ALUM MEMORIES

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In Memoriam

1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

1920s

LAURA (DEMARAIS) DAHLMAN (B.A., Art Education, ‘26) died February 7, 2001, in Nevada City. She was 97. She was a member of the National Charity League, Los Angeles Chapter, for 45 years and volunteered for Children’s Hospital, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts. Preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Sherman, she is survived by a son, Robert; a daughter, Virginia; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

SHELDON S. RANKIN (B.A., Education, ‘27) died February 13, 2001. He was 95. Rankin was superintendent of schools in Walnut Creek, California, for 14 years before becoming rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Parish. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Marion. He is survived by two sons, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

1930s

MELBA LEOTA SHEARIN (B.A., Education, ‘30) died May 11, 2001. She was 92. Shearin was a schoolteacher for 12 years before becoming an executive assistant for the Alaska-Pacific Division of Pan Am Airlines. She is survived by one niece and one nephew.

LEO F. CAIN (B.A., Education, Credential, ‘31) died February 11, 2001, at the age of 91. He received his master’s degree and Ph.D. from Stanford University. He was a World War II naval veteran; a professor at the University of Maryland and the University of Oklahoma; a professor, dean, and vice president at San Francisco State University; and founding president of California State University at Dominguez Hills. Cain was a pioneer in the field of special education and, at the time of his death, was the chairman of the San Mateo Headstart Program. Preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, he is survived by three daughters, four grandchildren, one brother, and one sister.

IRMA (STUDLEY) GUYNN (B.A., Music, ‘32) died March 30, 2001. She held a master’s degree from the University of the Pacific, and was a piano and violin instructor. Preceded in death by her husband, Plez, she is survived by her two sons, William and James, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

HELEN (MCKENZIE) OWENS (B.A., Education ‘33) died November 28, 2000. She was 90. Owens was a teacher at Lincoln Street and Bidwell Elementary Schools in Chico before becoming a rancher. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Carroll; daughter, Sally; and son, Richard. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Nancie; three step-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

THOMAS “TOM” EVANS (B.A., Education, ‘36; Credential, ‘42) died May 24, 2001. He was 91. Evans was a member of the Chico State track team and held the pole vaulting record for nearly 16 years. After graduation he became an elementary school teacher and served as superintendent of schools for Butte County for 27 years. Survivors include his wife, Naidene; sons Roger and Jim; daughters Jerri and Yvonne; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

1940s

BERTHA FOSTER (B.S., Business Administration, ‘42; Credential) died April 23, 2001. She was 79. Foster was a teacher at West Contra Costa College and was active in several environmental groups. She was preceded in death by her partner, Gene. Survivors include her sister, Myrtle, and brother, Charles.

1950s

WILLA MESSERSMITH (B.A., Education, ‘50) died February 24, 2001, in Chico. She was 79. Messersmith was active in numerous service clubs and volunteered at Enloe Medical Center. She was a teacher for 35 years. Her first husband, Alvin, and her second husband, Wilford, preceded her in death. She is survived by one son, two daughters, and three grandchildren.

JAMES J. HORNING (M.A., Industrial Arts, Credential, ‘53) died June 8. He was 83. Horning served in the U.S. Army during World War II and taught industrial arts and special education in Arizona, Hawaii, and California. He is survived by his wife, Edythe; son, James; and daughter, Patricia.

HAROLD CLARK (B.A., Education, ‘56) died March 3, 2001. He was 75. Clark was a former administrator for the Stanislaus County Board of Education, holding the position for 35 years. The World War II U.S. naval veteran was preceded in death by his wife, Helen. He is survived by one niece, one nephew, one great-niece, and one great-nephew.

GARY ENGELKEN (B.A., Physical Education, ‘58; M.A., Physical Education, ‘60) died May 1, 2001, at the age of 63. For 35 years, Engelken was an instructor and coach at Yuba College, and in 1989 was inducted into the CSU, Chico Athletic Hall of Fame. Survivors include his wife, Judy; daughters Elizabeth and Mary; and one grandchild.

VANCE TERRY (B.A., Business/Accounting, ‘58) died February 2 in Sacramento, California. He was 63. Terry played steel guitar with Billy Jack Wills and his Western Swing Band, and Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. He worked for Bank of America in San Francisco.

MARY GARDNER (Credential, ‘59) died January 23, 2001, in Chico. She was 103. Gardner was a school teacher for 47 years and an active member of the Durham Women’s Club, Eastside Club, Phi Beta Nu, and Faith Lutheran Church. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Jay, and is survived by one daughter, four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

1960s

GERALDINE “GERRY” DAVIS (B.A., Music, ‘60) died May 19 in Chico. She was 65. Davis retired from the Chico Unified School District after 27 years as a music teacher. Her daughters, Kelly and Cari; sister, Peggy; and four grandchildren survive her.

PAUL SCHRUM (B.A., German, ‘60) died April 17. He was 64. Schrum received his master’s degree from the University of San Francisco and was a teacher for the Wheatland School District for 20 years. Survivors include his wife, Jocelyn; son, Norm; daughter, Laurie; one sister; two brothers; and eight grandchildren.

ESTHER BRITTON (B.A., Education, Credential, ‘64) died July 12 in Willows. She was 91. Britton retired from the Willows Unified School District in 1975. Her husband, Harry, preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Glenn; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

1970s

NETA PYLE (B.A., Biological Sciences, ‘71; B.S., Nursing, ‘76) died June 23. She was 76. Pyle was a registered nurse at Enloe Medical Center for 12 years and owned as well as operated an almond orchard with her husband. She is survived by four sons, Randy, Larry, John, and Raymon; daughter, Donna; 14 grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

GARY DEBOIS (B.S., Business Administration, ‘73) died March 17 after a long battle with leukemia. He worked for Consumer Credit Counseling of Sacramento, was very active in his church, and wrote many articles for various publications. Survivors include his wife, Cynthia; brothers Darwin and Reed; and sister, Anne.

CHARLES “CHUCK” GENTLES (B.A., Political Science, ‘77) died April 28, 2001. He was 58. Gentles served in the U.S. Army, was a highway patrol state trooper in Washington, and served as a reserve police officer for the Butte County Sheriff’s Department. Survivors include his wife, Judy; sons David and Dean; daughters Shellie and Starr; one sister; and 10 grandchildren.

JOHN ESTRADA (B.A., Art, ‘78; Credential) died April 27, 2001, at the age of 51. He is survived by his wife, Robin; son, Grayson; stepdaughter, Rebecca; his parents; and two sisters.

1980s

BOB HERKERT (B.A., Agriculture/Journalism, ‘81) died December 19 at the age of 42. He served as the executive manager for the Colusa County Farm Bureau. He is survived by his wife, Audra, and father, Harry.

DONALD REED (B.A., English, ‘81) died March 10, 2001, at the age of 66. He served in the U.S. Navy and after 26 years, retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve. Reed then joined the U.S. Postal Service and retired after more than 30 years. He is survived by his two sons, James and William; daughter, Katherine; brother, Larry; and five grandchildren.

TERRENCE “TERRY” BROWN (B.S., Business Administration/Finance, ‘82) died February 16, 2001. He was 44. After graduation, Brown worked for various computer firms in the San Francisco area before settling at Granite Bay. He is survived by his wife, Alecia; daughter, Kelsey; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Brown; and three older siblings.

JOHN “J.D.” STAMPER (B.A., Social Work, ‘85) died April 29, 2001. He was 59. Stamper served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked for the West Orange County Hotline for 15 years. He is survived by his wife, Deborah; sons John and Jason; and his mother.

1990s

MEGAN HUDZIK (B.S., Biological Sciences, ‘99) died January 28, 2001. She was 24. Hudzik was a research assistant for the California Department of Water Resources. She was working on her master’s degree at CSU, Chico. She is survived by her parents, Richard and Kate; her brother, Christopher; and her grandparents.

2000s

KITTY CHILI GLAU (M.S., Psychology, ‘00) died May 24, 2001. She was 52. Glau was a mental health counselor for Butte County. She is survived by her brother, Mark; sister, Kris; stepfather, Ken; and her grandparents.

JOSHUA STRIEBY (B.S., Mathematics/Physics, ‘00) died February 23, 2001, in Cohasset. He was 25. Strieby was employed by the United States Thermoelectric Consortium as a computer programmer. His parents, Paul and Valerie; his sister, Valerie; and his brother, Paul, survive him.

GREGORY PATRICK WALSH (M.S., Biological Sciences, ‘01) died July 11, 2001, after a three-year battle with brain cancer. He was 29. Walsh received his bachelor's degree from Humboldt State University in 1995. Survivors include his wife, Kim; parents, Sandy and Edward; one brother; one grandmother; two stepparents; two stepbrothers; and one stepsister.

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