Obituaries for October 24, 2000

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000 | 10:06 a.m.

Frank Abasciano Sr.

Frank Abasciano Sr., 55, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Sept. 10, 1945, in Rochester, N.Y. A resident for seven years, he was a retired deputy sheriff, an employee of New York-New York since it opened and a Vietnam War Navy veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Maryanne; two sons, Frank Abasciano Jr. and Keith Abasciano, both of Las Vegas; one sister, Yolanda Cirani of Rochester, N.Y.; and three grandchildren.

Friends may visit the family Sunday at Frank's home. Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Vernon Ross Benstead

Vernon Ross Benstead, 77, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospice. He was born Sept. 9, 1923, in Waterberry, Neb. He was a retired sheet metal worker, a Coast Guard veteran and a member of Masonic Lodge 24.

He is survived by one daughter, Susan Scott; one son, Ronald Benstead; three sisters, Eleanor Hoyal, Frances Price and Vera Cook; one brother, Daryl Benstead; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Emily Blanchet

Emily Blanchet, 84, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. She was born Dec. 18, 1915, in New Jersey. A resident for 10 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, Jack.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Reva Channing

Reva Channing, 85, of Las Vegas died Oct. 13 in Las Vegas. She was born Feb. 14, 1916, in Sayre, Pa.

She is survived by two sons, Alan H. Channing of New York City and Barry M. Channing of Las Vegas; one sister, Sara Kaplan of Williamsport, Pa.; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Sunday at Sun Lake Terrace, 3250 S. Fort Apache Road. Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

Elvira Guevara Colipano

Elvira Guevara Colipano, 67, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. She was born Oct. 8, 1933, in the Philippines. A resident for three years, she was a housekeeper.

She is survived by her husband, Lawrence; one son, Nelson Colipano; two brothers, Benedicto Guevara and Francisco Guevara; and four sisters, Crensia Guevara, Catalina Guevara, Cleotilde Guevara and Maria Concepcion.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Harrel Norris Crain

Harrel Norris Crain, 78, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. He was born Dec. 17, 1921, in Sikes, La. A resident for 11 years, he was an electrician for a power company and a World War II Army veteran.

He is survived by two sons, Dale Crain of Las Vegas and Ronald Crain of Littleton, Colo.; two sisters, Myrtle Moody and Vorrine Hatten, both of Louisiana; and four grandchildren.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Burial will follow in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City.

Arlie Daniel

Arlie Daniel, 61, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. He was born March 14, 1939, in Roswell, N.M. A resident for 32 years, he was a retired carpenter, a Marine Corps veteran and a retired member of Carpenters Local 1780.

He is survived by his wife, Mary I.; four daughters, Judy Bradley, Vicki Kirk, Lana Young and Jody Daniel, and five sons, Mitchell Jones, Arlie Daniel Jr., Mike Daniel, Bobby Daniel and Richard Daniel, all of Las Vegas; one brother, Jim Daniel of Showlow, Ariz.; and 19 grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 4-8 p.m. today in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Paradise Memorial Gardens.

Kathleen DiZenzo

Kathleen DiZenzo, 57, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. She was born Feb. 27, 1943, in the Bronx, N.Y. A resident for four years, she was a retired credit card customer service representative for Citicorp.

She is survived by her husband, Richard; two sons, Edward Zammit and Marlon Zammit, both of New Jersey; one brother, Kevin Boland of New York; and one grandchild.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling private services.

Fred P. Farber

Fred P. Farber, 65, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. He was born Oct. 25, 1934, in Chicago. A resident for six years, he was a retired debit manager in the insurance industry and an Air Force veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline F.; five daughters, Sandra Erickson of Grant Park, Ill., Pamela Gorr of Barrington, Ill., Renee Paluka of Independence, Mo., Michelle Stiles of Fort Worth, Texas, and Penni Brown of Oak Grove, Mo.; four sons, Robert Farber of Chicago, Billy White Jr. and Steven White, both of Independence, and Dean White of Las Vegas; 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave.

The family suggests donations to the animal foundation of the donor's choice.

James Feld

James Feld, 37, of Henderson died Saturday in Henderson. He was born Sept. 30, 1963, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, he was a real estate broker/property manager and a member of Las Vegas Board of Realtors.

He is survived by his parents, Alan and Susan Feld of Las Vegas; one sister, Laurie Plissner of Old Greenwich, Conn.; and his grandmother, Thelma Coblentz of Las Vegas.

Graveside services were scheduled at 2 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

The family suggests donations to the Nathan Adelson Hospice, 4141 S. Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Jeffrey Gartiser

Jeffrey Gartiser, 45, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Dec. 24, 1954, in Van Nuys, Calif. A resident for two years, he was a student, a Marine Corps veteran and a member of Nevada Cure.

He is survived by his father, Madill Franklin Gartiser; his mother, Suzanne Rogan; one brother, Gregory Gartiser; and his companion, Mercedes Maharis.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday in Community College of Southern Nevada, Henderson campus. Neptune Society of Nevada, 8570 Del Webb Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Thomas Ray Goble

Thomas Ray Goble, 60, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. He was born Aug. 3, 1940, in Utah. A resident for 29 years, he was self-employed in the lawn service industry and was an Army veteran.

He is survived by four daughters, Virginia, Gloria, Debbie and Terilyn; two brothers, Don and Ed; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services were scheduled at 2 p.m. today in the LDS chapel, 200 S. Ward. Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Stephan P. Gurlides Sr.

Stephan P. Gurlides Sr., 74, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. He was born Nov. 1, 1925, in Detroit. A resident for 31 years, he was a restaurateur and a World War II Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Dolores; two sons, Craig Gurlides and Stephan Gurlides Jr., both of Las Vegas; one brother, Michael Gurlides of New York; and six grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 3-8 p.m. today in Davis Funeral Home, 2127 W. Charleston Blvd. Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in Hillpoint Chapel of the LDS Church. Burial will be private.

Violet Marie Harris

Violet Marie Harris, 85, of Boulder City died Sunday in Boulder City. She was born Feb. 14, 1915, in Colorado Springs, Colo. A resident for 24 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by four daughters, Pam Newby and Melodee Schott, both of Boulder City, Linda Guadagna of Valencia, Calif., and Tomina Aguilar of Homer, Alaska; one son, Eddy Harris of San Jose, Calif.; one brother, Roy Potter, and one sister, Mae Sullivan, both of Grand Junction, Colo.; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Adeline Annie Harrison

Adeline Annie Harrison, 76, of Henderson died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born May 10, 1924, in Paynesville, Minn. A resident for 13 years, she was a retired food server.

She is survived by her husband, David; one daughter, Adeline Juanita Marchand of Washington, Mich.; one son, David Leo of Rapid City, S.D.; one brother, Buddy Schreiver of Paynesville; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Dennis Alan Landis

Dennis Alan Landis, 47, of Henderson died Thursday in Henderson. He was born Feb. 11, 1952, in Henderson. A lifelong resident, he was a casino maintenance worker and an Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Grace; and four brothers, Randolph Landis, George McClean and Mark McClean, all of Henderson, and David Landis of Sigler, Okla.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in Our Savior Lutheran Church, 59 Lynn Lane, Henderson. Burial will be private. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

William Earl McGowan

William Earl McGowan, 79, of Henderson died Saturday in Henderson. He was born Oct. 13, 1921, in Youngstown, Ohio. A resident for 17 months, he was a retired Navy pilot and World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; two daughters, Donna McGowan of Gallup, N.M., and Patricia McGowan of Littleton, Colo.; and one son, William McGowan of San Jose, Calif.

Graveside services were scheduled at 10:30 a.m. today in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Grace E. McKnight

Grace E. McKnight, 79, of Tonopah died Sunday in a local hospital. She was born April 4, 1921, in Dry Forks, Mont. A resident for 16 years, she was a homemaker and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

She is survived by four daughters, Wanda Gilger of Tonopah, Sherry McKnight of Globe, Ariz., Montana Koplin of Sacramento and Arizona Carr of Las Vegas; four sons, Gerald McKnight of Las Vegas, David McKnight of Globe, Butch McKnight of Tonopah and Robert McKnight of Houston; one brother, Clarence Grande of Helena, Mont.; 21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

George J. Miller

George J. Miller, 80, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local care center. He was born May 28, 1920, in Fond du Lac, Wis. A resident for 45 years, he was a retired Las Vegas Hilton bartender and a World War II Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Fannie; one daughter, Maribeth Hughes of Henderson; one stepdaughter, Susan Kunzi of Oak Lawn, Ill.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services will be private. Burial will be in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

The family suggests contributions to the donor's favorite charity.

Edna E. 'Ruth' Ostrander

Edna E. "Ruth" Ostrander, 87, of Muncie, Ind., died Sunday in Muncie. She was born Feb. 6, 1913, in Toronto. A former Henderson resident from 1945-1993, she was a retired chief PBX operator at Sunrise Hospital and Sears.

She is survived by three daughters, Frances Ream of Henderson, Betty Johnson of Muncie and Mary Sawyer of Westland, Mich.; nine grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to 10:30 a.m. services Thursday in Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson. Entombment will follow in Palm Mausoleum, Henderson.

The family suggests donations to Primary Children's Hospital, 1000 N. Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84113.

Marilyn Leone Parnas

Marilyn Leone Parnas, 69, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. She was born Oct. 11, 1931, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for four years, she was a retired contract administrator for the Department of Defense, a member of the League of Women Voters, American Association of Federal Retired Employees, National Organization of Women, American Association of University Women, the Democratic Club, Las Vegas Ski and Sport Club and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

She is survived by her husband, Stanley; and one daughter, Indra Bivens of San Jose, Calif.

Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to University of California at Santa Barbara, Calif.

James Raiano

James Raiano, 58, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Nov. 19, 1941, in Utica, N.Y. A resident for 35 years, he co-owned and operated several businesses with his wife including Gift Galore on Fremont Street.

He is survived by his wife, Annette; two sons, Jimmy Raiano of Las Vegas and Johnny Raiano of Temecula, Calif.; one daughter, Debbie Tracy, and one brother, Bobby Raiano, both of Las Vegas; one sister, Carol Clark of Phoenix; and eight grandchildren.

Services were scheduled at 1 p.m. today in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 315 S. Casino Center Blvd., followed by burial in Paradise Memorial Gardens.

Warren Willis Sanders Jr.

Warren Willis Sanders Jr., 79, of Boulder City died Friday in Boulder City. A resident for 15 years, he was a school district custodian and a World War II Navy veteran.

He was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Stefanie Sanders.

He is survived by his wife, Blanche; two sons, Dennis Sanders of Clinton, Ky., and John Sanders of Las Vegas; one daughter, Linda Long of Illinois; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Thursday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to the Family Home Hospice, 1701 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102.

John William Spence

John William Spence, 77, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born March 28, 1923, in Clinton, Ind. A resident for four years, he was a retired police officer, an Army veteran, a member of the Masons and Fraternal Order of Police Officers.

He is survived by his wife, Muriel; one son, Rick Spence of Las Vegas; one daughter, Linda Houghton of Michigan; and four grandchildren.

Visitation is private. Graveside services will be noon Wednesday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Kinue Itano Tashiro

Kinue Itano Tashiro, 81, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local care center. She was born June 23, 1919, in Hawaii. A resident for nine years, she was a delicatessen clerk.

She is survived by two daughters, Lorraine M. Tashiro of Las Vegas and Patricia A. Maeda of Honolulu; one brother, Tokio Itano of Honolulu; four sisters, Gladys Konishi, Taka Sueda and Tamiko Maesaka, all of Honolulu, and Makie Miyake of Lihue, Hawaii; and one grandchild.

Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling private services.

Evan Thomas

Evan Thomas, 88, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Nov. 14, 1941, in Tioga, Texas. A resident for one year, he was a retired watch repair inspector.

He is survived by two daughters, Aletha Phelps and Jacquie Spates, both of Las Vegas; and seven grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

Peter E. Thornton Jr.

Peter E. Thornton Jr., 73, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospice. He was born Jan. 7, 1927, in the Bronx, N.Y. A resident for 10 years, he was a retired federal government contracting officer and World War II Air Force veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters, Angela Carty of Newcastle, Del., Martha Benjamin of Herndon, Va., and Elinor Connell of Standish, Maine; four sons, Lance Thornton and John Thornton, both of Las Vegas, Michael Thornton of Silver Spring, Md., and Peter Thornton of Virginia; and six grandchildren.

Visitation is private. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 315 S. Casino Center Blvd. Graveside services will be 9 a.m. Oct. 31 in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd., is handling arrangements.

John G. Varner

John G. Varner, 80, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born July 21, 1920, in Rockford, Ala. A resident for 34 years, he was a retired golf pro and a World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War Air Force veteran.

He is survived by one daughter, Carol Rogers of Libertyville, Ill.; two sons, John G. Varner Jr. of Milton, Fla., and Ted Varner of Las Vegas; and four grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to 11 a.m. services Thursday in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd.

Luther J. 'Luke' Wills

Luther J. "Luke" Wills, 80, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. He was born Sept. 10, 1920, in Memphis, Texas. A resident for 35 years, he was a musician, a World War II Navy veteran, a member of American Legion Post 8, the Screen Actors Guild and the Western Swing Music Association.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; one daughter, Joyce Bouchard, and one son, Luke Wills II, both of Las Vegas; two sisters, Lorene Wills and Olga Kerr, both of Tulsa, Okla.; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in Palm Chapel, Jones. Burial will follow in Palm Valley View Memorial Park.

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