Obituaries for June 6, 2002

Thursday, June 6, 2002 | 9:43 a.m.

Sergio Ayala-Arias

Sergio Ayala-Arias, 27, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 8, 1974, in Mexico. A resident for five years, he was a landscaper.

He is survived by his companion, Maria L. Rodriguez; his father, Perfecto Ayala, and two sisters, Maria Ayala and Maria De Jesus, all of Colima, Mexico; five brothers, Ansalmo Ayala of Las Vegas, Crisoforo Ayala and Jose Ayala, both of California, and Marcos Ayala and Tomas Ayala, both of Colima.

Visitation is scheduled 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday in Davis Funeral Home, 2127 W. Charleston Blvd. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Davis Funeral Home, 2127 W. Charleston Blvd. Burial will follow in Mexico.

Alice M. Beckwith

Alice M. Beckwith, 72, of Henderson died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born March 14, 1930, in Clark Island, Maine. A resident for 21 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, Gordon Y.; five daughters, Mary Moreland and Spring Johns, both of Henderson, Esther Frieson of Waukegan, Ill., and April Bacon and Freda Beckwith, both of Las Vegas; four sons, Gordon C. Beckwith of New Berlin, Wis., Paul Beckwith of West Allis, Wis., Peter Beckwith of Milwaukee and Matt Beckwith of Henderson; one sister, Shirley Anne Snell of Greenville Junction, Maine; 25 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. Sunday in Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Palm Chapel, Henderson. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Park, Henderson.

Samuel Ray Bellavia

Samuel Ray Bellavia, 83, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born April 26, 1919, in Florence, Pa. A resident for 17 years, he was a pit boss and a veteran.

He is survived by three daughters, Penelope Kelley, Patty Krzystofik and Joann Bellavia; two sons, John Bellavia and Charles Bellavia; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A private service will be 11 a.m. Friday in St. Viator Catholic Church, 2461 E. Flamingo Road. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Barbara E. Cefalo

Barbara E. Cefalo, 75, of North Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. She was born Dec. 14, 1926, in Colton, Calif. A resident for 42 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by three daughters, Debbie Newell of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Brenda Basden of Las Vegas and Karen Cefalo of North Las Vegas; one son, Mark Cefano of Las Vegas; one sister, Donna Johnson of Colton; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

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

Sheree Marie Davidson

Sheree Marie Davidson, 40, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born April 10, 1962, in Missouri. A resident for many years, she was a telephone saleswoman.

She is survived by her parents, Bobby and Joan Davidson of Tennessee.

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

Albert D. Defrino

Albert D. Defrino, 82, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local health care center. He was born Sept. 7, 1919, in New York City. A resident for 16 years, he was a retired electrical inspector, a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, a member of the AMVETS, YMCA and International Association of Electrical Inspectors.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; five daughters, Ruth O'Donnell of Wallington, N.J., Annette Gardella of East Rutherford, N.J., Linda Defrino of Nutley, N.J., Amy Rosenhaus of San Francisco and Ellen Silver of Los Angeles; two sons, Michael Defrino of Lyndhurst, N.J., and David Rosenhaus of Los Angeles; three sisters, Lillian Milici of Deerfield Beach, Fla., Columbia Cifune of North Arlington, N.J., and Anne Lembo of Lyndhurst; one brother, Anthony Defrino of Lyndhurst; and four grandchildren.

A graveside service was scheduled at 1:20 p.m. today in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., handled arrangements.

The family suggests donations to Alzheimer's Association, Southern Nevada Chapter, 5190 S. Valley View Blvd., Suite 101, Las Vegas, NV 89118.

Felix M. Dela Cruz

Felix M. Dela Cruz, 83, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born June 16, 1918, in the Philippines. A resident for 10 years, he was a retired Philippine army second lieutenant and a World War II veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita; three sons, Angelito Dela Cruz of Las Vegas, Freddie Dela Cruz of Sterling Heights, Mich., and Jeffrey Dela Cruz of the Philippines; four daughters, Charito Wojciechowski and Remedios Menor, both of Las Vegas, Erlinda Rosalin of Sterling Heights, Mich., and Fe Vargas of Madison Heights, Mich.; one sister, Victoria Caronongan of the Philippines; and five grandchildren.

Visitation will continue until 7 p.m. today and from noon until 7 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday in Palm Chapel, Main. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Park.

Charles Dillon

Charles Dillon, 62, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 17, 1939, in Charleston, W.Va. A resident for three years, he was a retired foreman at a manufacturing company.

He is survived by one daughter, Deanne Lasker of Las Vegas; one son, David Dillon of Parma, Ohio; two sisters, Loretta Null of Mentor, Ohio, and Wandline Nelson of Brunswick, Ohio; two brothers, Lonnie Dillon of Chardon, Ohio, and Richard Dillon of West Union, Ohio; his ex-wife, Patricia Dillon of Henderson; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

Amelita Amelia Drost

Amelita Amelia Drost, 84, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospice. She was born April 2, 1918, in Pennsylvania. A resident for 23 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, Paul; one son, Dennis Acotto of Manassas, Va.; one daughter, Carolyn Acotto of Pittsburgh; two brothers, Amel Calcagni of West Newton, Pa., and Gerald Calcagni of Belle Vernon, Pa.; one sister, Matalda Horrocks of Dunkirk, N.Y.; and one grandchild.

Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

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

Johnny Y. Duran

Johnny Y. Duran, 44, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. He was born Nov. 28, 1957, in Orange, Calif. A resident for four years, he was a delivery driver and a veteran of the National Guard.

He is survived by his wife, Rachelle M.; two daughters, Sabrina L. Kennedy of Lemoore, Calif., and Gina J. Duran-Tripp of Honolulu; one son, Johnny D. Duran of Frederick, Md.; two stepsons, Joseph F. Cortez and Micheal A. Cortez, and two stepdaughters, Elizabeth A. Cortez and Jessica R. Cortez, all of Las Vegas; four sisters, Dory Reyes, Linda Coronado, Rachel Carmena and Lupe Padilla, all of Riverside, Calif.; and three brothers, Phillip Coronado of Riverside, Eddie Duran Jr. of Los Angeles County and Armando Duran of Lake Forest, Calif.

Visitation is scheduled 1 p.m. until a 3 p.m. service Saturday in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave.

Mary Faccinto

Mary Faccinto, 98, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born Dec. 19, 1903, in Italy. A resident for 46 years, she was a retired chef at an Italian restaurant.

She is survived by one son, Albert Faccinto of Las Vegas; one sister, Antonette Iasi of Italy; six grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Monday in St. Anne Catholic Church, 1901 S. Maryland Parkway. Burial will follow in Palm Valley View Memorial Park. Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

Wayne E. Foster

Wayne E. Foster, 60, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. He was born Aug. 18, 1941, in Lexington, Ky. A resident for 32 years, he was a sales associate and a Vietnam War Army veteran.

He is survived by his friend, Christian P. Bakke of Las Vegas.

Graveside services will be 10:40 a.m. Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

Robert Gonzales

Robert Gonzales, 77, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. A city government gardener and a World War II Army veteran, he was born Dec. 4, 1924, in La Mesa, N.M.

He is survived by his wife, Leonor; three daughters, Viola Gonzales, Lilian Bean and Mona Gonzales, and two sons, Conrad Gonzales Sr. and Leo Gonzales, all of Las Vegas; three sisters, Tina Baca, Flossie Crist and Priscilla Gonzales, and one brother, Vivian Gonzales, all of New Mexico; 18 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 6-8 p.m. Friday in the Grapevine Fellowship, 2323 S. Nellis Blvd. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday in the Grapevine Fellowship. Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

Phyllis Greenwald

Phyllis Greenwald, 72, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. She was born Feb. 23, 1930, in Detroit. A resident for 12 years, she was a retired retail fashion sales consultant.

She is survived by her husband, Robert E.; one stepdaughter, Judith L. Greenwald of Detroit; and one sister, Sheila Silverstein of Las Vegas.

Graveside services will be 9 a.m. Friday in Palm Memorial Park, Northwest, 5701 N. Jones Blvd. Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave., is handling arrangements.

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

Melvin Hinton

Melvin Hinton, 66, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was born Dec. 29, 1935, in Atlanta. A resident for 27 years, he owned and operated Hinton Television and Video and H&M Computers for 16 years and was a Vietnam War Air Force veteran who served for 26 years.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Grace; one daughter, Theresa Hinton Baskerville of Las Vegas; two sisters, Remolure Thompson of Pontiac, Mich., and Jean Morgan of Warren, Mich.; and one brother, Bill Burnett of Oklahoma City.

Visitation will continue until 7 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Palm Chapel, Main. Graveside services will be noon Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City.

Charles B. Huckeby

Charles B. Huckeby, 50, of Henderson died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born Nov. 6, 1951, in Indiana. A resident for one year, he was a machinist mechanic and an Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Joe Ryne of Georgia and Michael of Arizona; four daughters, Barbara, Summer and Tawnya, all of Henderson and Judy Dee of Kansas; one son, Mike Huckeby of Arizona; two sisters, Cathy of Florida and Kay Ball of Arizona; and nine grandchildren.

Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Friday in Palm Memorial Park, Henderson. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Valarie Jean Hunt

Valarie Jean Hunt, 49, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born Nov. 4, 1952, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, she was a secretary for Operation Life.

She is survived by two sons, Romario Winslow and Deshawn Hunt, and one daughter, Mistihana Hunt, all of Las Vegas; her father, James W. Hunt of Fresno, Calif.; her mother, Roma Jean Hunt of Las Vegas; two brothers, Dyarell Hunt and Richard Hunt, and four sisters, Marsha Hymon, Rosherral Beverly, Christy Hunt and Laurie Hunt-Walker, all of Las Vegas; and three grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 1-8 p.m. Friday in American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in True Love Missionary Baptist Church, 1941 N. H St. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.

M. Ruth McCarthy

M. Ruth McCarthy, 94, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born Oct. 9, 1907, in Ohio. A resident for eight years, she was a retired secretary.

She is survived by one daughter, Patricia Muck; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

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

Stanley Navis

Stanley Navis, 83, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 10, 1918, in Toronto. A resident for 5 1/2 years, he was a mechanical engineer, a World War II veteran, a member of Daylite Lodge 44, Rat Pack, Jewish War Veterans and Zelzah Shrine Temple and was a Hiram award winner.

He is survived by one son, Glen Navis of Los Angeles; one daughter, Roberta Kaufman of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and one sister, Helen Ravins of Las Vegas.

A graveside service will be 9:20 a.m. Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Barbara Jane Wetmore Olsen

Barbara Jane Wetmore Olsen, 71, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local life care center. She was born Nov. 8, 1930, in Heber City, Utah. A resident for 39 years, she was a retired bank proofer.

She is survived by her husband, Hawley J.; one daughter, Cynthia Jane Olsen Cornett of Las Vegas; two sons, Jerald William Olsen of Tucson and Jed Doyle Olsen of Las Vegas; and seven grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church, 600 E. St. Louis Blvd. Burial will follow in Palm Valley View Memorial Park, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

Joan I. Pitts

Joan I. Pitts, 75, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospice. She was born Nov. 1, 1926, in Bushnell, Neb. A resident for one year, she was a homemaker and a member of Sweet Adelines in Pomona, Calif.

She is survived by her husband, Bill C.; one daughter, Carole A. Noel of Las Vegas; one son, David A. Pitts of Victorville, Calif.; one daughter, Kathy D. Hansen of Hemet, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

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

Harry J. Shurko

Harry J. Shurko, 62, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Feb. 22, 1940, in Kitchener, Ontario. A resident for 15 years, he was a retired hotel houseman and a Vietnam War Air Force veteran.

He is survived by two sisters, Mary Clark and Olga Shurko Brittell, both of Las Vegas.

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

Benjamin Weisholtz

Benjamin Weisholtz, 90, of Henderson died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 27, 1911. A resident for many years, he was a grocer.

He is survived by one daughter, Saundra Karpf of Henderson; and two grandchildren.

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

Judith Wells

Judith Wells, 60, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. A resident for 20 years, he was born Sept. 13, 1941, in Milwaukee.

She is survived by her companion of 33 years, Allan Girtler; two sons, Patrick Evans of Las Vegas and Gary Wells of Nashville, Tenn.; one daughter, Sherry Evans of Milwaukee; one stepson, Kenneth Girtler of Las Vegas; and one sister, Gloria Kieckbush of Milwaukee.

No services are scheduled. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, handled arrangements.