If you would like to post an obituary of a San Dieguito alumnus, please let us know.
Ronald M. Bissonnette age 52 succumbed to his long battle with cancer on August 9, 2010. He is preceded in death by his mother and grandson. Ronald will be deeply missed by his wife of almost 29 years, Tammy; sons, Michael and his wife Jessica, and Mark, 3 grandchildren, 2 brothers and 1 sister.
Visitation Thursday August 12, 2010 from 5-8 PM at Kiser Funeral Home, 9231 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. Memorial Service 11:00 AM, Friday August 13, 2010 at McGregor Baptist Church, 3750 Colonial Blvd. Fort Myers, FL
News-Press.com, Fort Myers, FL, 11 August 2010
Robert F. Bruun SOLANA BEACH — Long time resident and owner of Baker Iron Works lost his 19 day battle to cancer on Friday, November 19, 2010. He was a 1959 graduate of San Dieguito High School and a Charter member of “The Juggs” Car Club in Del Mar, along with many youth sports over the years, and the Encinitas Elks Lodge. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Susie Bruun; daughter, Bonnie Susan Corbin; son, John Robert Bruun; grandchildren, Brock Bruun, Daniel Corbin, and Katharine Bruun; and sisters, Suie Williams of Park City, and Nancy Knapp of San Diego. Services will be held at 11 a.m., Sunday, November 28, at the Encinitas Elks Lodge, # 2243 in Encinitas.
Legacy.com. Another obituary for Mr. Bruun may be found here at the Del Mar Times.
August 11, 1941 – September 10, 2016
Resident of Berkeley
Linda Leigh Davidson was a native Californian who grew up in Encinitas. She graduated salutatorian from San Dieguito High School and majored in languages at the University of California at Berkeley. She also studied Spanish at the University of Madrid.After college, she settled in Berkeley and taught at Redwood High School in Marin county where she taught ceramics, arts and Spanish. She had a lifelong commitment to teaching, learning and creating. Another passion was early music and she played Medieval, Baroque, and Renaissance music with the group Trio Las Locas. She enjoyed playing the flute, recorder and guitar.
She was active in her local community, and coordinated emergency preparedness and holiday parties for her neighborhood. She was very generous to the Humane Society, and many other charities. She is survived by her sister Nancy Borchers, nephews Reed and Jason Borchers and niece, Nikki Steele and her many friends.
There will be no services. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Berkeley Humane Society. Express condolences at www.oakparkhillschapel.com. Published in East Bay Times on Sept. 16, 2016
Submitted by Cindy Korwin Thorpe
Submitted by Betsy Schreiber
Sept. 18, 1941 – July 10, 2014
Salem, Oregon
Earl was born September 18, 1941 in Dayton, Ohio, the third of six children of Earl H. and Kathryn Dixon. In 1953 the family moved from Ohio to Del Mar, California where his father began employment with General Dynamics. Earl graduated from San Dieguito Union High School, Encinitas, California in 1959 and entered the Naval Reserve receiving a honorable medical discharge in 1960. That same year, he moved with his family back to Omaha, Nebraska where he and his father were employed at General Dynamics working on the Atlas Missile Program. While in Omaha he met his future wife, Verna Peters, and they were married in 1962. Later that year the missile program came to a close and they moved to the Dallas, Texas area where their daughter, Teresa, was born.
Earl was baptized as an infant in Dayton, Ohio at the Evangelical United Bretheran Church. He became a Confirmed Communicant Member of the Lutheran faith at King of Glory Lutheran Church, Dallas, TX on the 28th day of October 1962. Earl actively served his Lord by singing in the choir, ushering, and becoming an Elder and reader at Christ the Cornerstone Lutheran Church, San Diego. His work schedule was always changing so he helped as much as possible with various church property activities.
Most of Earl’s working career was spent in the manufacturing arena as an expeditor of parts and later in retail sales. He retired from Lowe’s Home Improvement Center, Salem, Oregon in 2008.
Earl loved golf, playing, watching on TV, and going to tournaments. His favorite time for golf was with his best “bud” Gary, Saturday mornings, Oaks North Golf Club, with the awesome foursome, Earl, Gary, Joel and Mark. He was a die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan. He enjoyed traveling to scenic locations and taking pictures of God’s natural wonders. Some of his photos are enlarged and displayed in our living room. He enjoyed fishing with brother-in-law Bill at Clear Lake, Waseca, Minnesota.
Earl is survived by his wife, Verna, daughter Teresa Dixon King (Randy) and foster daughter Cathy Harrison (Jim). Three grandchildren (Erin, Kayla & Tyler King), two foster grandchildren (Megan & Mason Harrison) and two sisters, Kristina Davis, Arlington, TX and Debbie Hennin, Garland, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Kathryn Dixon, sisters Judith Hearn and Sarah Blackshear and his brother Steven Dixon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Earl’s name can be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church or The American Cancer Society.
GREENFIELD
Nicholas “Nick” Russell Gulling, age 78, of Greenfield, passed away on Monday, February 17, 2020.
Nick was born on May 8, 1941 in Indianapolis, IN, the second son of Jack Nicholas Gulling and Johanne Perrin Gulling. His mother remarried to Harry Wenz. His father remarried to Maude “Jerre” Hardingham Cowee.
He lived with his mother and stepfather in Rancho Santa Fe, California, where he graduated from San Dieguito High School and attained the rank of Captain in the Cadet Corps. He also attended San Diego City College. As a teenager, he worked for his father in the summer at Gulling Auto Electric in Indianapolis and drove an ambulance in San Diego, California in the winter.
After graduation, he moved to Indianapolis and was a member of the Washington Township Police Department. He joined the Indiana State Police in 1965 and served under Governor Otis Bowen. In addition to road patrol, he worked undercover in the intelligence division. He retired in 1977 after 12 1/2 years with the rank of 1st Sergeant.
He was a member of the Indiana National Guard U.S. Army Reserve for 14 years. He was a Company Commander of the Company C, 138th Signal Battalion in Greenfield and was a Captain when he retired.
His stepfather owned Royal Foods in Indianapolis and he worked there after he left the Indiana State Police. From there, he went to work for James & Associates Architect Company as a mechanical electrical inspector. He started his own business, Suburban Security installing and maintaining business and home alarms. Brandywine Music Hall opened in Greenfield and Nick was in charge of security for the music stars and facility.
In 1981, he was appointed Chief Deputy of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department by Sheriff Malcolm Grass. He was elected sheriff for two terms in 1982 and 1986. He was instrumental in the designing and construction of the new Hancock County Jail which opened in 1988. He had over 40 years of law enforcement training and experience. He is a graduate of three Law Enforcement Academies: F.B.I. National, Indiana State Police, and the Marion County Sheriff.
Due to term limits, and not able to run for another term as sheriff and he was appointed jail commander from 1991-1998. During that time, he was elected to three two-year terms as Indiana State Representative for District 53 which included Hancock and Rush Counties. He would take a leave of absence from the sheriff’s department while he served at the Indiana State House. He ran again for Hancock County Sheriff and was elected to two more terms in 1998 and 2002. He retired from there in 2007 with 25 years of service.
He was a member of Indiana Sheriff’s Association, where he was a lifetime member, American Legion Post #119, Hancock County FOP #140, and AARL Ham Radio Membership License.
After his retirement, he was hired to be project manager for the building of the EOC (Emergency Operations Center). He was later appointed to serve as supervisor there for a few months. Pyramid Architects, who designed the EOC, hired him as a consultant for cities and counties regarding radio systems. He retired permanently in 2017.
As a young man, he received his Amateur (Ham) Radio license and up until the time of his passing he continued to be an active ham radio operator (N9JIE). He took up photography as a hobby. This became useful as he took crime scene, family, and wedding photos. Nick developed a love of “classic cars”. At car shows he would point and say, “I had one like that” (repeat, repeat). He said the best ones were the black ones.
A local Boy Scout started a project to earn his rank of Eagle Scout. He wanted to build a memorial for fallen police officers. Nick was a member of the FOP #140 and he and other officers joined the scout in the project and a beautiful memorial was completed and dedicated at the FOP in 2014.
After retirement, he and Carolyn enjoyed traveling and spent winters in sunny Sarasota, Florida.
Nick is survived by his fiance, Carolyn Grass; siblings, Gerald “Gerry” (Brenda) Wenz and Grace (Dick) Goldstine; nieces, Sharon (Tom) McKnight and Susie (Michael) Emmelman; several additional nieces and nephews; stepson, Tom (Molly) Williams, Sr.; and many friends who were loved as family. He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Johann and Harry Wenz; father and stepmother, Jack and Jerre Gulling; brother, David P. Gulling; stepbrother, Harry “Bud” Wenz, Jr.; and nephew, Stephen Gulling.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 21, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Brandywine Community Church, 1551 E. New Road, Greenfield, IN 46140. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. with viewing one hour prior to the service at Brandywine Community Church. Pastor Matt Wickham will be officiating. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery in Greenfield with military rites presented by the Greenfield Veterans Honor Guard.
The family would like to thank the Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center for their loving care throughout Nick’s illness. Also, they thank Suburban Hospice for the compassionate care provided.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made by mail to the Hancock County Sheriff AED Fund, 123 E. Main Street, Greenfield, IN 46140 or Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center at Hancock Health Foundation, 801 North State Street, Greenfield, Indiana 46140. Envelopes will be available at the church. Friends may share a memory or condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com.
Arrangements are being handled by Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory in Greenfield.
Source: The Daily Reporter, Greenfield, IN
Karen Lynn Marshall (nee McCourt) was called to her Lord on Saturday November 26, 2016 at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside CA.Karen was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 24, 1941 to Parents Paul & Meta McCourt.
The family would migrate towards California and after several stops along the way arrived in Encinitas in 1950. She graduated from San Dieguito High School class of 1959 and would remain a resident of North San Diego County for the rest of her life.
Karen proudly devoted over 20 years of service as Secretary of St. Mark Lutheran Church.
Karen was a lifelong avid bowler, loved socializing, Gatherings, Great food, Great music, Going to events & playing games with Family & friends. She had a smile that would light up the room and was always the life of the party.
She was the dearly loved wife of the late William Marshall and is survived by her beloved Son and daughter-in-law James and Lynne Holthus, Grandchildren Dayna and Jimmy, Sister and Brother-in-law Kathleen and Tim Dyer, Nieces Tracey and Susan, Great nieces Zoe and Nora, and Great Nephew Brayden, Sister and Brother-in-law Cheryl & Mike Theriot, Nephews Brent & Mark, Great nephews Sean & Connor and Great niece Emily. Karen loved and was very devoted to her family and her church. She will be greatly missed.
Memorial donations can be made at www.GoFundMe.com/KarenMarshallMemorial.
Karen’s funeral service will be held at 10AM on Friday December 9th at Faith Lutheran Church 700 E. Bobier Drive Vista, CA 92084″
Class of 1959: I am writing this to let you know that my brother, Harold Dean Kesling, died on Dec 16, 2016. He had lived in Port St Lucie, Florida with his wife, Charlotte Tate Kesling.
Karen Kesling Upson, December 14, 2016 on “San Dieguito High School “FRIENDS” Go Mustangs” Facebook page
Jerry Kesling says that his brother “…was active in the band and played the trombone and sang in the mixed chorus. He liked working on his ’40 Ford coupe.”
(January 16, 1941 – June 30, 2008)
Source: Betsy Ash Schreiber. (If you have an obituary for this lady that you’d like to share, please contact us and let us know.)
“But Not In Vain”
by Bruce Dillon
“It’s a long hard haul being away from each other but very well worth the separation to protect what our country has worked so hard to achieve.”With that quote from one of the last letters she received from her husband, Jan Mitchell would like to have her husband Jim remembered.
Jim Mitchell, a 1959 graduate of San Dieguito High School, had died while on combat patrol near Chu Lai in South Viet Nam.
He was the son of Mrs. Peter A. McDonald of Encinitas and James Mitchell of Orinda, California.
He was the father of Erin Lisa Mitchell, a baby girl just a few weeks old, a baby he had yet not seen.
The 25-year-old Mitchell had been an all-around athlete while at San Dieguito High and had been dubbed the most popular boy of his class. He was also president of the senior class.
After completion of high school, he went to Palomar College where in two years he had become an honor student and all league on the basketball squad.
He then attended San Diego State College where he again became an honor student. He was graduated with a degree in Business Administration.
After college he became a Marine officer and had plans for a career in the Corps.
Just Tuesday Mrs. Mitchell received a letter from an officer who had served with her husband. The officer had this to say: “He inspired all with his attitude and sound judgement. He believed in what he was doing and led his men as few others in the battalion could.”
It’s apparent to Mrs. Mitchell that her husband did not feel that the reason for being in Viet Nam was unsound. Quite the contrary, he believed in what he and all the American fighting men in that far east battle-torn country were doing.
Mitchell had a keen sense of duty and belief in his country’s actions.
His officer friend also said in the letter “It was an honor to serve with him.”
We feel that it is an honor to write about him.
Instead of saying “What a terrible waste,” or that war is useless,” let us say instead that he believed in his country and what he was doing. To that phrase, let there be no doubt.
—Oceanside Blade Tribune, published Sept. 8, 1965, obituary submitted by Al Southworth (’48). Click here to read the Virtual Wall page for James Mitchell. See also “A life not forgotten“
William Roebuck, 60
firefighter, ‘Mr. Solana Beach’
In more than three decades with the Solana Beach Fire Department, William Roebuck rose through the ranks from volunteer to chief.
Meanwhile, he never stopped volunteering, compiling a record of civic service that led the city’s Chamber of Commerce to anoint him “Mr. Solana Beach.”
Mr. Roebuck, who retired from his firefighting career in 1994, died July 27 at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla. He was 60.
The cause of death was apparently respiratory failure, said his wife, Patti.
While heading the 20-member Solana Beach Fire Department in 1993-94, Mr. Roebuck was active in a Trauma Intervention Program that dispatches volunteers to fires, crime scenes and other traumatic events.
He was instrumental in bringing together representatives of North County firefighting agencies to exchange information and coordinate strategies.
“Bill cared a lot about people and knew his job inside and out,” said Dave Holmerud, the department deputy fire chief.
Mr. Roebuck, an Oceanside resident for the past seven years, previously lived and coached Little League in Encinitas.
In 1983, he was elected to the nine-member board of directors of the Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce. In that role, he helped stage the annual Fiesta del Sol, a chamber-sponsored event with refreshments and entertainment that kicks off the summer season in North County.
Mr. Roebuck was born in National City and raised in Encinitas, where he became an avid surfer and graduated from San Dieguito High School. He studied recreation at Oceanside-Carlsbad Junior College, the forerunner of MiraCosta College, when it was based at Oceanside High School.
His father had been a volunteer firefighter, and Mr. Roebuck joined the Solana Beach department in 1960. A few years later, he was involved in fighting a major fire at the Solana Lumber Co.
He also took part in containing the 1970 Mount Laguna fire, which raged for eight days and destroyed thousands of acres in East County.
In 1979, he helped fight a fire that destroyed more than a dozen luxury Seascape Chateau condominiums on the bluffs overlooking the ocean, Holmerud recalled.
For the past 18 years, Mr. Roebuck maintained a cabin in southwestern Utah, where he enjoyed fishing and woodworking — especially enjoying making bird houses and flower boxes, his wife said.
He and his wife had been staying there when he became ill, she said.
Throughout his firefighting career, Mr. Roebuck rarely missed a day of work, accumulating two years of available sick leave, Holmerud said.
“When he retired he took trips to Central America for fishing, and he loved golf,” Holmerud added.
In addition to his wife, survivors include his son, Michael of Vienna, Va.; stepdaughter, Becky Lundgren of Chula Vista; stepson, A.J. Lundgren of San Marcos; and stepsisters, Jonell Smith of Oceanside and Phyllis Guyot of Santee.
A celebration of life is scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 16 at the Solana Beach Fire Department, 500 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. Donations are suggested to the Solana Beach Firefighters Association and can be mailed to the fire department.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, August 9, 2002
Kenneth Royer, 60CARLSBAD – Kenneth E. Royer, 60, died Wednesday, July 19, 2000, of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, at UCSD Thornton Hospital.
Born June 28, 1930, in Cleveland, he lived in North County for 58 years. He graduated from San Dieguito High School in 1959 and was a general foreman for A.O. Reed for 22 years.
Mr. Royer is survived by his wife of nine years, Sharon Royer of Carlsbad; son Kenneth E. Royer II of Escondido; daughter Jeanine Pullman of Concord; twin sister Carol Royer of Medford, Ore.; and grandchildren Cindy, Brittany, Brandy and Lindsay.
A private service is planned.North county Cremation Service is handling arrangements.
Tom was killed in an auto accident in Brazil (where he lived) during the day time. His memorial was Sunday at Mr. Peabody’s.
Submitted by Betsy Schreiber on 24 May 2011. We’ll post more details when we get them.
Shores, Michael Burke ENCINITAS — Michael Burke Shores died of prostate cancer on September 17, 2014.”Mike” was born in Alhambra, CA, in 1940. He played football and basketball for San Dieguito High School, graduating in 1959. His artistry and vision will live on in many beautiful homes he and wife, Barbara built as M.B. Shores Corp.
Mike is survived by wife, Barbara; daughters, Madelyn Knight and Paige Shores; grandchildren, Blake Proctor, Benjamin Templeton, Dänika Hollis, and Tawnya Proctor; brother, Gary; and nephews, Kevin and Derrick Shores.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, October 1st, at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory to Scripps Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Center (Encinitas).
November 1, 2011
Submitted by Betsy Schreiber
OCEANSIDE – Robert E. Thomas Jr., 64, died of cancer, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, at La Paloma Health Care Center.
Born Aug. 5, 1941, in Boston, he lived in Oceanside for 30 years. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. He graduated in 1959 from San Dieguito High School and then USC. He was an avid sportsman, and was a member of the Oceanside Surf Club. He started the business, Hobie Cat of Oceanside. Bob was ranked No. 2 in the world in 18-foot Hobie Cat sailing. Bob received the Rehabilitation Recognition Award for South Bay Rehabilitation Center in deep appreciation for 20 years of volunteer service.
Mr. Thomas is survived by his father, Robert E. Thomas Sr. of Tulsa, Okla.; brother Daniel Smith of Encinitas; sisters Barbee Kennedy of Charlotsville, Va., and Carol Ann Smith of Anza.
A private cremation is planned.
Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside is handling arrangements.
—From the North County Times, published January 17, 2006.
(September 28, 1935 – MARCH 22, 2008)Norma Virginia Corbin, 72, of Cardiff, CA, passed away on March 22, 2008.
She was born in Solana Beach, CA, to Raymond A. and Muriel White in 1935. Norma was a graduate of San Dieguito High School. After graduation, she married John A. Corbin and together they had four children. After 28 years of marriage they divorced, but remained friends until his passing in 1992.
She was well known for her work in the community. She volunteered for many years with Pop Warner Football and Solana Beach Little League. Norma worked for the Solana Beach School District from 1972 until retiring in 2002.
Norma was known by many of her children’s friends as a second mom. Her kindness and loving nature was evident by her ever-present smile. Norma also had a fantastic sense of humor and truly enjoyed a good laugh.
Norma is predeceased by her parents, brother Richard White, and son Charles Edward Corbin. She is survived by sons/daughters: John and Bonnie, James and Wendy, Scott and Tina Corbin, along with her grandchildren Bobby, Danny, Sean, Aaron, Kenzie, Kayla, Scotty, and Ricky Corbin.
Services will be at St. James Church in Solana Beach on Saturday, March 29th, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that a donation be made to Elizabeth Hospice in Escondido.
—From the San Diego Union-Tribune, link no longer online.