Charles Louis Beck Jr.
January 31, 2009
Charles Louis “Bud” Beck, Jr.
Bud was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 1, 1926, the son of Eileen and Charles Louis Beck, Sr. He moved as a young boy with his mom and dad to Phoenix, Arizona where he attended St. Francis-Xavier primary school. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in May, 1944 and immediately enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17. While training in the Philippines for the mainland invasion of Japan, Bud was injured during a parachute jump and refused discharge. He recovered and was aboard a troop ship off the coast of Japan as his division was to be one of the first to land, when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the Japanese surrender, he went ashore with the U.S. Army of occupation and spent a year in Okinawa. After being discharged from the U.S. Army in l946, Bud Beck attended the University of Arizona where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration in l950. On April 16, 1953, he married Leona “Lee” Barbara Kangieser and they had four children; Kimberlee Ann, Charles Louis III “Chip”, Cynthia Lee and Melissa Eileen “Lisa”. In l967, after many successful years in the automobile business working for the Ford Motor Company, Madison Motors, Paradise Ford and Coulter Cadillac, Bud Beck founded the original Pontiac and GMC Truck dealership in Scottsdale, Arizona. For the next 30 years, Bud Beck Pontiac-GMC was one of the largest volume Pontiac dealerships in the western United States. Bud had also served as a past President of the Scottsdale Automobile Dealers Association and on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Country Club. Bud passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Scottsdale home on January 31 and is survived by all four of his children and eight grandchildren; Lindsey, Christina, Kristopher, Sabrina, Charley, Cody, Dylan and Jared. God bless you dad, we love you, and we miss you. Visitation and Prayer Service will be from 6:00-8:00pm on Friday, February 6, at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 East Indian School Road. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 7, at 10:00am, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 3801 North Miller Road, Scottsdale.
Senon A Castillo
January 31, 2009
Senon A. “Baldy” Castillo, 90, went to sleep with the angels on January 31, 2009, with his family by his side. Baldy was born January 19, 1919 in Phoenix to Carlos and Natividad Ortega Castillo. He excelled as an athlete at Phoenix Union High School and Phoenix College. He served in the Navy as Chief Petty Officer from 1942 to 1946. After the Navy he attended Arizona State University and graduated with a degree in education. He served as head Track and Field Coach at Arizona State University from 1953-1979. He led his student athletes to 10 NCAA titles and coached 34 All-Americans. 24 of his athletes competed in eight Summer Olympics and collected 13 Olympic medals, seven of which were gold. One of his greatest accomplishments was when his team won the Track and Field national Championship in l977. After winning the championship he was dunked in the steeple chase water jump and in a typical “Baldy” fashion he addressed his athletes with “Gentlemen” it’s been a pleasure”. He was highly honored throughout the Track and Field community. He was an inductee in the Oklahoma State Field of Track and Field Hall of Honor, Penn Relays and Drake Relays Hall of Fame, national Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Arizona Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame and ASU Hall of Distinction. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Leona, son David Susan, daughter Claudia Jim Foster granddaughters Megan David Ramirez, Missy Dana Malone, grandsons Garrett Samantha Foster and Adam Foster. Great-grandchildren Marissa, Lauren, Marcus and Sydney Ramirez, Mia and Isabelle Malone, Scarlett Foster and sister Anna Duran. A Vigil Service will be held Thursday, February 5, from 6:00-8:00pm, at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Funeral Mass will be held Friday at 11:00am at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Baldy’s name to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix.
R Russell Webb
January 28, 2009
R. Russell Webb, a lifelong resident of Phoenix, AZ, passed away Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the age of 83. Ross was born to an Arizona Pioneer family on March 27, 1925 and was the youngest of four siblings – Robert, Wayne and Roberta – to parents Robert and Ora Webb. After his Navel Service during WWII, aboard the USS Lesington in the Pacific, he attended Arizona Teacher College ASU and earned a degree in Accounting, his lifelong profession, and later earned his Masters Degree from the same university. He married Grace Beatrice Duffy on June 14, 1948 and had two children – Chris Webb Barnes and Robert E. Lee Webb. Upon Grace’s passing, he married Dorothy Ann Stanton on December 12, 1981. Russ’ legacy includes the countless humorous stories that will endure forever in time, his devotion to his many friends and family, his work ethic and the impeccable advice he offered. After his retirement from the Arizona Highway Patrol as Business Manager, he enjoyed family gatherings, fourwheeling, metal detecting, friends, preparing income taxes, computers, cats and dogs, Arizona and of course, the company of his supportive wife Dorothy. Russ leaves behind wife, Dorothy, daughter Chris Barnes, son-in-law Jack Barnes, son Robert Webb, his wife Cheryl Webb and two grandchildren, Leigh Brittany Webb and Lindsay Grace Webb. A service commemorating his life will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009, at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road at 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St. Phoenix, AZ. 85014-5656.
Jordan Krisman Sterling
January 28, 2009
Jordan Krisman Sterling died peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix on January 28, 2009.
He was born in Phoenix on September 4, 1974 and was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 22 months old. He attended Phoenix Country Day School and Ingleside Elementary School and graduated from Brophy College Preparatory School in 1993. Four years later, he earned a BS degree in Finance from Santa Clara University. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He returned to Arizona in 1998 and worked in the real-estate and mortgage industries, where he was well-known for his honesty.
In 2001, Jordan underwent a successful double-lung transplant at Stanford University Medical Center. With his new lungs, Jordan embraced life. He worked, dated, golfed, hunted, fished, and raised his beloved yellow Labs Annie and Maggie. He sat on the boards of the Lung Center at the Tucson Medical Center and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Phoenix. He raised money for the CF foundation. He mentored families with CF children and was happy to share his experience with those considering a lung transplant.
Jordan was cherished by a large family that honored his will to live. He enjoyed a beautiful circle of true friends. He focused on living for as long as possible in the best way possible. He fought mounting health battles throughout 2008 with hope, determination, courage and humor.
He is survived by his mother, Kim Sterling-Heflin; his father, Walter H. Sterling Jr.; his sister, Brooke Paine Sterling; his brother, Walter H. Sterling III, stepmother Terry Greene Sterling; stepfather William L. Heflin; stepsisters Kristina Greene McNeff Erich Hintze Sara Greene McCauley Hugh McCauley Heidi Heflin Matthews Rob Matthews; stepbrothers JD Heflin, Scott Heflin Johanna Heflin and 73 loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his very dear friends Laura Hart Burdick and Michael Melczer, as well as grandparents Dorothy and Walter H. Sterling, Mary Jane and Emil Michael Krisman; step-grandmother Sandy “Mo” Greene Lewis; step-grandfather Charles Whitehouse Heflin and great aunt and great uncle Doris and Jordan Paine.
Memorials may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 3800 North Central Avenue, Suite 700, Phoenix, AZ 85012 or to the Lung Transplant Program at St. St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, 500 West Thomas Road, Suite 500, Phoenix, AZ 85013.
Carl Edward Pachek
January 28, 2009
Carl Edward Pachek
Born March 29, 1926, Carl went home to his eternal rest on January 28, 2009. He was a man of great faith who had a deep love for his family. In his career with the Soil Conservation Service, he worked to save God’s beautiful earth. Additionally, through his volunteer service with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society at St. Agnes Church, he taught others to sow the seeds of compassion and reap the benefits of love. Carl and Therese, married for 56 years were blessed with 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He is also survived by 1 sister, 2 sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law, as well as many extended family members who love him deeply. A Rosary will be held at 9:30 am, Monday, February 2nd at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1954 North 24th Street in Phoenix. A Mass to celebrate his life will follow at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Agnes Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 1954 N. 24th St., Phoenix 85008.
Elinore G Burke
January 28, 2009
Elinore “Ellie” Burke
Elinore Geare Burke, 83, born in Phoenix in 1925, died in Phoenix on January 28, several days after a stroke. She was the daughter of Jim and Ina Geare, and little sister to Dorothy Geare Del Rae and Jimmy Geare, all now passed. The sprawling Geare family owned and operated the Central Avenue Dairy, whose horse-drawn delivery wagons were part of the morning ritual in nearly every Phoenix neighborhood. The dairy was located north of the city limits in a rural area that now is the site of Park Central Mall and St. Joseph’s Hospital. Pastures extended
from Central and Thomas to Indian School Road and 15th Avenue. As a student attending St. Mary’s High School, Ellie took the Third Street trolley to downtown. Her sweetheart was Bud Burke, who worked at his family’s drug store, Beverly Burke Pharmacy, across from St. Mary’s. In 1944, as Bud was
heading off to the Pacific Theater of World War II, they were married in Phoenix’s Brophy Chapel. The earthly portion of their union would survive the 64 years and 10 months until her passing, which happened with Bud still at her side. As a young mother, Ellie was active in the community, volunteering at the Golden Gate Settlement House and other organizations. She served as president of the Brophy Prep Mother’s Guild and as chairwoman of the Phoenix Junior League’s annual charity sale. She volunteered for the Arizona Historical Society, conducting their oral histories of Arizona pioneers. She was an active member of the Valley Field Riding and Polo Club, the Phoenix Country Club, the women’s auxiliary of
Rotary 100 and other organizations. Her crisp, sometimes almost royal appearance –or so her children thought– and her kindliness set a standard among the many families of her acquaintance. Friend John Haldiman called her “Saint Ellie.” She entertained Bud’s interesting friends in their Phoenix home, including Ty Cobb, Margaret Whiting and many others. She was curious and adventurous of spirit, and rang the opening bell one morning at the New York Stock Exchange. She was a constant source of encouragement to her husband, to her two children, and to everyone. She introduced her children to literature and music by making reading a part of her family’s life and by taking them to concerts downtown whenever visiting musicians, from jazz to classical, came to the Phoenix Union Auditorium. She is survived by her husband, Bud, by their daughter, Kathleen Butler and by Kathleen’s children, Beverly Damore and husband Dave, Stephen Butler and wife Dana and their children Cody and Ella. She is survived also by their son, Dennis M. Burke and his wife Maureen West, and by grandchildren Austin and Lauren Burke and their partners, Elanna Cahn and Jay Driskell. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance 2831 N. 31st Ave, Phx 85009 in Ellie’s name. She would be the first to remind us that these are difficult times for many families, and we all must open our hearts. Shortly after their wedding, Ellie borrowed a car and drove across the deserts of New Mexico and Texas to be with Bud at an Army camp before he was shipped out. She was never away from his side if she could possibly help it. A memorial service will be held at Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central, this Monday, February 2nd, at 4 p.m.
Robert Robertson
January 26, 2009
No Obituary Submitted
Daniel Benites
January 26, 2009
Daniel Benites, age 59, of Phoenix, AZ passed away on January 26, 2009. Daniel served his country in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and was a Purple Heart recipient. Overcoming his injuries he retired from sheet metal work after 25 years. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Benites, Sr.; and is survived by his mother, Erlinda and siblings; Frank Jr., Eddie, David, Michael and Margie, sons; Daniel Lisa, Jimmy Anna, Manny Gabby, Gabriel Jackie also survived by the daughter he never had, Angela Chavez-Weld; grandchildren; Tori, Amber, Brianna, Analisa, Noah, Michael, Ariana, Christina and many cousins, nephews and nieces. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, January 30, 2009 Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 909 E. Washington Street, Phoenix. Arrangements under the direction of Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home.
Linda L Porter
January 24, 2009
No Obituary Submitted
Frank Vito Scopa
January 23, 2009
Frank V. Scopa, 95, of Phoenix, died Friday, January 23 from complications due to age. He was born December 1, 1913 in Simbario, Italy. He emigrated to the United States at age 17 and was a coal miner in Lynch, Kentucky. Mr. Scopa was drafted into the Army on July 8, 1941 and was Honorably Discharged September, 1945. He received four Campaign Stars for the time served from the attack on Pearl Harbor until the war ended. He was a Pearl Harbor Survivor. Mr. Scopa was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over sixty years and a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church for 45 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, two sisters and his beloved wife of 59 years Mary and daughter Kay M. Brannan. He is survived by his three children, Frank Jr., Vincent and Bobbie, 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Monday, February 2 at 10:30 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2312 E. Campbell Avenue with a viewing at the Church one hour before the Funeral Service. Interment will be at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery 48th St. and Oak St immediately following the Mass. A luncheon for family and friends will be lovingly served by the St. Thomas the Apostle Ladies Sodality following the Interment.
