OBITUARIES
MaryAnn Burke
May 13, 2026
MaryAnn Burke went home to be with our Lord May 13, 2026. She was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, December 16, 1935, to John Peter & Ruth Mehl Ost. As a child, she and her sister Barbara never got to stay anywhere too long. Her dad was a mining engineer from the Colorado School of Mines, so they lived in places...
Rosalie Bignall Ferguson
May 12, 2026
Early in the morning of May 12, 2026, Rosalie Bignall Ferguson slipped from this life to return home to Heavenly Father and her husband, Bryant Ferguson, to move forward in the next chapter of their eternal journey.
Rosalie was born May 26, 1934, to Bliss and Reva Bignall in Grace, Idaho. The family moved to Heber City, UT when she was...
Janet Lorraine Dake
May 11, 2026
Janet (Moniz) Dake, 90, was born in Hayward California the third of four children. In her youth, she helped with her family’s mini-farm growing vegetables, caring for chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs and also helped harvest apricots from their small orchard.
When Janet married in 1963, she moved to Ridgecrest CA where she and her husband Jim raised their three children. Janet...
Alice Penelope "Penny" Raymond
May 3, 2026
"Alice Penelope “Penny” Raymond passed away on May 3, 2026, in North Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 73. She was born on July 17, 1952, in Midland, Texas, to Beverly and George Kirkpatrick.
Penny lived in Ridgecrest, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, and Pahrump throughout her life, with Las Vegas being her longtime home for more than 30 years. She...
Wanda Louise Church
May 1, 2026
Wanda Louise (Bryant) Church passed peacefully from this beautiful world on May 1, 2026, in Ridgecrest, CA. She was born on October 24, 1934, in Knoxville, TN, to William E. Bryant and Lula (Spurgeon) Bryant.
Wanda’s childhood was spent roaming the hills of Tennessee with her dog and cat, developing an early and lifelong love of animals, gardening, reading, and the...
Susan Judith Gill Dunn
Apr 30, 2026
Susan Judith Gill Dunn, 60, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Susan spent most of her life in California before recently moving to Huntsville, Alabama. She will be remembered for her love of NASCAR, her little dog Gracie, and a good cup of coffee—simple joys that brought her comfort and happiness.
She is survived by her two daughters, Ashley Molato and...
Jeffrey Maurice Black
Apr 23, 2026
Jeffrey Maurice Black would have been happy spending every living hour on his dirt bike.
Jeff passed away peacefully with close family by his side on April 23rd 2026. Jeff was 62 years old at the time of his passing. Jeff was born in Eureka California and moved with his family to Inyokern in his early childhood years. He acclimated well...
Norman "Mike" Michael Kauppi
Apr 20, 2026
Norman Michael “Mike” Kauppi, 68, passed away suddenly on April 20, 2026, at Riverside Community Hospital with his beloved wife and brother-in-law by his side.Mike was born on March 25, 1958, in Virginia, Minnesota, to Norman and Carol Kauppi. Though shy as a child, he grew into a talented athlete and became a high school basketball standout while attending Aurora-Hoyt...
Samuel Alexander Perez
Apr 11, 2026
Sammy was born on June 4, 2009. He was a very loving and joyful young man. No matter the circumstances he never failed to make people laugh, Sammy loved to worship the Lord and spread God's love towards everyone. Until his last moments he praised the Lord.
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an...
Trammell Glenn Robinson II
Apr 8, 2026
TRAMMELL GLENN ROBINSON, II (AKA MEL & DEUCE)
A native of Ridgecrest, California, Mel was born to Glenn and Linda Robinson on July 31, 1993. Deuce completed his journey and was called home to be with the Lord on April 8, 2026.He was preceded in death by his mother, Linda Robinson. He is survived by his father, Trammell Glenn Robinson; sisters...
Michael Wayne Dowd
Apr 7, 2026
Michael Dowd passed away peacefully on April 7 from complications of his dementia. His battle was brief, but he is no longer struggling. He was born on December 12, 1952, in London, Kentucky. Mike’s mom, Royce, moved Mike and his brother, Dale, to Ridgecrest, when Mike was 2 years old. She met and married Johnny Dowd. He raised Mike and...
Jonathan Hansen Perry
Apr 6, 2026
Jonathan Hansen Perry, 28, of Ridgecrest, California, passed away on April 6, 2026.
Born on October 5, 1997, Jonathan was raised in Ridgecrest, where he built a life surrounded by friends, family, and the outdoors he loved so much. Jonathan carried a light within him that never dimmed. He was known for his happiness, his resilience, and his willingness to help...
David Enrico Belasco
Apr 4, 2026
Mr. David Enrico Belasco, 52, passed away from cancer on April 4, 2026. David was born in Germany on a
Military Institution to Burton Belasco and Iris Belasco (née Fiorio) David was a resident of Ridgecrest since 2008.
David has been employed by NAWS CHLK since arriving in Ridgecrest.
He is survived by his loving wife of 10 years, Amy Belasco (née Ferguson-Smith),...
John Edward McElwain
Apr 3, 2026
John Edward McElwain passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on April 3, 2026. John was born to Burl and Inez McElwain towards the end of WWII in Claremore OK where his parents had a café and gas station on Route 66. Hunting, fishing, farming, football and church were a way of life in Oklahoma and Kansas where...
Barbara "Barb" Jean Davies
Apr 1, 2026
Barbara “Barb” Jean DaviesIn the early hours of April 1, 2026, Barbara Jean Davies passed away in her sleep.
She is survived by her son, Griff Davies and his wife Cherri and Son-In-Law Joe Knight.
A graveside service will be held on 26 June 2026 at 1:15pm at the Bakersfield National Cemetery (30338 E Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin, CA 93203), where her...
Jennifer Pritchard
2026
S Jennifer Pritchard (26Feb1943-30Mar2026)
S Jennifer Pritchard passed on Monday, 30 Mar 2026 of natural causes. A long time China Lake and Ridgecrest resident, she came to the Naval Ordnance Test Center in 1964 as a clerk typist and rose to become the office manager of the Office of Naval Research's Patent Office (Code 012). She retired from Civilian Service in...
James Travis Tidwell
Mar 28, 2026
James Travis Tidwell September 8, 1935 – March 28, 2026
On March 28, 2026, James (Jim) Travis Tidwell passed away at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by his family. Jim was born on September 8, 1935, in Huntsville, Alabama, the eldest child of Edward Daniel Tidwell and Tressie Lee Taylor. Born to a family of sharecroppers,...
Kenneth Eugene Smith
Mar 25, 2026
Kenneth Smith passed away leaving behind a legacy of kindness, generosity, and laughter that will be cherished by all who knew him.
Ken was the kind of person who could light up a room with a well-timed joke and a warm smile. He had a natural gift for making others feel at ease, and his generous spirit showed in the countless...
Kevin DeWayne Johnson
Mar 21, 2026
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kevin DeWayne Johnson (58). Kevin passed unexpectedly March 21, 2026 in Ridgecrest, Ca. He was born in Janesville Wisconsin on September 3, 1967 and raised in Freeport, Illinois. He was a man whose presence was impossible to forget. His vibrant, hyper energy was part of his charm (as you...
Steven M Curran
Mar 20, 2026
Steven M. Curran, 70, was taken by ALS (Lou Gerig’s disease) on March 20, 2026, after suffering for the last 18 months.
Steve was born on September 13, 1955, in Leonardtown, MD to James and Beatrice Curran. He graduated from Burroughs High School in 1973, where he was a champion member of the Burroughs High School Tennis Team.
After high school Steve...
