Thursday, November 28, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Deaths

Dennis Brown

Dennis Paul Brown, 57, died Nov. 20.

He was born July 4, 1945, in Toledo, Ohio. A central office technician for a telephone company, he was a two-year resident of Las Vegas.

He is survived by his mother, Lucille; and brother, Eugene, both of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and sister, Patricia Marshall of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.

Bunkers Mortuary handled arrangements.

Frances Brunson

Frances Brunson, 84, died Tuesday in a Henderson hospital.

She was born May 14, 1918, in Chicago. A retired salesperson, she was a 15-year resident of Henderson.

She is survived by her daughter, Carole Smith of Henderson; son, John; and sister, Madeline Williams, both of Chicago; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary-Eastern handled arrangements.

Helen Carroll

Helen Carroll, 84, died Friday.

She was born July 17, 1918, in Louisiana. A homemaker, she was a resident of Las Vegas.

She is survived by her sisters, Odessa Perkins and Rosie Seals.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church. Burial is private. Harrison-Ross Mortuary handled arrangements.

Richard Dahlen

Richard David Dahlen, 73, died Monday.

He was born Feb. 7, 1929, in Brooklyn borough of New York. An Army veteran, he was a retired baker, a two-year resident of Pahrump and a member of the American Legion Post 173.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn of Pahrump; son, Robert of Phoenix; daughters, Elizabeth Jenkins of Pahrump, Carol Lawrence of Holiday, Fla., and Janice Jarrett of Phoenix; brother, Robert of Long Island, N.Y.; sister, Delores Walsh of Holiday; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services are private. Neptune Society of Nye County handled arrangements.

Dorothy Daniels

Dorothy Kathleen Daniels, 83, died Wednesday.

She was born June 9, 1919, in Los Angeles. A homemaker, she was a resident of Henderson.

She is survived by her husband, Bob; and son, Robert, both of Henderson; daughter, Diane Myers of California; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Hites Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Malcolm Danser

Malcolm George Danser, 52, died Monday at Nathan Adelson Hospice.

He was born Nov. 15, 1950, in St. Petersburg, Fla. A retired park ranger for the state of Florida, he was a resident of Las Vegas.

He is survived by his mother, Betty; and brother, Russell Jr., both of Tallahassee, Fla.

There will be no local services. The family requests memorial donations be made to the hospice. Desert Memorial Cremation & Burial Society handled arrangements.

Elvin Emert

Elvin Leroy Emert, 74, died Saturday.

He was born July 16, 1928, in Oklahoma. A Navy veteran, he was a security officer and a four-year resident of Las Vegas.

He is survived by his son, Tim; daughters, Brenda Lamence and Bobbie Sunberg; brother, Clifton; sister, Margie Russell; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Desert Memorial Cremation & Burial Society handled arrangements.

Ralph Engelstad

Ralph Engelstad, 72, died Tuesday.

He was born Jan. 28, 1930, in Thief River Falls, Minn. The owner of the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino, he was a 43-year resident of Las Vegas.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; and daughter, Kris Ann, both of Las Vegas; sisters, Phyllis Dooley of Las Vegas and Mary Tulper of Colorado; and two grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church followed by burial at Palm Valley View Memorial Park. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Engelstad Family Foundation/Lung Cancer Research, in care of Bradshaw Smith & Co. LLP, 5851 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146. Palm Mortuary-Eastern handled arrangements.

Aksel Erling

Aksel Erling, 80, died Friday.

He was born Nov. 27, 1921, in Ordrup, Denmark. A Navy veteran of World War II, he was a retired baker and a 45-year resident of Henderson.

He is survived by his daughters, Vicki Atwood of Henderson and Leslie Holland of Las Vegas; son, Michael of Paul, Idaho; and three grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Palm Mortuary-Henderson handled arrangements.

Jacqueline Frost

Jacqueline J. "Jackie" Frost, 66, died Saturday in Elgin, Ill.

She was born Aug. 22, 1936, in Chicago. A retired commercial artist, she was a 10-year resident of Las Vegas, a member of the Las Vegas Sun City Art Club and the Sunshine Club, and a founding member of Summerlin Sun City Hospital Volunteers.

She is survived by her husband, Frank "Sonny" of Las Vegas; son, William Pichler Jr. of California; stepfather, George Popelka Sr.; brother, Frank Becker of Elgin; stepsisters, Evelyn Swanson and Florence Anderson; stepbrothers, George Popelka Jr. and Bruce Popelka; and four grandchildren.

Local memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Madison Funeral Home, Elgin, handled arrangements.

Frances Harris

Frances L. Harris, 59, died Wednesday.

She was born June 29, 1943, in Coffeyville, Kan. A retired slot supervisor for a casino, she was a 32-year resident of Henderson.

She is survived by her husband, Stephen of Henderson; son, Stephen L. of Las Vegas; mother and stepfather, Elsie Fast and Warren Fast, both of Coffeyville; brothers, Phil Fast of Kansas City, Kan., and Logan "Pete" Hodges of Coffeyville; and two grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Palm Mortuary-Eastern, where services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will follow at Palm Valley View Memorial Park. The family requests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

Allen Hart

Allen J. Hart, 58, died Nov. 21.

He was born Sept. 1, 1944, in Glendale, Calif. A six-year resident of Pahrump, he was self-employed in automobile sales.

He is survived by his wife, Linda of Pahrump; daughters, Sheree Van Buskirk of Las Vegas and Heidi Jo Hart of Egan, Minn.; sons, Bryan Van Buskirk and Shawn Van Buskirk, both of Las Vegas; father, J.H. Van Buskirk of Redding, Calif.; sister, Karen Sakamoto of Tajunga, Calif.; and four grandchildren.

Services are private. Neptune Society of Nye County handled arrangements.

Velma Hogans

Velma E. Hogans, 83, died Tuesday.

She was born Feb. 9, 1919, in Van Buren, Ark. A retired teachers assistant, she was an 18-year resident of Las Vegas.

She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Jetty of Las Vegas; sister, Roho Shindlar of Yakima, Wash.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services are private. Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Iva Howlett

Iva W. Howlett, 82, died Tuesday.

She was born July 28, 1920, in Leamington, Utah. A homemaker, she was a 43-year resident of Henderson.

She is survived by her husband, Newel; and daughters, Marie Schepps and Karla Cox, all of Henderson; sons, Scott of Las Vegas and Robert of Guatemala City; brothers, Garth Whatcott of Mesa, Ariz., and Darold Whatcott and John Whatcott, both of St. George, Utah; sister, Clea Ashton of Provo, Utah; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from noon until services at 1 p.m. Saturday at Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Paradise Memorial Gardens.

Ronald Jones

Ronald Dean Jones, 56, died Monday.

He was born Dec. 22, 1945, in Pennsylvania. The owner of a shipping company, he was a 14-year resident of Las Vegas.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy; son, Michael Hanna; daughters, Jennifer Hanna-Connery, Cristie Hanna and Janice Ward; brother, Rick; sister, Lynda Myers; and a grandchild.

Memorial services are pending. Desert Memorial Cremation & Burial Society handled arrangements.

George Kessler

George M. Kessler, 89, died Wednesday.

He was born Jan. 6, 1913, in Fortville, Ind. A retired pilot for the Nevada Test Site and a corporate pilot, he was a 40-year resident of Las Vegas.

He is survived by his wife, Ann of Las Vegas; sons, David of West Baden, Ind., and Daniel of Las Vegas; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Palm Memorial Park-Henderson. Palm Mortuary-Eastern handled arrangements.

James Lopez

James Lopez, 33, died Monday.

He was born Oct. 2, 1969, in Chicago. A service technician in construction, he was a 30-year resident of Henderson.

He is survived by his wife, Stephanie; son, Stephen; and daughter, Savanna, all of Henderson; and brothers, Scott Jones and Lance Lester, both of Las Vegas.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with services at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Palm Mortuary-Henderson.

Doris Luber

Doris Timin Luber, 93, died Nov. 19 in a local care center.

She was born Nov. 1, 1909, in Philadelphia. A retired entrepreneur in real estate, she was a 25-year resident of Las Vegas.

She is survived by her son, Mitchell of Las Vegas; and four grandchildren.

Graveside services were at King David Memorial Chapel & Cemetery. The family requests memorial donations be made to KNPR Radio.

Clara Maley

Clara Maley, 77, died Oct. 24.

She was born July 10, 1925, and was a resident of Las Vegas.

Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery. Hites Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Idalia Montague

Idalia Mercedes Montague, 71, died Saturday.

She was born Sept. 23, 1931, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. An Air Force veteran, she was a registered nurse for a hospital and a 32-year resident of Las Vegas.

She is survived by her husband, Richard of Las Vegas; sons, Robert of Henderson and Richard Jr. of Las Vegas; sister, Adelina Coppin; and brother, Carlos Coppin, both of Puerto Rico; and two grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Bunkers Mortuary.

John Moser

John Franklin Moser, 96, died Monday.

He was born Jan. 13, 1906, in Nezperce, Idaho. A school bus driver, he was a 20-year resident of Boulder City.

He is survived by his daughters, Maxine McLean of Boulder City and Kay White of Provo, Utah; 10 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Christian Center Foursquare Gospel Church followed by burial at Boulder City Cemetery. Bunkers Mortuary handled arrangements.

Wilson Murphy

Wilson Neville Murphy, 81, died Monday.

He was born Dec. 17, 1920. An Army veteran, he was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, a 13-year resident of Henderson and a national district vice president of the 369th Veterans Association in the division in the Bronx borough of New York.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; sons, Barry Nichols and Damien; daughters, Elizabeth Nichols, Judith and Janet; and four grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at 12:40 p.m. Monday at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Desert Memorial Cremation & Burial Society handled arrangements.

Lora Robbins

Lora Lee Robbins, 96, died Tuesday.

She was born Oct. 29, 1906, in Collinsville, Ala. A retired junior high school teacher, she was a seven-year resident of Las Vegas.

She is survived by her daughter, Marianne Adams of Henderson.

Burial will be in Collinsville. Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Sidney Rudin

Sidney Rudin, 79, died Tuesday.

He was born Nov. 10, 1923, in New York City. An Army veteran of World War II, he was a retired clerk for the U.S. Postal Service, an eight-year resident of Las Vegas and a member of Odd Fellows, American Legion and Chabad of Southern Nevada.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred of Las Vegas; daughter, Beth Rudin-Lopez of Berlin; son, David of the Brooklyn borough of New York; and a grandchild.

Burial will be in New York. The family requests memorial donations be made to Chabad of Southern Nevada. King David Memorial Chapel handled arrangements.

Lena Session

Lena M. Session, 36, died Nov. 18 in a local hospital.

She was born July 24, 1966, in Jonesboro, Ark. A homemaker, she was a seven-year resident of Las Vegas and a director of Vegas Flyers.

She is survived by her husband, Roy of Las Vegas; daughter, Dominia Davis of San Antonio; sons, Royal of Las Vegas and Kerel Davis of San Antonio; mother, Althea Brown of Las Vegas; father, Eugene Brown Jr. of Waipahu on the Hawaiian island of Oahu; brothers, Ronald Brown of San Antonio and Harold Brown of Clinton, Md.; and grandparents, Charlie Ross of Jonesboro, and Eliza Brown and Eugene Brown, both of Detroit.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at American Burial & Cremation Services with services at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Light Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Paradise Memorial Gardens.

Barbara Smith

Barbara Ann Smith, 55, died Sunday.

She was born Feb. 2, 1947, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. A legal secretary, she was a 15-year resident of Las Vegas.

She is survived by her mother, Beatrice; and brother, Peter, both of Las Vegas; and sister, Eileen Ambrosio of Lynbrook, N.Y.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. today at Affordable Cremation & Burial Service. The family requests memorial donations be made to Nathan Adelson Hospice.

George Sullivan

George Sullivan, 63, died Tuesday at Nathan Adelson Hospice.

He was born Feb. 22, 1939, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. An Army veteran of the Vietnam War, he was a retired ramp serviceman for an airline and a two-year resident of Henderson.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; and son, William, both of Henderson; daughter, Linda of Tobyhana, Pa.; and a grandchild.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Palm Mortuary-Henderson, where services will be at 11 a.m. Monday. Burial will follow at Palm Memorial Park-Henderson.

Theresa Wilkinson

Visitation for Theresa K. Wilkinson, 87, who died Nov. 21, will be from 12:30 p.m. until services at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Paul Orthodox Church. The family requests memorial donations be made to the church.

Sandra Wilson

Sandra Wilson, 54, died Oct. 22.

She was born Sept. 11, 1948, in Tennessee. A cook, she was a 24-year resident of Las Vegas.

She is survived by her sons, Perry Kemper, Andrew Kemper, Ronald and Thomas; daughters, Cynthia Sunday and Lori; and three grandchildren.

Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery. Hites Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Verne Winchell

Verne H. Winchell, 87, died Tuesday.

He was born Oct. 30, 1915, in Bloomington, Ill. A retired chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Denny's Inc., he opened the first Winchell's Donut Shop in Temple City, Calif., in 1948. He was a horse breeder and racing stable owner, a 30-year resident of Las Vegas, a co-founder of Progressive Savings & Loan, a board member of the aerospace manufacturer Macrodyne, and a member of Spanish Trail and San Gabriel country clubs.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Joan of Las Vegas; daughters, Christina Winchell-Harris of Newport Beach, Calif., and Linda Schumacher of Orange County, Calif.; sons, Ron of Las Vegas and Richard of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; sisters, Eloise Wills Arcadia, Calif., and Barbara Ogden of San Marino, Calif.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Burial is private. Bunkers Mortuary handled arrangements.

C.E. Young

C.E. "Joe" Young, 56, died Tuesday.

He was born Nov. 29, 1945, in Joplin, Mo. An Air Force veteran, he was a finance manager and a four-year resident of Las Vegas.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; and daughter, Maggie, both of Las Vegas; sons, Tim of Aurora, Colo., and Bob of Las Vegas; and mother, Helen; and sister, Sally Clement, both of Albuquerque, N.M.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Palm Mortuary-Cheyenne.

Roderick Young

Roderick Young, 41, died Nov. 22 at Nathan Adelson Hospice.

He was born Nov. 1, 1961, in Las Vegas. An automobile detailer, he was a lifetime resident.

He is survived by his wife, Zezia Oliver; daughters, Ychekia Jackson, Vannisha Oliver, Shanetta Oliver and Tiffany Oliver; son, Coreyoun Jackson; brothers, Al Joe Hogan Jr., Orlando Hogan Sr., Cecil Hogan, Phillip Hogan, Vince Sr. and Alvin; and grandmother, Martha Hogan, all of Las Vegas; and four grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at American Burial & Cremation Services.