Tillie Vindiola Harris
Sept. 10, 1921 – Feb. 18, 2010
Services are pending for Tillie Vindiola Harris, 88, former resident of Calexico who passed away on February 18th in San Diego. Burial will be private. Services will be held at a later date in Sacramento, California.
Mrs. Harris was born September 10, 1921 in Calexico. She was a resident of Calexico for many years before moving to San Ysidro, California where she last resided.
She was preceded in death by her husband: William Harris of Oklahoma, parents: Jose Maria and Beatrice Aroz Vindiola, sister: Susie Vindiola Fritzinger and brothers: Ray Vindiola and Fito Vindiola.
She is survived by a sister: Lupe Anderson of Tucson, Ariz. and brother, Joe Vindiola of Calexico, CA.
Wayne Joseph Van De Graaff
Memorial Services will be held on Friday, February 5th for Wayne Van De Graaff, 81, of Calexico who passed away on Thursday, January 28th. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on 1280 South 8th Street in El Centro. He will be laid to rest Saturday, February 6th in Mesa, Arizona.
Mr. Van De Graaff was born in Ogden, Utah on May 24, 1928 to John and Ellen Van De Graaff. He completed his elementary and secondary education in Ogden before serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II, Pacific Theater. He was recalled into the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict.
He married his eternal sweetheart, Josephine (Josie) Marett on January 7, 1953 in Logan, Utah. They eventually settled in Calexico, California in 1956 where they raised their family while he worked for the Border Patrol and the Immigration Service for 30 years.
The Van De Graaff’s were a great force for good in the Imperial Valley for five decades. They helped co-found the Valley Orthopedic Clinic in 1963 which provided medical care for over 125,000 crippled children during the ensuing years. Even after retiring, Wayne and Josie tirelessly devoted themselves to keeping the Clinic operating and helping others. Wayne also served as a member of the Calexico School Board, Calexico City Council and Imperial County Board of Supervisors.
Wayne and Josie served two consecutive missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He is survived by his wife, Josephine Marett Van De Graaff, Calexico, CA; daughter, Margaret (Paul) Smith, Salt Lake City, UT; daughter, Marina (Gary) Glindinning, McFarland, WI; son, Marvell Earl (Cindy) Van De Graaff, Mesa, AZ; son, Wayne (Vickie) Van De Graaff, Woods Cross, UT; son, Kenneth (Kim) Van De Graaff, Gilbert, AZ; sister, Ellen Mitchell, Ogden, UT; sister, Lucille (Ralph) Rackham, Ogden, UT; sister, Sherma (Chuck) Price, Clinton, UT; brother, David (Pearl) Van De Graaff, Boise, ID; brother, John (Miriam) Van De Graaff, Argyle, WI; brother, Fred (Sandy) Van De Graaff, Houston, TX; 24 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of gifts or flowers, please send donations to the Valley Orthopedic Clinic, 352 East First Street, Calexico, CA 92231.
William E. (Bill) Maring
3/2/27 – 1/13/10
Services will be held today, Friday, January 22nd at 11:30 a.m. at Hems Brothers Chapel in El Centro for William Maring, 82, of Kingman, Arizona who passed away on Wednesday January 13.
Pastor Paul Creiglow will officiate. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
Mr. Maring was born March 2, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland and married Velma on March 7, 1970 in Holtville, CA.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked at the I.V. Field Station (Meloland) where he retired in 1982 and moved to Texas before making his last home in Kingman, Arizona. Being around family and friends brought him great joy and his strong Christian faith sustained him his entire life.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Melva Maring and second wife, Velma Maring.
Mr. Maring is survived by his brother, Charles Ed (Frances) Maring; son, Danny (Joyce) Maring; daughter, Susan (Sonny) Rasmussen; stepsons, Steve (Roxanne) Mayne, Mike (Sandy) Mayne, Cliff (Valerie) Mayne, and Scott (Cheryl) Mayne; grandsons, Wade Maring, Ryan (Jamee) Maring, and Jeff Rasmussen; granddaughters, Katy (Les) Knapp, and Kristin (Paul) Maloof; great-granddaughters, Paige and Emma Maring and Madeline Knapp.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Alzheimer’s Association.
Velma Maring
8/10/29 – 1/9/10
Former Valley resident, Velma Maring, wife of William (Bill) Maring passed away January 9th in Kingman, Arizona at the age of 80.
She is survived by her sons, and daughters-in-law, Steve (Roxanne) Mayne, Mike (Sandy) Mayne, Cliff (Valerie) Mayne, and Scott (Cheryl) Mayne; stepson, Danny (Joyce) Maring; stepdaughter, Susan (Sonny) Rasmussen.
Following her wishes she was cremated and no services are planned.
John Walter Neidiffer
John Neidiffer was born in the Holtville Hospital on March 24, 1939 to Walter and Lillian Neidiffer. He was number 6 in a family of 9 children. He passed away on January 9, 2010 in Grants Pass, Oregon at the age of 70.
John joined the Navy at the age of 17. He worked for his father a short time in the sheep business. He worked in farming in the Imperial Valley and Bakersfield as a truck driver. He lived in Oregon for the last 30 years. John was a good friend to those who knew him and he had a kind heart, which really showed in his love for animals. The last several years of his life he helped run a wolf sanctuary, which is a place where injured or abandoned wolves are cared for.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church in Holtville on Saturday, January 23, 2010, at 11:00 AM. Pastor Richard Moore will officiate.
He is survived by his brother, Frank Neidiffer of Petersburg, Alaska. Sisters: Nancy Lambert of Mountain Ranch, CA; Catherine Blennerhassett of San Jacinto, CA; Jane Strahm of Holtville, Edith Neidiffer of Arizona City, AZ and Kristin Britschgi of Boulevard, CA; Sons: Tim, Rod, Vincent and Stephen, 12 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. He is also survived by his good friend Sandy Donnelly.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lillian Neidiffer, and sisters Mary Anne Marloborough, and Lillian Mack.
Marshall Scott Jones, 61,
of Holtville, went to be with the Lord on December 12, 2009, after more than a year long battle with cancer. He was born January 27, 1948, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Scott moved to Imperial Valley in 1952 and attended school in Holtville. He did roofing in the Valley and in Las Vegas for many years, and later did termite inspections for Matador Pest Control.
Scott loved telling jokes and making people laugh. His hobbies included target practice and he especially enjoyed completing crossword puzzles.
As his family and friends knew, Scott dealt with struggle in his life, but those who knew and loved him take comfort in knowing that later in life he accepted Jesus as his Savior.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2009 at Trinity Baptist Church in Holtville, with Pastor Richard Moore officiating.
Scott was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Charles Jones, brother Rodney Jones, and step-father Edd Hanely.
Survivors include his mother, Rosalene Hanely; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Mary Jones (grandson Scotty Jones); daughter Marsha R. Molloy; (grandson Anthony W. Capps and granddaughter Christina R. Carpenter) brother and sister-in-law Ken and Sue Jones; sister and brother-in-law Sharon Trudy and Manuel Mata; sister and brother-in-law Melanie and Rod Gaddis, and many nieces and nephews.
Joe Sandoval, 71, Holtville,
Dec. 24 in San Diego. Visitation 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 29 with rosary 7 p.m., Basham Funeral Care; Mass 10:30 a.m. Dec. 30, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Basham Funeral Care.
Jean Mae Varner Alexander (Bilberry)
Services will be held for Jean Mae Varner Alexander, 88, on Saturday, December 19th, at 11:00 am in Holtville at the Trinity Baptist Church. The family invites anyone knowing Jean to come and join them for this time of honoring her. �
December 13, 2009, Jean Mae Varner Alexander (Bilberry) went home to be with the LORD. She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by Loreen Todd (sister); Verona Still (sister); and Basil Varner (brother). Her surviving children are: Alice and John Wilson; Dalbert and Lynda Alexander; Jeannette Alexander Cary; Betty Alexander; Robert and Cherylene Alexander; and Elizabeth and Steve Loe. Jean Alexander also leaves behind numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
TERRI GAYLE FUSI
August 9, 1947 - Nov. 27, 2009
Graveside services will be held for Terri G. Fusi of Holtville today Friday, December 18, at 11:00 am at the Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro.
Terri G. Fusi, 62, passed away Friday, November 27, in San Diego. Terri was born August 9, 1947 in Blythe, CA. She married Americo Fusi Jr. Our mother was a very good mom and grand-mother. She held various jobs, such as Dairy Queen, where she met our dad. Terri also worked for K. K. Sharp as a bookkeeper, and at numerous banks until she found her passion as a manicurist which she did for years. She enjoyed going camping with family and friends. Terri was very involved in all her grandchildren’s activities.
She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Mistie and Matt Mills and their children, Madison and Mathew Mills of El Centro; daughter and son-in-law, Tina and Steve Mamer and their children, Kannan, Savannah and Cole Mamer of Holtville; son and daughter-in-law, Americo Shane and Lourdes Fusi and their children, Bella and Giada of Holtville.
Terri was preceded in death by her husband, Americo Fusi Jr; her father and mother, OJ and Joyce Freeman; father-in-law, Americo Fusi Sr.: and sister-in-law, Rose Marie Shawver.
