Richard “Buz” French passed away Monday, March 8, 2010. He was born in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 21, 1932, the son of Emmett and Mary French of Pomona, who predeceased him. He served in the U.S. Army until 1952. He was part owner of the Agitator Shop, a family appliance store. It was the largest…

Long-time Idyllwild resident Patsy Ann Ball, 74, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007, following a heart attack. Patsy was born in Oakland, and met her husband of 52 years, Hal Ball, while attending the College of the Pacific in Stockton. The two moved to Southern California in the late 1950s and raised their three…

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Bob Beebe, a 30-year resident of Idyllwild, relates the news of his passing Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at his home in Hemet. Bob came to Idyllwild as a teacher in language and music at the famed Desert Sun School, but very soon became recognized as a…

Leland M. Swanson, 82, of Hemet, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, in Hemet. He was born the fourth of seven children to Rueben and Bernice Swanson on April 12, 1921, in Walla Walla, Wash. He graduated from WaHi in 1939. Mr. Swanson worked for the Walla Walla Union Bulletin as a paper carrier in his…

Craig L. Slawson, 60, who had lived in Idyllwild since he was 7, died Wednesday, May 11, 2005 in his sleep. He kept this poem framed on his wall and those who knew him would agree that he lived by these words by William Penn: “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any…

John Warren Blair Sr., 78, of Idyllwild, died of emphysema on Friday, Jan. 28, 2000, at Vencor Hospital in Ontario. Mr. Blair was born February 13, 1921, in Dallas, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He taught at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga for 35 years – including English for…