Obituaries

On Valentine’s Day, Marie Viola Velasquez, as the sun set on February 14, 2020, Sailed Home on a River of Love and Tears “How fitting is God’s Timing”. Marie was born in South Bend, WA on June 6, 1939 and graduated from “This Life”.Marie loved caring for children, not just her own, but all children. Marie’s passion for caregiving led...

James Robert Conde’, born in Phoenix, Arizona on February 25, 1936 went to be with his loving mother, Thelma June in Heaven on Sunday, February 16, 2020. He was preceded in death by his father, Kent and 3rd generation Arizonan mother, Thelma June Miller. He is survived by sisters Virginia Hutter and Nancy Watkins, children Tammy and Teri, three grandchildren,...

Edward Michael Pedraza, Sr. “Big Mike”, born May 9, 1958 entered into rest February 14, 2020.  He was a beloved husband, father, Tata, and brother. He was preceded in death by his parents Edward C. and Nancy R. Pedraza, his Nana Josie Abillar, his mother-in-law Florinda Baldonado, brother-in-law Michael C. Valley, nephews Kevin and Brandon Nichols, niece Esperanza Nichols-Duran. Mike...

Frank L. Gonzales, 90, of Phoenix passed away February 13, 2020. Frank is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Juanita A. (Aleman); his brother, Johnny (Ruby) Gonzales; and his children, Cruzita (Ralph) Gomez, Frank (Armie) Gonzales, Maria (Walter) Borkes, and Juanita Acosta. Also, survived by 15 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.He was extremely caring...

Maselli, Lena Mary, 90, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away on February 16, 2020. Lena was born on October 9, 1929 in Niagara Falls, NY. She was a longtime resident of Phoenix and enjoyed spending time at their family owned Italian Restaurant. She is survived by her loving husband, Joseph, of 72 years; sons, Dr. David J. Maselli and Michael Maselli...

James Ernest Warne, Jr. (Jim) passed away Monday, February 10, 2020 after 93 years of life filled with a passion for making a difference and honoring his beliefs. He will be missed by the many he cherished and helped in life, and he will be remembered for his heartfelt contributions to family, friends, community, profession, and the company he founded,...

Mark Wroton, 59, of Scottsdale, AZ passed away on February 10, 2020. He is survived by his sister, Susan, his brother-in-law, Don Mynatt, his nephew, Justin Mynatt and many uncles, aunts and cousins. Mark also had several long time and supportive friends in Scottsdale including Kelly Reagin, Joann and Robert Silva, Richard Robinson and many other caring companions. Mark was...

David Lee Krejsta, 77, died on January 22, 2020 from complications due to pneumonia. David was born January 1, 1943 in Whiting, Indiana, the youngest of three children born to Joseph and Louisa Krejsta (née Kurecka).David is survived by his partner, Lee Wagoner; sister, JoAnn Krejsta; daughters, Misha Krejsta, Bree Krejsta-Gestrin (Howard), and Mehgan Krejsta; son, Bram Krejsta (Lori); grandsons,...

Patrick Malinka, 70 was born March 10, 1949 in Rochester, N.Y. Pat died peacefully on February 8, 2020 with his family by his side.Pat lived a very full life. He was a Veteran who proudly served in the U.S. Army where he was combat wounded in Viet Nam/Cambodia and received the Purple Heart. He was an accountant at both Arizona...

David was born on January 4, 1936 in Tulsa Oklahoma. He moved with his family to Aspen, Colorado in l944 where he learned the printing trade from his father Verlin Ringle who owned and published the Aspen Times, the weekly newspaper.In the summers as a teenager, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service, and loved to watch for fires. Later...

Sharon “Shari” Ann Obert, age 70, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on February 1st, 2020 following a year’s long rare illness.Shari was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 10th, 1949. She was the daughter of the late Paul Cloud and Patricia Cowell. She is survived by her spouse, Edward Obert married 40 years, two children Jayson Spears and Sandy Chavez...

Mildred Louella Wright Barger “Millie” was born to James Alexander and Winifred Wright March 12, 1924 on a farm near Osceola, Iowa. She was 11th in a family of 13 children and passed to heaven February 6th, 2020. Her parents and 11 of her siblings preceded her in death. Mildred married Warren Barger September 26, 1942. He preceded her in...

Marylou Verdugo was born on January 17, 1931 in Phoenix, AZ and passed away on January 29, 2020 at the age of 89. Marylou was a long-time resident of Phoenix Manor where she enjoyed spending time with her many cherished friends. She had a great love of music as well as time with her family. She lived life to the...

Robert R. Russell, 87, earned his wings surrounded by family on February 1, 2020 at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. Bob was born in Grand Island, Nebraska on June 11, 1932. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Hanna Russell, brother William Lee Russell, and his wife of 58 years, Mary Lou Russell. He will be forever...

Birda W. Pelton, age 84, passed away unexpectedly on January 29, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. Birda was born on February 26, 1935 in Deming, New Mexico. She is preceded in death by her parents, Norris F., Sr. and Minnie Wilson, her sister Billie Parnell, her brother, Norris F. Wilson, Jr., her daughters, Elizabeth Jane Lopez and Shannon Lynne Smith, and...

Patricia Leonardo McEachern, 70, died on Sunday, February 2, in Phoenix after a long illness from complications of pulmonary sarcoidosis. She was born in Washington, D.C., on November 28, 1949, to Earl and Mickey (Justice) Leonardo. The family moved to Phoenix when she was five. After graduating from West High School, Pat moved to Washington, D.C., and served four years...

PHOENIX – Rachel Elizondo, 89, passed away peacefully January 29, 2020, surrounded by family. A fourth-generation Arizonan, she is descended from the original settlers of Concho, Ariz. Rachel was born in Phoenix on March 13, 1930 to Arsenia and Zacarias Bezunartea. Rachel is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Ted Elizondo. She is also survived by Sons: Zach...

Suellen Walter EdensJune 28, 1942 – January 25, 2020Suellen Walter Edens passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Barrow Neurological Institute on January 25, 2020. She was 77.Suellen was born in Wilmington, NC and raised in Kinston, NC by her parents, Anna Stalcup Walter and Reese Benton Walter. She attended Meredith College in Raleigh, NC and, upon graduation in...

Virginia Rose Salvatore, 95, passed away on January 22nd, 2020 in Phoenix. Virginia was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1924 to Frank Fusaro and Rose Bondi.Virginia, her first husband, and two children moved to Arizona in 1956 from Kansas City. She had various occupations, mostly in the secretarial field, but her favorite employment was that as a property manager...

Martha Lou Reith, age 80, passed away peacefully in Scottsdale, AZ on January 22, 2020.Martha Lou Reith, “Marty” was born March 14, 1939 in Concordia, MO, to Paula Schlueter and Walter Reith. She had two older brothers, Jim and Doug, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, who also lived in this small and tight-knit German-Lutheran community. She...