamics.
Mr. Pelletier is survived by his wife of 36 years, Paula Pelletier of Rancho Bernardo; son Paul Pelletier of Tierrasanta; daughters Renee Tactay of Escondido, Katherine Pelletier of Rancho Bernardo and Karen Pelletier of Encinitas; sister Jackie Pelletier of Buellton; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Escondido, with the Rev. James Rafferty officiating. Inurnment will take place at Oak Hill Memorial Park.
Poway-Bernardo Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Lerona Dow, 93
SAN DIEGO - Lerona "Lil" Adell Dow, 93, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, at Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Born Aug. 30, 1907, in St. Paul, Minn., she lived in San Diego for 43 years.
Mrs. Dow was preceded in death by her daughter, Cheryl Dow, in 1943; son Robert Dow in 1994; and husband John Dow in 1979. She is survived by her son and daughters-in-law, Ralph Dow of Las Vegas, Madeline Dow of Oakland and Doris Dow of Vista; daughter and son-in-law Marlys JoAnne Anderson of San Diego and Jim Anderson of Escondido; brothers and sisters-in-law George and Joyce Oleen of Sartell, Minn., Walter and Virginia Oleen of Mesa, Ariz., and Gordon and Carolyn Oleen of Princeton, Minn.; sisters and brother-in-law Dorothy Blomquist of Milaca, Minn., and Helen and Wayne Molin of New Brighton, Minn.; grandchildren Corrine Dow of Washington, Christopher Dow of Oakland, Travis Dow of Nashville, Tenn., and Tim Dow of San Diego; and great-grandchildren Evan Buche, Francis Sweeney and Natalya Sweeney.
Visitation and viewing will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. today, Jan. 17, at Eternal Hills Chapel. A funeral service will take place at 1:30 p.m. today at the mortuary chapel, with Chaplain Frank Dorset officiating. Burial will take place at Eternal Hills Memorial Park.
Eternal Hills Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Marjorie Lane, 88
VISTA - Marjorie Chamlee Lane, 88, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001, at Tri-City Medical Center.
Born Oct. 22, 1912, in Cordell, Okla., she lived in Vista for 37 years. She was a special education teacher for the Vista Unified School District for 20 years and was a member of PEO, the Community of Christian Family Ministry and had been a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Vista.
Ms. Lane is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at all Saints Episcopal Church in Vista, with the Revs. Richard Bowman and Dennis Kelly officiating. A private cremation is planned, with burial to take place at Episcopal Church Conference Center Columbarium in Oakhurst.
Allen Bros. Mortuary, Vista Chapel, is handling arrangements.
Victor Tomei, 84
VISTA - Victor John Tomei, 84, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at Rancho Vista Healthcare.
Born Feb. 6, 1916, in Port Angeles, he lived in Vista for one year. He was the owner of Tomei Construction in Los Angeles for 30 years and served in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Tomei is survived by his son, Michale Tomei of San Fernando Valley; brother Edward Tomei of Bonsall; and two grandchildren.
No formal service is planned. A private cremation will be held with cremains to be scattered at sea.
Allen Bros. Mortuary, Vista Chapel, is handling arrangements.
Louis Blohm, 84
VALLEY CENTER - Louis A. Blohm, 84, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001, at his home.
Born June 20, 1916, in Waukegan, Ill., he lived in Valley Center for 16 years. He worked for San Diego Gas & Electric before retiring in 1971 and was a maintenance supervisor for Pauma Valley Country Club.
Mr. Blohm is survived by his wife of 60 years, Doris M. Blohm of Valley Center; daughter Loris Parker of Valley Center; sister Hellen Bell of Iola, Kan.; and grandson Richard Louis Parker of Valley Center.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Valley Center Community Church, with the Rev. John Sale officiating. A private cremation is planned.
Preferred Funeral Alternatives in San Marcos is handling arrangements.
Philip Pavelko, 81
SOLANA BEACH - Philip Pavelko, 81, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2001, at Scripps Memorial Encinitas.
Born April 30, 1919, in Puyallup, Wash., he lived in Solana Beach. He was a home builder before retiring and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a charter member of Elks Lodge in Oregon.
Mr. Pavelko is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dorcas Pavelko of Solana Beach; brother Charles Pavelko of Del Mar; and many nieces and nephews.
His cremains will be scattered at sea.
Telophase Cremation Society in San Marcos is handling arrangements.
Chester Piotrowski, 70
ESCONDIDO - Chester C. Piotrowski, 70, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001, in Escondido.
Born Nov. 4, 1930, in Chicago, he lived in San Diego County for 23 years. He was an estimator for heating and air conditioning and served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1958.
Mr. Piotrowski is survived by his wife, Emilia Pietrowski of Escondido; and daughters Kathie Barnett of Escondido and Julia Thrower of San Francisco.
Visitation and viewing will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., with a rosary recited at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at McLeod Mortuary. A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Resurrection Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park.
McLeod Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Donald Truman
ESCONDIDO - Donald William Truman died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, in Escondido.
He was born in Iowa and served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He graduated from UC Berkeley and worked as a microbiologist for Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, for 26 years.
Mr. Truman is survived by his wife of 47 years, Cathleen Truman of Escondido; daughters Lori Truman of Escondido and Aimee Grabau of Temecula; and three grandchildren.
A private cremation is planned with a memorial service to be held at a later date in Iowa.
Jose Rocha, 80
CARLSBAD - Jose J. Rocha, 80, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001.
Born Nov. 11, 1920, in Washington, D.C., he lived in Carlsbad for 16 years. He attended Catholic University and South Eastern University in Washington, D.C., and served in the U.S. Navy Intelligence Service during World War II. He specialized in inertial guidance systems for military and civilian use working as staff engineer for North American Aviation Corp. in Los Angeles and as an executive with A.C. Electronics in Goleta, where he retired in 1972. He was a key contributor to the first inertial guidance system used in commercial Boeing 747s. He worked as a broker, property appraiser and business owner in the Santa Barbara area. He was a woodworker and earned a pilot's license.
Mr. Rocha is survived by his wife, Dorothy Shaw; sons Ronald Rocha of Swampscott, Mass., and Gil Rocha of Portland, Ore.; daughters Natalie Hebbron of Shingle Springs, Julia Hoyt of Santa Barbara, Maria Simpson of Phoenix; and sister Gloria Lojacono of Laguna Niguel.
The family suggests memorial donations to St. John's College High School, 2607 Military R.N.W., Washington, DC 20015.
Esther Schupbach, 95
ESCONDIDO - Esther Corey Schupbach, 95, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001.
Born Oct. 21, 1905, in Salinas, she lived in Salinas until she was 5 and has lived in Escondido since 1986. She attended Gregg District School, a one-room school in Yuma, Ariz., and graduated from Yuma High School. She attended San Diego State.
Mrs. Schupbach was preceded in death by her son, William C. Lewis, in May 2000. She is survived by her sons, Robert J. Lewis of Escondido and Barry W. Schupbach of Arcadia; grandchildren Stephen and Michael Lewis of Escondido, Erica Lewis of Livermore, Jacklynn Cox of Orem, Utah, Carrie Sheppard of Citrus Heights, Lynne Holton of Apple Valley, Nicholas and Matthew Schupbach of Arcadia; and nine great-grandchildren.
A private inurnment will be held at Oak Hill Memorial Park.
Robert Anderson, 73
CARLSBAD - Robert Anderson, 73, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, in Mexico.
Born Feb. 15, 1927, in Michigan, he lived in Carlsbad for 12 years. He was self-employed before retiring in 1998 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps before retiring as lieutenant colonel.
Mr. Anderson is survived by his companion of nine years, Heidi Hayes of Carlsbad; son Gregg Anderson of Palm Desert; daughters and son-in-law Kristi and Michael Selover of Roscoe, Ill., and Noelle Anderson of Cathedral City; brother and sister-in-law Larry and Lela Anderson of Palatka, Fla.; sister and brother-in-law Betty and Harry Zrakas of Niantic, Conn.; and grandchildren Sammy, Danika, Noah, Jacob, Zachary, Nickolas and Trenton.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. today, Jan. 17, at Eternal Hills Mortuary. A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the mortuary chapel, with Dr. Richard L. Miller officiating.
The family suggests memorial donations to the American Heart Association, 3640 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103.
Eternal Hills Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Rodney Dunn, 9
CAMP PENDLETON - Rodney "Loy" Dunn III, 9, died Tuesday, Jan. 2, in Chino.
Born April 8, 1991, in Bethesda, Md., he lived in Camp Pendleton for seven years. He attended school in Fallbrook, National City and Oceanside Unified at Stuart Mesa Elementary. He enjoyed family outings, bus rides, school, playing and being close to his twin brother.
Rodney "Loy" was preceded in death by his grandfather, Kent Whyte; and uncle Erik Whyte. He is survived by his mother and father, Katy and Staff Sergeant Rodney Dunn II of Camp Pendleton; twin brother Lukas K. Dunn of Camp Pendleton; grandparents Joanne Whyte of Goldfield, Iowa, Rod and Monorae Dunn of Clarkston, Mich., James and Janet Wiegert of Davisburg, Mich.; great-grandparents Hayword and Betty Dunn, Pat and Gay Tinson, Gerald and Pauline St.. Souver, all of Michigan; great-uncle Bill and aunt Barbara of Fortuna, Calif.; great-aunts Marylyn Wilson of Goldfield, Iowa, and Teresa Weed of Waterford, Mich.; and many more aunts, uncles and cousins in California, Iowa and Michigan.
A memorial service was held on January 5 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Fallbrook. A cremation service will take place in early summer in Goldfield, Iowa.
Donald Truman
ESCONDIDO - Donald William Truman died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, in Escondido.
He was born in Iowa and served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He graduated from UC Berkeley and worked as a microbiologist for Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, for 26 years.
Mr. Truman is survived by his wife of 47 years, Cathleen Truman of Escondido; daughters Lori Truman of Escondido and Aimee Grabau of Temecula; and three grandchildren.
A private cremation is planned with a memorial service to be held at a later date in Iowa.
