Walter Cline Jr.
July 29, 2009
Walter H. Cline was born March 4, 1943, in Cottage Grove to Walter and Goldie Hammitt Cline. He married Rita Wheeler on Oct. 1, 1983, in Reno.
Walt served in the Air Force and worked as a timber faller. Upon his graduation from Trend Business College, he was given the following letter of recommendation:
It is with the greatest pleasure, and without reservation, that I recommend Walter Cline for any appropriate position to which he might apply.
Walter is a jewel. he is not only exceptionally bright, he is exceptionally nice. I can honestly say I have never seen Walter without a large, sincere smile on his face. As a result of his academic excellence, attitude and attendance, Walter was awarded early on his program as student of the month. He has served as a strong role model for other students, and he has encouraged and tutored many students with their courses.
Walter is a happy, stable man who works exceptionally hard. Despite a horrendous work load, Walter showed up each night for classes, prepared, anxious to learn, and a wonderful participant. During his time at Trend, he lived on little sleep, but he always looked refreshed, content, and had a good word to say about everyone.
I truly hate to see this man graduate. He will be sorely missed. But his future looks bright, and out of thousands of students I have taught, he stands in a very select circle of few I can recommend wholeheartedly.
Sincerely, Lynn A Robinson, Instructor
Walt died July 26, singing praises to God at church. He was 66 and had a heart attack. It’s interesting to note that his father, Walter Cline Sr., also died praising God.
He is survived by his loving wife, Rita; a daughter, Susan Cline of Elmira; a son, Robert of Gilchrist; five stepdaughters, Vickie Stevens of La Pine, Joan Swain and Regina Field, both of Cottage Grove, Darlene Wheeler of Otis and Teresa Reeves of Springfield; two sisters, Patsy Head and Ellen Richardson, both of Cottage Grove; a brother, Harold of Disston; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A daughter, Holly Cline, died previously.
Burial will be in Shields Cemetery in Cottage Grove. Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield.
Marlene Gabert
July 28, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — Marlene Loraine Gabert of Springfield died July 24 at age 71. No service is planned.
She was born Jan. 4, 1938, in Bend to Gus and Effie Fager Klebe. She married Everett Gabert on Jan. 19, 1954, in Rapid City, S.D.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include three sons, Ed of La Pine and Bob and Rod, both of Springfield; three daughters, Kathy Gabert, Linda Gabert and Tami Garrow, all of Springfield; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her husband died in October 1991.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield. Remembrances to the American Cancer Society.
Robert Phelps
July 27, 2009
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 31, at United Lutheran Church in Eugene for Robert Phelps of Eugene. He died July 15 of cardiac arrest at age 71.
He was born Feb. 23, 1938, in San Diego to Edgar and Aline Phelps. He married Molly Reilly on Aug. 30, 1992, in Eugene.
Phelps graduated in 1956 from Poplar Bluff High School in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and attended college. He served in the Air Force for 21 years, retiring in 1977 at the rank of master sergeant. He was a carrier for the US Postal Service from 1978 to 1999.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Darla Humbert of Eugene; a son, Derek Phelps of Phoenix, Ariz.; a stepdaughter, Melissa Relyea of Eugene; two stepsons, Brendan Baker and Colin Baker, both of Akron, Ohio; two grandchildren and five stepgrandchildren. A son, David, died previously.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield. Remembrances to Meals On Wheels.
Orville Smith
July 27, 2009
Orville Smith of Eugene died July 14 of age-related causes. He was 91. No service is planned.
He was born May 13, 1918, in Claremore, Okla., to Jim and Violet Cantrell Smith. He married Kathryn King on Jan. 18, 1941, in Quartzsite, Ariz.
He worked as a mechanic for Disneyland until his retirement.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Robert of Eugene; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield.
Thomas Rubick
July 27, 2009
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Aug. 7 at the former Opus6ix Gallery, 22 W. Seventh Ave., in Eugene, for Thomas Michael Rubick of Eugene, who died July 19 of brain cancer. He was 61.
He was born March 16, 1948, in Long Beach, Calif., to Anthony and Patricia Carleton Rubick. He married Donna Sires on Aug. 13, 1972, in Corona Del Mar, Calif. They later divorced. He married Jeanne Maasch on Aug. 13, 1989, in Eugene.
He held a bachelor’s degree from California State University at Long Beach and a master’s degree from Kent State University. He was co-founder of Rubick & Funk Graphic Communications in Eugene, an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication for five years, and was head of Lane Community College’s graphic design program for 21 years.
Survivors include his wife; his mother, Patricia Craighead of Oxnard, Calif.; two sons, Jade and Cody, both of Portland; a daughter, Emilie Lamson of Portland; a sister, Paulette Johnson of Camarillo, Calif.; a half-brother, Monte Rubick of Lake Forest, Calif.; and four grandchildren.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield.
Elva Helmer
July 27, 2009
Elva Rigby Helmer of Eugene died July 18 of age-related causes. She was 104. No service is planned.
She was born July 13, 1905, Mechanicsville, Iowa, to Duane and Olive Pound Rigby. She married Leonard Helmer in 1938 in Iowa.
She graduated from Iowa State Teachers College and worked as a sixth-grade teacher in Iowa for 12 years. She worked as a civil service clerk for a naval ammunition depot for 25 years.
Survivors include a son, William “Bill” Helmer, and two grandchildren. Her husband died in 1956.
Arrangements by Buell Funeral Chapel in Springfield.
James Flagg
July 27, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — James “Jim” S. Flagg of Springfield died July 18 of cancer at age 58. Private family services are planned.
He was born July 3, 1951, in Pittsburgh to Harry and Annamary Sawhill Flagg. He married Ann Caldwell on Nov. 26, 1995, in San Ramon, Calif.
He held an associate’s degree in communications from Los Angeles Community College.
He acted in community theater and musicals and in television and radio commercials. He played in a political folk music band, Blue Road.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Gino Curcuruto of Philadelphia, Tony Curcuruto of Seattle and James Sampietro of Pleasanton, Calif.; four daughters, DeeDee Pierson-Flagg of Shoreham, Vt., Amy Flagg of Springfield, Jessica Flagg of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Dianna Sampietro of Eugene; two sisters, Claire Marcott of Pleasant Hill and Lindell Flagg of High Rolls, N.M.; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements by Buell Funeral Chapel in Springfield. In lieu of flowers, remembrances to the Lord Leebrick Theatre in Eugene.
Patricia Bratton
July 27, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — A celebration of life and potluck will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26, at 95159 Marcola Road in Marcola for Patricia E. “Pat” Bratton of Springfield. She died July 22 of age-related causes at age 92.
She was born June 25, 1917, in North Dakota to George and Laura Long O’Connor. She married Lewis Bratton in 1976 in Richmond. He died in 1997.
She graduated from high school in Corvallis in the mid-1930s. She worked for Agri-Pac and Chet’s Frozen Foods for many years and later was a school bus driver for the Springfield School District. She and her husband, Lewis Bratton, bought the abandoned town of Richmond and operated a business offering tours of the town.
Survivors include two daughters, Jacki Lilley of Springfield and Pauli Harris of Sacramento; a son, Michael Ritchie of Sacramento; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Her first husband, Edward Ritchie, died in 1961, and a daughter, Judine Miller and grandson, Randy Hutchens, died previously.
Arrangements by Buell Funeral Chapel in Springfield.
Remembrances to the American Heart Association.
Ronald Bramhall
July 27, 2009
A memorial service will be held in August in Texas for Ronald Charles Bramhall of Eugene, who died July 3 of complications of liver problems at age 65.
He was born May 21, 1944, in Dallas, Texas, to Lonnie and Frances Mullins Bramhall.
He received an associate’s degree from the University of North Texas. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1967 and worked as a blues musician in Texas.
Survivors include a son, Ron II of Springfield; a sister, Shirley Watson of Irving, Texas; two brothers, Doyle of Alpine, Texas, and Dale of Fayetteville, Ark.; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield.
Elizabeth Hecker
July 23, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 24, at St. Alice Catholic Church for Elizabeth M. Hecker of Springfield. She died July 21 of complications of a stroke at age 87. A rosary service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church.
She was born Sept. 21, 1921, in New England, N.D., to Valentine and Barbara Schaff Schaaf. She married Edward Heck-er on Oct. 24, 1939, in Bowman, N.D.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include three sons, Irvin and Edward, both of Springfield, and Marvin of Eugene; two daughters, Mary Hilsendager of Eugene and Darlene Jacobucci of Canby; a brother, Clem Schaaf of Bowman, N.D.; a sister, Josephine Kaczmarek of Scranton, N.D.; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her husband died Dec. 24, 2003, and a daughter, Janice Hecker, died previously.
Arrangements by Buell Funeral Chapel in Springfield.