James Randall “Stoney” Burke, 61, of Idyllwild, died Sunday, March 5, 2006 at home. He was born Jan. 29, 1945 in Memphis, Tenn., and moved to Idyllwild 35 years ago after serving in both the U.S. Navy and the National Guard. After moving to Idyllwild, he worked as an equipment operator for Riverside County. He…
Zelvin “Zel” Don Lowman, 84, passed away during the night of Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006. Mr. Lowman was a full-time Idyllwild resident from May 2002 to July 2004. He was born in McCune, Kan., on Sept. 8, 1921. He attended Western State College in Gunnison, Colo., and went off to midshipman’s school during World War…
Dorothy L. Townsend, 90, of Idyllwild, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006 at home of natural causes. She was born June 1, 1915 in Great Falls, Mont. Mrs. Townsend grew up in Montana and met her future husband, Bruce, while they were attending college in Colorado. He was studying to be a teacher and she was…
Frank Aloysius Vrabel, 71, of Idyllwild, went to be with his Lord on Monday, Jan. 30, 2006. He was born July 25, 1934 in Johnstown, Pa. Mr. Vrabel was an artist, a sculptor, a gemologist, a poet and an author. A Christian Mass of Burial was held Feb. 6 at St. Louise de Mirallac in…
Scott Stephen Allen, 49, of Idyllwild, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006 at Eisenhower Medical Center of a blood clot. He was born Dec. 16, 1956 in Riverside to Donald E. and Lillian Nacco Allen. Mr. Allen was a construction supervisor for 16 years. He also was a member of the National Rifle Association and Safari…
Dale Spickler, for many years not just a representation of Santa Claus, but just as in “Miracle on 34th Street,” the embodiment of the spirit, if not the actual Kris Kringle, passed away on Wednesday evening, June 21, 2006, at his home in Idyllwild. His kind eyes, gentle voice and twinkling ready smile, whether in…
Faye B. Smart, 88, formerly of Garner Valley, died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006 in Pasadena. She was born April 28, 1917 in Littleport, Iowa. Mrs. Smart was retired from Security Pacific bank in Hemet. From 1984 to 1987, she wrote a Garner Valley news column, “GV news notes,” for the Town Crier. The Neptune Society…
Nita Finney, former executive secretary during the early days of ISOMATA (now Idyllwild Arts), died Jan. 30 of a chronic heart condition, according to her son, Brian Finney. Finney was 95 and living in Gig Harbor, Wash., when she died. Mrs. Finney worked with Max Krone, ISOMATA founder, until he retired in 1967. When she…
Jesse Francis Watkins, 80 of Anza, died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006 at home of natural causes. He was born July 16, 1925 in Decatur, Ill. Mr. Watkins served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. He was in the 467th Bomb Group, the 789th Bomb Squadron, serving 23…
Robert A. Palmer, 88, of Hemet, died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006 at home. He was born Dec. 12, 1917 in Pasadena. Mr. Palmer served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and the Korean War. He was a teacher and administrator at Hemet High School from 1953 to 1983. Mr. Palmer lived…
