OBITUARIES
Dennis John Vavricka
Sep 2, 2023
Dennis John Vavricka
Born April 24,1936 in Watertown, South Dakota to James and Mary(Schanil) Vavricka. Dennis grew up in Waverly, South Dakota. Graduated from high school in 1954. He worked for Gary's Photography Studio in Watertown. His passion for photography stayed with him throughout his life.
Dennis married Anita Konrady on September 6, 1958. He...
Sharon Lee Smith
Aug 30, 2023
Sharon Lee Smith, 82, of Ridgecrest, California passed away at her home on August 29, 2023, with her husband Ron by her side. She was born on June 9, 1941 in Bakersfield, California. Sharon was a kind, loving, and hospitable wife and mother who touched the lives of many.
Although she was born in Bakersfield, Sharon spent...
Claren Everett Hanks
Aug 28, 2023
Claren (Sonny) Everett Hanks was born January 6, 1941 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Everett and Zita Hanks. He passed away August 28, 2023 at home in Trona, California. He was 82 years old.
He moved to California as a teen. He moved to Trona in 1970 where he worked for Kerr McGee as a maintenance...
Maria Guadalupe Ruiz
Aug 20, 2023
Maria Ruiz passed away on August 20th, 2023. She was born in Apozol, Zacatecas (Mexico) on October 16, 1940. She was a resident of Trona, CA and then Ridgecrest, CA for a total of 62 years.
She lost her mother at the age of 15, therefore took on the role of being a mother figure to her...
Albert Alvarado
Aug 17, 2023
Al Alvarado was born in Pleasanton Texas on December 17th, 1938 to Alfred and Helen Alvarado. He grew up in Fresno, CA. Al served our country in the U.S. Navy.
Al entered his eternal home on August 17th 2023 in Lancaster California, at the Antelope Valley Hospital surrounded with love by his family. Al lived in Ridgecrest,...
Delores Faye Metz
Aug 9, 2023
Delores Metz, a beloved member of the Ridgecrest, California community, passed away on August 9, 2023, at the age of 67. Born on September 20, 1955, Delores was the daughter of Ray Isa Kee and Jimmie Davonia Gordon.
In 1973, Delores entered into a lifelong partnership with her loving spouse, Nickoles C. Metz Sr. Together, they built...
Virginia Agnes Young
Aug 7, 2023
Virginia A. Young was born in Bakersfield, California on June 28, 1935 and passed away peacefully on August 7, 2023. She spent many years working at the post office in Ridgecrest. She is survived by her son James out of Pennsylvania.
Betty Darlene Parlet
Aug 7, 2023
Betty Darlene Parlet was born on January 11, 1946, in Winner, South Dakota and died on August 7, 2023, in San Luis Obispo, California after a lengthy battle with cancer. Betty's early years were spent on a farm near Millboro, South Dakota.
Betty graduated from Winner High School in 1964. She attended Black Hills State University for...
Wilburn Gail Bennett
Aug 5, 2023
Wilburn "Ben" Bennett, 84, of Inyokern, California, passed away peacefully into eternity August 5, 2023. He was born in Sterling, Oklahoma on January 1,1939, son of Euel Bennett and Hazel Dickson. He graduated High School in 1957 and promptly joined the US Navy.
He completed boot camp in Astoria, Oregon before shipping out to Hawaii from 1958-1960. ...
Michael Taylor Danley
Jul 31, 2023
Long time resident, Michael Taylor Danley, 43 died July 31, 2023 in Panorama City, CA. He was born in San Diego, CA on September 20, 1979 to Chester Danley and Gayle R. Pinto.
Michael played football all through high school at Burroughs and Chapman University. He had many outstanding achievements for his athletic ability.
During...
Dorothy Marion Hasting
Jul 29, 2023
Dorothy Hasting was born July 16, 1924 in Philadelphia, PA to Austin Joseph Ounan and Dorothy Marion Ounan. She passed away on July 29, 2023 with loved ones by her side, just 13 days after celebrating her 99th birthday.
Dorothy's father died when she was 13 years old. She moved between homes of family members as she...
Ronald Jerry Ballard
Jul 29, 2023
Heaven has gained an amazing Angel! Ronald J Ballard, my hero, my fix anything, build anything, never say no dad passed away July 29th, 2023 with his family by his side. Ron as he was known had a full life beginning in Santa Monica, CA, going to military school in primary, playing football and the trumpet in High School...
Charles James Chapin
Jul 19, 2023
Charles James Chapin 52 years old passed away on July 19, 2023 at his home in Ridgecrest California.
Charles life may have been cut short, but he touched the hearts of many while he was with us. Charles was born on September 1, 1970...
Blanka Black
Jul 18, 2023
Blanka Black passed away at age 89 on July 18, 2023, after a long and full life. Blanka was predeceased by her husband Archie and her son Clay. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Collette & Mike Theis.
Her early life was hard. Blanka grew up in Rotenberg, Germany during WWII. Her family home was...
Russell David Petersen, Sr.
Jul 13, 2023
Russell David Petersen, Sr. passed away on July 13th, 2023, at the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, California.
He was born October 18th, 1960 in Torrance, California to Richard and Frances Petersen. At age 6, his family moved to Ridgecrest, California where his father had been stationed at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. He met the...
Clinton Philip Boomer
Jul 12, 2023
Clinton Philip Boomer was born in Oakland, CA on March 5, 1946, to Merton and Virginia Boomer, who both preceded him in death, as did his first wife of 40 years, Sharon Boomer, and his son in law, David Earle. Clint is survived by his second wife Cathy Boomer, her daughter, Christine Perry (Alonzo), his three children, Jennifer Erle,...
Naidelyne Jomaira Arana
Jul 9, 2023
Naidelyne J. Arana was born on February 27, 1998 in Ridgecrest, CA and passed away tragically, on July 09, 2023. Naidelyne was a beautiful soul filled with adventure and a love for life. Her service information is listed below.
Margaret Dale Brush
Jul 9, 2023
Margaret "Lit" Brush
With the death of Margaret "Lit" Brush on July 9, 2023 at Ridgecrest, CA, the Northern Mojave Desert has lost a priceless asset in the history of the Searles Valley. In a lifelong whirlwind of activity, she found and preserved priceless remnants of that history for the enjoyment and education of residents and visitors...
Steven Victor Cornett
Jul 7, 2023
Steven Victor Cornett passed away at his home in Ridgecrest on Friday, July 7 2023 due to complications of Multiple Sclerosis. Steve was born in Ridgecrest on March 15 1957 to Nathaniel and Helen Cornett. He was a member of the Burroughs Class of '75, where he played Varsity football his freshman through senior years. Following high school he...
Wesley William Mathewson
Jul 3, 2023
Wes Mathewson, 83, resident of Ridgecrest CA for 42 years passed away on July 3, 2023, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He passed away at his home with his loving family by his side.
Wes is survived by his wife Joan of 42 years. He was preceded in death by his son Christopher and sister Jolene...
