Walter Eldon Pederson
Memorial services for retired West High School teacher, Walter Eldon Pederson will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2525 Belle Terrace, on Monday morning, May 8, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Rueben W. Perttula of The Finnish Lutheran Church in Van Nuys, CA, will officiate. A social time will follow in the fellowship hall. Walter was born on August 25, 1925, in Madelia, Minnesota, to Joseph and Minnie Pederson, and passed away on March 3, 2006, at the Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, CA. Following graduation from Madelia High School, he entered the military serving overseas with the 254th Infantry, 63rd Division. After discharge he attended and received his Master's Degree in Education from the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Walter came to Kern County and taught at different High Schools, Arvin (1955-56), North (1956-65), West 1965, until he retired in 1988. Walter was a song writer in partnership with musician Tunney Reeves, developing several discs. Walter was very active in the Kern Division California Retired Teacher's Association. He came to every monthly meeting, bringing gifts as prizes. Walter is survived by one sister, Gladys King; nephews, Jean and Charles Risenberg; nieces, Linda Ulrich and Dianne Stogsdill. Walter Eldon Pederson Aug. 13, 1925 - Mar.  8, 2006 www.bakersfield.com/obits">www.bakersfield.com/obits

Robinson, Shirley Mae (Carter)   View/Sign Guest Book
Shirley Mae (Carter) Robinson Feb. 20, 1941 - Jan. 18, 2008 Shirley Mae (Carter) Robinson, age 66, passed through the Pearly Gates of Heaven to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on January 18, 2008, surrounded by her loving family. She was a lifelong Christian and attended church regularly. Shirley was born February 20, 1941 in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma to the late Harvey Carter and Helen (Brumley) Carter. She was the second of three daughters. Her family moved to California when she was two years old. She graduated from Arvin High School in 1958. Shirley worked her way through BC and CSU Fresno, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education and a lifetime teaching credential. She began her teaching career with the Bakersfield City School District teaching 2nd grade at Nichols Elementary School. On August 6, 1964 she married Curtis Robinson. The couple settled in Lamont where they had a daughter, Shelena Renea and a son, Curtis Carter. Shirley was employed with the Lamont School District from 1969-2004. She loved teaching and was a lifelong learner. In 1976, she earned her Master's Degree in Education from Pepperdine University. She continued with her education by becoming a Reading Recovery Specialist in 1993. Shirley also pursued her studies by taking Bible courses through independent studies. After retiring, she became a member of the Retired Teachers Association. Shirley is survived by her daughter, Shelena Robinson and her husband, Steven Velasco; son, Curtis Carter Robinson and wife, Teresa; sister, Anna (Chet) Johns; sister, Glynda (Henry) Work; grandchildren, Maximilian and Alena Velasco, Skyler and Eden Robinson; stepgrandson, Matthew Parker; nieces, Talitha and Jordan Leighton; and many other beloved relatives and friends. Funeral services for Shirley Mae Robinson will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 23rd at Hopson- Anspach Mortuary, 8601 Hall Road, in Lamont. We would like to thank the staff at Optimal Hospice for their help and support. We extend our deepest appreciation to the caregivers for their love and support while Shirley battled cancer.
Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 1/22/2008.

Leo Colbert, 67, Bakersfield, Jan. 28. Visitation 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., funeral service 6 p.m. Feb. 2, Chapel of Beloved Care, 115 18th St.; private interment to follow at National Cemetery. Beloved Care Funeral Services.

  
Elsie Meyer

 Elsie Meyer was born May 15, 1940 in Jenks, Oklahoma to Rufus and Mary (Johnson) Stout. In 1947 the family moved to Kern County and Elsie received her education in Lamont elementary schools and graduated from Arvin High School with the Class of 1958. She went on to attend Bakersfield College. She began her career in accounting working for the Bakersfield City School District for 5 years at the educational center, then for Earl Dunstan Accountancy Corporation for 22 years. Elsie married Ivan Dean Meyer on October 18, 1980 and they enjoyed working together in many business ventures, including their property management company overseeing many properties in Shafter, Meyer's Ace Hardware Store, Pakrats and Meyer's One-Stop. Elsie had a passion for going to yard sales and that is what led her to venture into her store, Pakrats. Elsie was a member of the National Apartment Association and the Society of Women Accountants. She was a member of the Valley Baptist Church and was active in the Balcony Woman and with pastors' wives. Giving to people and being involved in church were very important to Elsie. Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan, who passed away April 3, 2003; 1 sister, Vivian East; 3 brothers, Chester, James and John Stout; and her parents. She leaves to mourn her passing her children, Gregory Dunstan and wife, Jody of Sacramento; daughters, Marcy Hearn and husband, Michael, Pamela Vargas, all of Bakersfield; 2 sisters, Evelyn Devencenzi of Paradise and Mary Baiocchi of Los Angeles; grandchildren, Katie Hearn, Brooke and Alexa Dunstan, Jessie Conaway, Eric, Melissa and Kimberly Vargas; and special life-long friend, Mary Skidmore. Funeral services will be held, Friday, April 4, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at Peters Funeral Home, Shafter for Elsie P. Meyer, age 67, of Bakersfield who passed away March 30, 2008 in Bakersfield. Pastors, Roger Spradlin, Phil Neighbors and John Sherley will officiate the service and interment will follow at Shafter Memorial Park. Visitation will be Thursday, April 3, at Peters Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Please sign Elsie's guest book at www.goldenvalleymemorialcare.com. Elsie P. Meyer May 15, 1940 - March 30, 2008 Peters Funeral Home - Shafter

Barle, Frank John   View/Sign Guest Book
Frank John Barle April 12, 1915 -June 4, 2008 Frank was born in Gilbert, Minnesota, to Mary and Andrew Barle. He lettered in football, basketball, and track his sophomore, junior, and senior years a Gilbert High School. He was also class president those three years. He graduated in 1933 and attended Eveleth Jr. College the next year where he lettered in football, basketball and track. Frank was voted captain of the all conference basketball team that freshman year. His sophomore year began his football and basketball years at the University of Minnesota. He was a member of the 1935 and 1936 national football championship teams the Golden Gophers. He graduated in 1937 and began a long career in education teaching and coaching at Litchfield, Minnesota, where he met his wife of 68 years, Doris. World War II interrupted. While awaiting his commission as a naval officer, he worked in the Kaiser shipyard in the Bay Area, from 1944 to 1946. He was in the Navy as a gunnery officer aboard a ship carrying ammunition in the South Pacific Theater. Following his discharge from the service, he completed his Masters Degree at the University of Southern California and accepted a position at Porterville High School and Junior College. This initiated 34 years of teaching in California. In 1947 Frank was employed by the Kern Union High School District to teach and coach at East Bakersfield High School. He coached football, basketball and track. With the opening of Arvin High School he moved to the new high school to chair the physical education department, coach football, and serve as Director of Athletics, a position he continued all during his 31 years at Arvin. His lifelong interest in all athletics included participating, coaching, officiating and directing. He was a member of the California Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and, Phi Delta Kappa. He served as president of the local and central section of the California Association of Health, PE and Recreation. He also serviced on a number of California Interscholastic Federation committees related to athletics. When Frank retired in 1980 the Kern High School District board chose to honor him by naming the Arvin High School football stadium the "Frank Barle Stadium". This was the first time a stadium, field or building had been named honoring a living recipient. In 2002 Frank was inducted into the Kern County Bob Elias Hall of Fame for Kern athletics. He cherished these honors. In 2005 he was inducted into the Arvin High School Athletics Hall of Fame. Until health problems kept him from playing recently, he was a life long avid golfer beginning with caddying as a young boy and serving a beautiful club in northern Minnesota as caddy master. He loved playing with his golfing friends and since retirement has missed very few Arvin football games. He followed the careers of his students with pride and satisfaction. Frank carried the vibrant memories of his students and friends closely in his heart. He loved them deeply and always. Those who dearly loved him and will miss him the most are his wife, Doris, daughter, Jane Weymouth (Ralph); son Eric Barle (Susan); granddaughters Katherine Weymouth, Christina Barle; and grandson Michael Barle; his sister of Cary, Illinois, Margaret Demeo; his numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 2:00 p.m., at All Saints Anglican Church 3200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield. Hillcrest Memorial Park
Published in the Bakersfield Californian from 6/6/2008 - 6/7/2008.

Leach, Leo   View/Sign Guest Book
Visitation for Leo Leach will be held at Basham Funeral Care (3312 Niles Street) on Sunday, June 29, 2008 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at New Beginnings Christian Church (1800 Height Street) on Monday morning, June 30, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Graveside services will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be James Henson-Leach, Joshua Fogle, Mikel Leith, Jerad Fogle, Justin Leach, Jonathan Leach and Kyle Campbell. Leo is preceded in death by his father and mother, Virgil and Nellie Leach and his brothers, Donel and Tommy Leach. Leo leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Betty Leach; brother, Herman Leach; children, Brad and Michelle Leach, Laura and Dan Plant and Robyn and John Campbell; 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Upon graduating from Arvin High School in 1958, Leo served in the Navy for four years. He retired in 1998 from Simplot Soilbuilders after 35 years of dedicated service. Leo accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior in March of 1997. Leo was a mighty man of God, great husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be missed by many. Our family would like to give a special thank you to both Shubert and Phyllis Leach. For additional service or floral delivery information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 873-8200. Leo Leach June 1, 1940 - June 26, 2008 Basham Funeral Care