Obituaries

    Last week, we reported that a well-loved community member, Ann Baerwald, 60, died peacefully after a long bout with cancer on Monday, Oct. 26, 1998. She died at Hemet Valley Medical Center.
    Miss Baerwald was born in England on March 21, 1938. She was raised in Cleveland. She attended Swarthmore College as an undergraduate and received her masters degree as a social work administrator from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
    She met her lifelong friend, Pam Fitchett, when they worked together at National Jewish Hospital in Denver. The two came to California in 1964.
    Miss Baerwald served as an administrator for the Regional Centers for the Developmentally Disabled in Los Angeles before retiring. She continued consulting in the business. She moved to Idyllwild in September 1995, working full-time at Tahquitz Travel, which is co-owned by the Fitchetts.
    Mrs. Fitchett told the Town Crier, 'Ann didn't really find a home until she moved to Idyllwild. She became a part of and committed to this community.'
    Miss Baerwald was a member of the Idyllwild Soroptimist Club and Mountain Community Patrol. She also was a board member of the Idyllwild Community Fund and an Associate of Idyllwild Arts Foundation.
    Miss Baerwald leaves no survivors. She was to be cremated and asked that there be no funeral or memorial services. A gathering is planned for all of her friends at the Fitchett home, 43839 Mandarin, Hemet. The event is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15. For directions, call Mrs. Fitchett at (909) 927-1375.
    In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any of the organizations listed above.

Marvin R. Davis
August 3, 1998

    Marvin R. Davis, 69, who delivered produce to a large number of restaurants and businesses in the Idyllwild area, died Monday, Aug. 3, at Phoenix Baptist Hospital in Phoenix.
    Mr. Davis was born April 10, 1929, in Aurelia, Iowa. He graduated from Beaumont High School in 1948 and began working at the Bank of Beaumont, living in that city from 1938 to 1961. When the bank became First Western Bank, he was transferred to its Los Angeles branch. Also, he served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant during the Korean War.
    Following his work in the banking industry, Mr. Davis was self-employed as the owner/operator of a wholesale produce distribution company for 20 years.
    He lived in Norco for 25 years and in Phoenix for the past five years. Weaver Mortuary in Beaumont handled funeral arrangements. Visitation was from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at the mortuary. Memorial services were at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Weaver Mortuary Chapel with burial following at Riverside National Cemetery, Staging Area No. 3, in Riverside.
    Mr. Davis is survived by his wife, Janis M. Davis of Phoenix; two daughters, Bekki L. Davis of Yorba Linda and Rexanna Fendley of Phoenix; a grandson, Kyle Fendley of Phoenix; six brothers, Joseph E. Davis of Beaumont, Darryl A. Davis of West Hills, Richard G. Davis of Banning, Gordon M. Davis of Oceanside and Thomas K. Davis of Fontana; and three sisters, Melissa Allen of Yucca Valley, Gloria R. Mackie of Ramona and Susan L. Ferguson of Spokane, Wash.

Charles Hurley Dodson
July 22, 1998

    Charles Hurley Dodson, a self-employed cook for 40 years, died of cancer at Meadowbrook Convalescent Hospital in Hemet on Wednesday, July 22. Mr. Dodson, 91, was a resident of Anza for 15 years before moving to Hemet two years ago. Mr. Dodson was born Aug. 1, 1906, in Rogers, Ark. Besides being a self-employed cook, he was a cook for Santa Fe Railroad all over the country. Mr. Dodson, a widower, enjoyed traveling.
    Memorial services were at 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at McWane Family Funeral Home in Hemet. The Rev. Bob Reece of Anza Baptist Church officiated with a private inurnment following at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Covina.
    Memorial contributions can be made to Anza First Southern Baptist Church, 39200 Foothill Road, Anza, CA 92306. Mr. Dodson is survived by his son, James Smith, of Hemet.

Gaylor Edwin Field
September 1, 1998

    Gaylor Edwin Field, 82, a photographer, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1998, of cancer at his home in the Los Feliz Hills of Los Angeles.
    He was a high jumper on the track team at Polytechnic High School in Riverside. After high school, he attended Los Angeles Art Center studying photography. His first job was a press photographer for the Los Angeles Examiner.
    In 1938, Mr. Field became ship's photographer on the S.S. President Coolidge. He served in the California National Guard and was sent to Korea while serving in the U.S. Army in WWII.
    Mr. Field married Nellie Braucher of Riverside and they joined his parents at Field's Studios of Photography in the Mission Inn. When his father retired, they took over the business and ran it until Nell's death.
    He was actively involved in these Riverside organizations: Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Elks Club, Masons, Scottish Rite and Al Malika Shriners. For many years, he was a member of the Calvary Presbyterian Church of Riverside.
    Mr. Field grew up visiting Idyllwild in the summer when only eight families were here. In 1978, he married longtime friend Florence Steere-Russell, whom he met in Idyllwild when they were kids. Her grandparents, the Woodheads, had been coming to Idyllwild since the turn of the century.
    The Fields moved to Los Angeles. They spent 20-1/2 years in their three homes: Los Angeles, Idyllwild and Cottonwood Cove, Nev.
    Along with his wife, Mr. Field is survived by twin sons, Charles Field of Bainbridge Island, Wash., and Sidney Field of Ashland, Ore.; four grandchildren, Mark Field of Davis, Mary Jane Field-Morrison of Fremont, Katie and Julie Field; three stepchildren, Charles Russell of Granada Hills, Ginger Russell-Stahley of Chatsworth and James Russell of Ventura; and two step-grandchildren, Isabella and William Russell.
    A memorial service is scheduled in Idyllwild on Saturday, Oct. 3. Anyone interested in attending is asked to call Mrs. Field at (323) 660-9558.
    The family suggests donations be made to: VNA Care, Hospice Into Home, 1025 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202-2976.

Helene P. Mattingly
October 19, 1998

    Helene P. Mattingly, 82, beloved housewife and a retired saleswoman for Petley Postcards, died Monday, Oct. 19, 1998, at the Desert Regional Medical Center.
    Mrs. Mattingly was born Dec. 13, 1915, in Akron, Ohio to Herbert E. and Edna P. Teeple Petley.
    A resident of Palm Springs, she also was a part-time resident of Idyllwild. Her husband, Benjamin L. Mattingly, preceded her in death.
    Funeral arrangements are being handled by Wiefels and Son Funeral Directors of Palm Springs. Service will be held at the funeral home, 690 Vella Road, at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998. Interment is private.
    The family suggests donations to the Palm Springs Stroke Activity Center, 2800 E. Alejo Road., Palm Springs, CA 92262.
    She is survived by three sons, Richard Mattingly of Santa Monica, William Mattingly of Escondido and Douglas Mattingly of Yakima, Wash.; and five grandchildren.

Josephine B. Oddous
October 12, 1998

    Josephine B. Oddous, 89, a longtime school teacher at Idyllwild School and in Hemet, died from heart failure at her home in Idyllwild on Monday, Oct. 12, 1998.
    Ms. Oddous was born July 14, 1909, in Spokane, Wash.
    Having obtained bachelor's degrees in arts and education, she was a teacher at the Baptist Christian School in Hemet for 12 years. Her most recent employment was as a teacher at Idyllwild School for 11 years. Prior to living in Idyllwild for the past 38 years, she was a resident of Palm Springs.
    Ms. Oddous was a member of Idyllwild Bible Church, Delta Phi Epsilon, Isaac Walton League, California Retired Teachers Association and Idyllwild Garden Club.
    Private graveside services were held with McWane Family Funeral Home in Hemet handling arrangements. Burial is at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Idyllwild Bible Church Benevolent Fund, P.O. Box 1029, 25860 Highway 243, Idyllwild, CA 92549.
    Survivors include a son, Thomas A. Paine of Idyllwild; a sister, Winifred Neitz of Boise; a nephew, Peter Neitz of Yuma, Ariz.; and a niece, Paula Durand of Boise. Ms. Oddous was preceded in death by a sister, Maybelle Hewitt, in 1996.

Robert George Pallas
July 26, 1998

    Robert George Pallas of Idyllwild, a longtime letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, died of heart failure on Sunday, July 26, at the age of 96.
    Mr. Pallas was born Sept. 10, 1901, in Omaha, Neb. He was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers and a postal service employee for 40 years in Omaha. He and his wife, Minna, retired to Largo, Fla., where they lived for more than 30 years.
    After Mr. PallasÕ wife died in 1990, their daughter, Sharlene Hitchings of Idyllwild, moved him to Idyllwild. He lived here for a few months before moving to Village Health Care in Hemet, where he died.
    Interment was at Serenity Gardens in Largo with Miller-Jones Mortuary in Hemet handling funeral arrangements.
    Mr. Pallas is survived by his daughter and one grandson, David Hitchings, who is currently moving to Idyllwild.

Carl Kenneth Pearlman
October 18, 1998

    An active participant in the Idyllwild Arts Academy and its summer programs, Carl Kenneth Pearlman, M.D., 90, died in his sleep of heart failure on Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998. Mr. Pearlman was at home in Santa Ana at the time.
    He was born Aug. 18, 1908, in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, N.Y. Grade school was followed by attendance at Boys High.
    From an early age, he knew he wanted to be a physician and follow in the footsteps of his eldest brother. He worked his way through college and received a bachelor of science degree from New York University. He then attended Dalhousie University Medical School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, receiving the Doctor Hattie Prize for highest standing in medicine at graduation.
    During WWII, he was a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and was stationed for a time in Huntington, W. Va., where he met his wife, Agnes Branch. They were married July 28, 1945.
    After completing urological specialty training at the Medical College of Georgia, the Pearlmans moved to Santa Ana in 1948 with two young children.
    He served for many years as clinical professor of urology at University of California, Irvine, Medical School. He was chairman of the first expansion fund for St. Joseph Hospital, chief of staff at Santa Ana Community Hospital (now Western Community Hospital) and chief of staff at the former Orange County General Hospital.
    In 1984, he was the second physician to be honored as Physician of the Year by the Orange County Medical Association. Dr. Pearlman was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Diplomate of the American Board of Urology and Professor Emeritus in Clinical Urology at University of California, Irvine. Through the years, he contributed numerous articles to the medical literature and was an innovative practitioner in the field of urology.
    He devoted much time to YMCA in Santa Ana. In an effort to aid the plight of world Jewry in the post-war years, he became the first chairman in Orange County of the Bonds for Israel and served as chairman for the United Jewish Welfare Fund.
    He served with the Jewish Family Service and the Nursing Home Advisory Committee. He was a member of the board of directors of the Anti-Defamation League and was an honoree of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (now known as the National Conference for Community and Justice).
    The Pearlmans gave freely of time and energy to enhance the cultural life of the community. He was proud of the fact that the Orange County Philharmonic Society had its inception in their home about 46 years ago. The couple also served on the board of directors of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation and actively promoted the efforts of the Ecology Center of Southern California, a project of Educational Communications. They have owned a home in Idyllwild since 1955.

Gerald C. Walraven
August 22, 1998

    Gerald C. Walraven, a dominoe player and well-loved friend of Idyllwild residents, died Saturday, Aug. 22, 1998, of a heart attack in Rock Haven, Pa.
    Mr. Walraven, 71, was a resident of Pine Cove and Hemet. He was born Feb. 14, 1927, in Ireton, Iowa, and moved to California in 1957.
    He served in the U.S. Army for two years and worked for SAS Airlines for most of his career. The family lived primarily in Lakewood and have owned a home in Pine Cove for about 20 years.
    Funeral services and interment were held Aug. 29, 1998, at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.
    He is survived by his wife, Donna; three sons, Donald Walraven of Georgia, Duane Walraven of Oregon and Larry Walraven of Lakewood; a daughter, Joyce Kurtzo, of Anaheim; and seven grandchildren.

John W. Wiita
October 12, 1998

    Former Idyllwilder John Wiita, 77, died of natural causes Oct. 12, 1998, in Laguna Hills.
    He was born May 25, 1921, in Fitchburg, Mass. Mr. Wiita received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Northeastern University in Boston and worked as an engineer for Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach before entering the U.S. Navy in WWII.
    After the war, he settled in Whittier with his bride, the former Marguerite (Maggi) Whitacre of Whittier, and began working for Steelform Contracting Company, a major West Coast construction subcontractor out of in San Francisco.
    While pursuing his career, he rose from a draftsman to senior vice president in charge of operations in Southern California. But he devoted himself to his family and to community service, giving long hours to the Whittier Chapter of the International YÕs MenÕs Club Ñ the menÕs service auxiliary of the YMCA Ñ and served as international district governor of that organization.
    Mr. Wiita was elected to the school board of Whittier City School District and served as president in 1967-68 and again in 1970-71. He was both an Indian Guide and a Boy Scout leader, as well as a member of the Lions Club.
    Mr. and Mrs. Wiita moved to Idyllwild in 1980, where Mrs. Wiita and Ruth Mitchell founded Tahquitz Travel. Mr. Wiita was active in the American Legion Post 800. He lived in Laguna Hills at the time of his death.
    He is survived and dearly missed by his beloved wife of 54 years; his children, Douglas Wiita of Playa Del Rey, Janet Johnson of Pullman, Wash., Joanne Wiita of Gypsum, Colo. and Kathy Wiita-Blake of Santa Barbara; four grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
    Private services were held on Oct. 15 at the United Methodist Church of Laguna Hills. He was to be cremated and his ashes scattered.
    Donations may be made to the Camp Arbolado Fund of the Whittier YMCA, 12510 Hadley St., Whittier, CA 90601.