Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Obituaries for December 27, 2002

Charles L. Allen

Charles L. Allen, 70, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born May 6, 1932, in Huntington Park, Calif. A resident for 10 years, he was a hotel pit supervisor.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret; two sons, Charles Allen Jr. of Montclair, Calif., and Ray Allen of Las Vegas; two daughters, Ann Plebanek of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Brenda House of Las Vegas; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled from 2:20 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday in Palm Chapel, Jones.

Norah L. Arnold

Norah L. Arnold, 82, of Las Vegas died Dec. 19 in Las Vegas. She was born June 13, 1920, in Imperial, Saskatchewan. A resident for 25 years, she was a World War II Army veteran.

She is survived by one brother, Bruce Furby of El Cajon, Calif.; and three sisters, Kathleen Kangas of Grayling, Mich., Gladys Martin of Farmington, N.H., and Phyllis Johnston of Madison Heights, Mich.

Visitation is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday in Holy Family Catholic Church, 4490 Mountain Vista St., followed by burial in Paradise Memorial Gardens, 6200 S. Eastern Ave.

Mary Avellino

Mary Avellino, 86, of Henderson died Dec. 20 in a local care center. She was born Nov. 2, 1916, in Panarea, Italy. A resident for five years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one sister, Ursula Young of Henderson; and two brothers, Carl Ortado of New York and Vincent Ortado of California.

Visitation is scheduled 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 13 in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

Chester E. Baker

Chester E. Baker, 70, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. Born Nov. 11, 1932, in Colorado, he was a probation officer.

He is survived by his wife, Lenore.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in California. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Phyllis L. Baldwin

Phyllis L. Baldwin, 89, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. She was born June 20, 1913, in Shelby, Neb. A resident for 50 years, she was a retired mobile home park owner and operator.

She is survived by one daughter, Lorraine Austad of Laguna Beach, Calif.; one sister, Donna M. Young of Las Vegas; and one grandchild.

Graveside services will be 12:30 p.m. Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

Marian P. Belle

Marian P. Belle, 80, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. She was born Sept. 20, 1922, in Birmingham, Ala. A resident for 11 years, she was a nurse's aid.

She is survived by one daughter, Greta DeNeal of Las Vegas; one son, Cedric Peebles of Nederland, Colo.; one brother, Eather Peebles Sr. of Birmingham; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was scheduled at 2 p.m. today in Sunrise Mountain United Methodist Church, 2075 N. Lamb Blvd. Davis Funeral Home, 2127 W. Charleston Blvd., handled arrangements.

Polly Bennett

Polly Bennett, 82, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. Born Jan. 9, 1920, in Michigan, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one son, Jerry Schumann of Michigan; one son, Johnny Arrowood of Missouri; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, handled arrangements.

Leslie "Les" Bernick

Leslie 'Les' Bernick, 87, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born Sept. 29, 1915, in St. Paul, Minn. A resident for two years, he was a retired chemical engineer, member of the American Diabetes Association and the Calumet City, Ill., School Board, and commissioner of the Broad Creek Public Service District in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet; one daughter, Helene F. Levine of Ossining, N.Y.; one son, Emil Lee Bernick of Las Vegas; one sister, Doris Munic of St. Paul; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be 9:30 a.m. Friday in King David Memorial Chapel, 2697 Eldorado Lane.

The family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Association, 2785 E. Desert Inn Road, Suite 140, Las Vegas, NV 89121.

Kenneth W. Blake Jr.

Kenneth W. Blake Jr., 54, of Las Vegas died Dec. 19 in Las Vegas. He was born Feb. 14, 1948, in Milwaukee. A resident for 13 years, he was a cabdriver.

He is survived by his wife, Mary A.; three sons, Kenneth W. Blake III, Christopher A. Blake and Patrick Allan Blake, all of Wisconsin; his mother, Geraldine Blake, and one sister, Ruth Ann Blake, both of Las Vegas; two brothers, Raymond Blake of Las Vegas and Mark Blake of Wisconsin; and seven grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled from noon until 2 p.m. services Sunday in Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North, followed by a private burial.

Otho Branch

Otho Branch, 85, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. Born July 27, 1917, in Arkansas, he owned apartments.

He is survived by two daughters, Ronda Wurm of Las Vegas and Virginia Rosewitz of California; and three grandchildren.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in Arkansas. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

William Brooks

William Brooks, 81, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospice. He was born April 17, 1921, in Detroit. A resident for 16 years, he was a retired director of human resources for a manufacturing firm and World War II Air Force veteran.

He is survived by one daughter, Terry Barnes of Las Vegas; one son, Paul Brooks of Glendora, Calif.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., handled arrangements.

Joseph Anthony Brown

Joseph Anthony Brown, 36, of Las Vegas died Dec. 20 in Las Vegas. He was born Jan. 10, 1966, in Castro Valley, Calif. A resident for 15 years, he was a security guard.

He is survived by one son, Alexander Joseph Allen Brown of Henderson; his parents, George and Beverly Brown, one brother, Kimo Brown, and two sisters, Theresa Brown and Cheryl Brown, all of Las Vegas.

Visitation is scheduled 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Monday in Paradise Memorial Gardens, 6200 S. Eastern Ave.

Emmie Lee Bryant

Emmie Lee Bryant, 87, of Las Vegas died Dec. 19 in a local hospice. She was born April 18, 1915, in Montgomery, Ala. A resident for three years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one son, Ken Jamal; two sisters, Eula Henley of Detroit and Johnie Jarrett of Los Angeles; and two grandchildren.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in California. Nevada Funeral Service, 2983 Fremont St., is handling arrangements.

Jose Candelaria

Jose Candelaria, 64, of Henderson died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was born Jan. 29, 1938, in Manila, Philippines. A resident for five years, he was a retired businessman.

He is survived by his wife, Angelina; eight daughters, Cathy Candelaria of San Francisco, Candy Gronke of Des Plaines, Ill., Criselda Polanco of Hayward, Calif., Christine Rutishauser of Castro Valley, Calif., Carena Cruz of Huntington Beach, Calif., Joanne Candelaria of Henderson and Caroline Ocampo and Connie Quesada, both of San Leandro, Calif.; three sons, Carlo Candelaria of Castro Valley, Joel Candelaria of Queens, N.Y., and Christopher Candelaria of Huntington Beach; and 14 grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from noon until 4 p.m. services Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

Scott Allen Clegg

Scott Allen Clegg, 41, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 29, 1961, in Murray, Utah. A resident for 14 years, he was an air-conditioning and heating technician and an Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Laura; two daughters, Tiffany Clegg and Melanie Clegg; his father, Jay Clegg, his mother and stepfather, Nancy Clegg-Boyce and Rueben Boyce, and one brother, Shan Clegg, all of Salt Lake City; and four sisters, Penney Tipton of Las Vegas and Nancy Leavitt, Wendy Briggs and Anna Underwood, all of Salt Lake City.

Services and burial are private. Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Willie Danville

Willie Danville, 91, of Nevada died Monday in Boulder City. Born Jan. 15, 1911 in Budapest, Hungary, he was a gourmet chef, World War II Army veteran, and an entertainer.

He is survived by one son, Robert Danville; and one daughter, Karen McClintic.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 1399 San Felipe Drive, Boulder City. Burial will be 2 p.m. Monday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Davis Funeral Home, 2127 W. Charleston Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Delores Rose Di Cesare

Delores Rose Di Cesare, 70, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born June 22, 1932, in Steubenville, Ohio. A resident for 43 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, Anthony "Toby"; three daughters, Sheryl Koenig of Liverpool, Ohio, and Karen Reda and Shelli Di Cesare-Smith, both of Las Vegas; three sons, Michael Di Cesare of Las Vegas, Koots Di Cesare of Baskin Ridge, N.J., and Toby Di Cesare of Toronto, Ohio; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. services Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., followed by burial in Palm Valley View Memorial Park.

Augorio L. Esias

Augorio L. Esias, 76, of Las Vegas died Dec. 17 in Las Vegas. He was born July 23, 1926, in Hawaii. A resident for 12 years, he was a tour representative and World War II Army veteran.

He is survived by one son, Glenn Esias of Phoenix; three daughters, Geri Verrett, Jenine Esias and Lana Foote, all of San Francisco; three brothers, Agapito Esias of Carson, Calif., Cornelius Esias of Waimanalo, Hawaii, and George Esias of Waipahu, Hawaii; three sisters, Anaceta Fukumae of Mililani, Hawaii, Frances Utter of South Williamsport, Pa., and Christine Lomosad of Los Angeles; and 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Burial will be in Honolulu.

Frank Harris Jr.

Frank Harris Jr., 60, of Las Vegas died Dec. 10 in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 27, 1942, in New Orleans. A resident for 35 years, he was a retired cook after 35 years at the Golden Gate hotel.

He is survived by his companion, Lucille Simmons, and one stepdaughter, Shanna Burrell, both of Las Vegas; one sister, Cherree Harris of Los Angeles; and three grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 1 p.m. Monday in Palm Chapel, Main, followed by burial in Palm Memorial Park.

John H. Hopkins

John H. Hopkins, 77, of Las Vegas died Dec. 14 in Panaca. He was born May 5, 1925, in Florida. A resident for 22 years, he was in the electronics field and was a member of the American Radio Relay League and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; two sons, John Hopkins of Utah and Glenn Strussenberg of Henderson; three daughters, Bonnie Lockwood of Colorado, Jo-Anne Strussenberg of Henderson and Cindy Vergara; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Davis Paradise Valley Chapel, followed by burial in Paradise Memorial Gardens, 6200 S. Eastern Ave.

Stephanie R. Johnson

Stephanie R. Johnson, 16, of North Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. She was born April 23, 1986, in Springfield, Ill. A resident for 12 years, she was a student.

She is survived by her parents, Richard and Ramona Johnson, both of North Las Vegas; one brother, Marcus Johnson, and one sister, Elizabeth Bart, both of Las Vegas; and her grandmother, Elizabeth Moats of Springfield, Ill.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Word of Life Christian Center, 3520 N. Buffalo Drive.

Dorothy Bernice Madison

Dorothy Bernice Madison, 71, of Henderson died Wednesday in Las Vegas. Born Feb. 27, 1931, in Minnesota, she was a receptionist.

She is survived by her husband, Harold.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in Minnesota. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Dorothy L. Malcolm

Dorothy L. Malcolm, 84, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born March 27, 1918, in Atlanta. A resident for 12 years, she was a real estate investor, member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and a past president of the Relief Society.

She is survived by one daughter, Lucille Yates of Las Vegas; two sons, Wilbur Malcolm of Ogden, Utah, and Arthur Malcolm of Las Vegas; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services and burial will be in California. Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

May Belle Towne Martin

May Belle Towne Martin, 89, of Las Vegas died Dec. 20 in Las Vegas. She was born Nov. 15, 1913, in Hysham, Mont. A resident for 50 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by two sons, Max Towne of Mesquite and David Towns of Booneville, Miss.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were scheduled at 1 p.m. today in Bunkerville Cemetery.

Elaine H. McLaughlin

Elaine H. McLaughlin, 87, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. She was born March 15, 1915, in Indiana. A resident for 14 years, she owned and operated a retail store.

She is survived by one daughter, Nancy Williams of Las Vegas; and one sister, Christine Kunz of Chicago.

Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to Nevada Animal Sanctuary, 4800 W. Dewey Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89118.

Anthony Moschitta

Anthony Moschitta, 89, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local care center. He was born Oct. 12, 1913, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for 25 years, he was a retired liquor salesman.

He is survived by his wife, Lucille; three sons, Anthony Marlon, Matthew Marlon and John Marlon, all of Las Vegas; one sister, Katie of Brooklyn; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

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

John Riccobene Sr.

John Riccobene Sr., 74, of Henderson died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was born July 10, 1928, in Chicago. A resident for 12 years, he was a retired painter, Korean War and Vietnam War Army veteran, and a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; three daughters, Nancy Potter of Round Rock, Texas, Elizabeth Taylor of Georgetown, Texas, and Regina Young of Henderson; three sons, Rosario Riccobene of Austin, Texas, John Riccobene Jr. of Gardena, Calif., and Anthony Riccobene of Henderson; one brother, Salvatore Riccobene of Henderson; 28 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will continue until 7 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Palm Chapel, Eastern, followed by burial in Palm Valley View Memorial Park.

The family suggests donations to the Vietnam Veterans.

Robert Leo Shank

Robert Leo Shank, 57, of Las Vegas died Dec. 20 in a local hospital. He was born May 22, 1945, in Dayton, Ohio. A resident for 11 years, he was a hotel change person.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah; and his mother, Janne McDonald of Sarasota, Fla.

Services were scheduled at 2 p.m. today in Paradise Bible Baptist Church, 2525 Emerson Ave.

American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane, handled arrangements.

James A. Shue

James A. Shue, 75, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local care center. He was born Aug. 18, 1927, in St. Louis. A resident for 25 years, he was a retired county stationary engineer and a World War II and Korean War Navy veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Faye; two daughters, Margie White of Las Vegas and Kathy Eisenman of Death Valley, Calif.; two brothers, Harold Shue of Mulino, Ore., and Clyde Shue of Seebring, Fla.; two sisters, Jenny Mayo of North Turner, Maine, and Margie Richardson of Everett, Wash.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

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

Rene 'Dexster' Valdes Jr.

Rene "Dexster" Valdes Jr., 29, of Las Vegas died Monday. He was born Sept. 18, 1973, in Newark, N.J. A resident for 12 years, he was a chief operating officer for a moving company.

He is survived by his wife, Melissa; one daughter, Tabytha Rose Valdes, and his mother, Cookie Maresca, both of Las Vegas; his father, Rene Valdes Sr. of Howel, N.J.; his brother, Stephen Maresca, and his grandfather, Jim Luterzo, both of Las Vegas.

Visitation was scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave.

The family suggests donations to the Congenital Central Hypoventalation Syndrome Treasure, 10377 Warner Drive, Millan, MI 48160.

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