Barbara Allen
Barbara June Allen passed away July 18 after a long illness. She was born on August 10, 1934 to Cecil and Opal Griffin in Childress, Texas. In December 1951 she married the love of her life, Earl Allen. They shared the next 66 years making beautiful memories together. Earl was by her side every moment, taking care of his sweetheart. Together they brought two incredible sons into this world. Dan and Mark were Barbara’s pride and joy. She devoted herself to playing with them, teaching them and loving them.
Barbara was also a very dedicated military spouse. Together, Barbara and Earl spent 33 years in the US Air Force in many locations around the United States. She was always excited about the family’s next adventure.
Once military life was over, Barbara and Earl settled in Grand Rapids, MI. Barbara quickly involved herself in her new community becoming active in volunteering and making many new and cherished friends.
When retirement came, Barbara and Earl settled in Goodyear, AZ and fell in love with the lifestyle. Barbara once again immersed herself into the community and made new friends. She was an active golfer and enjoyed challenging games with friends.
Barbara loved to travel. She traveled extensively, both domestically and internationally, fueling her passion for history and collecting many memories with Earl and traveling friends. One might say she never met a trip she didn’t like!
Barbara was a faithful Christian. Her life was lived by faith, charity and love and she never shied away from the opportunity to share her love for God with anyone. She attended the West Olive Church of Christ in Peoria, Arizona.
Barbara is survived by her husband Earl, sons Dan and Mark, three grandsons, one granddaughter and two great-grandchildren. Barbara’s love for her Lord and for life was contagious. She is greatly missed by all of us who were fortunate to have shared our life journey with such a wonderful person.
A memorial service was held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 25, 2018, at Church of Christ on West Olive, 10935 W. Olive Avenue, Peoria, Arizona 85345.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Hospice of the Valley, https://www.hov.org/donate/donate-now/. Condolences for the family may be left at www.ThompsonFuneralChapel.com.
Jackie Belonax
Jacqueline Marie Belonax died July 20, 2018 at her home in Goodyear, AZ surrounded by her loving husband Don, and her sons, Tony and Tim. Known mostly as Jackie by her friends and family, she was born on the south side of Chicago on a sunny day in June of 1948. Her parents, Louis and Sophie Prah were blue collar folks that knew the value of a dollar and a hard day’s work, instilling the values of family and friendship in her that would last a lifetime.
Until her passing, Jackie’s marriage to her husband Don was closing in on a half a century of wedded bliss. She relished seeing the world on cruises with him. Together they traveled throughout Europe and the United States. They don’t make couples like Jackie and Don anymore—two Catholic high school sweethearts whose loving bond spanned the tests of military service, multiple moves across the US, two sons (raising boys ain’t easy), a bunch of pets and cancer.
Everyone that met Jackie loved her, especially for her caring heart and thoughtful spirit. She was generous in all aspects of her life, from offering you the last slice of dessert to her numerous volunteering positions. Regardless of where her family lived, from the heart of the Midwest to the suburbs of California, she found employment with organizations that would improve the lives of others. In PebbleCreek, she was a member of Kare Bears, a 501(c)(3) organization that helps people recuperating from illness, surgery or hospitalization. She served as both a unit coordinator and within the Kare Bear’s home for ten years. She was a giver.
Jackie was also a tireless mother that loved her sons unconditionally, never letting them go out the door hungry. She and Don built a loving family life, making sure that everyone was nourished in mind, body and soul. She instigated trips to cultural institutions, stretched budgets to make family meals happen and made sure her boys learned the value of, “please” and “thank you.” Her pride for her sons knew no bounds and her friends surely received an earful. Despite Tim’s multiple tattoos or heated arguments with Tony, her love and respect for them never wavered.
She was a supportive friend to all, constantly forging new friendships throughout her life. Jackie loved the connection that games brought to those around her, whether putting on the green with her ladies at PebbleCreek, throwing down some tiles with her mah jongg group, or just playing Scrabble with her family.
Her presence with us on this Earth will be missed but never forgotten.
Jacqueline is survived by her husband, Donald Belonax; sons, Anthony and Timothy Belonax; brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Gloria Belonax and Joseph and Barbara Belonax. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sophie and Louis Prah and her brother Jerome.
A visitation was held Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Thompson Funeral Chapel, and a funeral mass was held on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations be made to the organizations below:
Kare Bears http://www.karebears.org/returns-donations.html
Lungevity.org https://lungevity.org/for-supporters-advocates/support-our-work
Cancer Support Community AZ https://cscaz.gnosishosting.net/Portal/Donate.
Condolences for the family may be left at ThompsonFuneralChapel.com.
Martin Burns
Gloria Burns
Martin Eugene Burns was born on October 13, 1939 in San Francisco, California to Paul and Doris Burns. Martin passed away on July 3, 2018 after a long illness, in Goodyear, Arizona. Martin is survived by his wife, Gloria of 59 years; his daughter, Penny Smith (Don) and grandson, Andrew Smith; sisters, Linda LaCrosse (John), Larraine Lyter-Reed (Howard); sister-in-law, Rebecca Lyter and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Martin was a loving husband, father and grandfather and a good friend to many. An avid golfer, sports extraordinaire and world traveler, Martin visited every baseball stadium in the US, traveled overseas many times, while putting in 30 years at a little company named UPS, where he was a district manager. Martin followed his grandfather, Lloyd Martin’s advice. “Don’t wait until you retire to see the world.” Martin coached softball for his daughter Penny, chaperoned her band trips including one to Washington, D.C. and coached his nephew’s Little League Team. He loved get-togethers with family and friends. He was a very proud Papa to grandson Andrew who graduated from Duke University.
Martin is preceded in death by his mother, Doris; father, Paul; brother, Leland; grandparents, Lloyd and Louise Martin and nephew, Ansel Reed.
The service was held at Oak Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Ave., San Jose, CA, on August 3.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org or HALO Animal Rescue at www.halorescue.org.
Vickie Hamilton
Vickie B. Hamilton, 66, of Goodyear, died July 21, 2018 at home after a three-year battle with Glioblastoma brain cancer.
She was born on September 7, 1951 to May and Victor Beard in Baltimore Maryland.
Vickie graduated from Severna Park High School in 1969. She then attended the University of Maryland, graduating with a BA in English and Journalism. She went on to graduate from the University of Maryland with a Masters in Journalism and Public Relations in 1974. Her education led her to The Annapolis Capital as a newspaper reporter.
In 1976, she worked for the Anne Arundel County Police Department in the 911 Operations Center. She was among the first civilian supervisors promoted replacing Police Sergeants in first line supervision and later was among the first civilian supervisors to be promoted to 911 Shift Administrators replacing Police Lieutenants in a command position at the 911 center during shift.
In 1990 she went to Anne Arundel County Animal Control as Assistant Administrator and managed budget preparation, customer service and public relations.
In 1998 she went to Anne Arundel County, MD Department of Public Works in the Office of Land Use which included Planning and Zoning and Inspections and Permits. In this position she oversaw all customer service programs and public relations within DPW. She worked with the Bureaus of Utility Operations, Highways and Engineering, and she consulted with the Office of Finance Management regarding utility billing issues. She worked with management and elected officials on policies, reviewing and deciding on exceptional customer service issues, public outreach and education programs, quarterly newsletters in utility bills, other publications, press relations and public meetings.
In April 2007 she retired after 32 years employed by Anne Arundel County Maryland. She and her husband Don then moved to their retirement home at PebbleCreek in Goodyear, Arizona.
In retirement she received an appointment to our City of Goodyear Planning and Zoning Commission, and was a graduate from the Goodyear/Litchfield Park Citizens Academy. She was one of the founding members of the City of Goodyear Friends of the Library, and was a past volunteer of the Litchfield Park Branch Maricopa County Library. She also worked within our community of PebbleCreek in various capacities. She was Communications Coordinator for our PebbleCreek HOA, past editor of The Pipeline newsletter, an active member of Life Long Learning, and a member/volunteer of various other PebbleCreek community groups. She received The Kare Bears Founders Service Award in 2012 and the PebbleCreek Homeowners Association Volunteer of The Year award in 2014.
She is survived by her husband Don of 33 years, sister Cheryl Young (Steve), niece Elizabeth Young Giest (Mark), grandniece Jordan Geist, grandnephew Robby Geist, nephew Daniel Young, sister-in-law Judy Hamilton (Jack deceased), nephew Doug Hamilton (Susan), grandniece Sara Hamilton and grandnephew Brendan Hamilton.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Vickie’s name to Hospice of the Valley, 9435 W. Peoria Ave. Peoria AZ. 85345.
Mary Lou Willison
Dave Willison
Mary Lou Willison was born in Selma, California on November 22, 1956 and passed away at her home in PebbleCreek on July 6, 2018. She is survived by her loving husband Dave, her sisters Patty Wolf of Ossining, NY and Peggy Foletta of Pacific Grove, CA, as well as many nieces and nephews who meant the world to her.
She grew up in California’s central valley and moved to Connecticut in the mid-1980s, later moving to Northern Virginia and marrying Dave Willison in 1988 on Maui. She and Dave moved to PebbleCreek in 2010 and lived in Unit 40 since 2011.
Mary Lou worked as a software engineer for many companies over her career, including Bank of America, James River Paper Co., PRC, BDM, TRW, and eventually retiring from Northrup Grumman in 2015.
Mary Lou volunteered for Cavalier Rescue USA, an organization devoted to finding permanent homes for abandoned Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Mary Lou loved PebbleCreek and enjoyed the wine club, taking pottery classes at the art center and, most of all, playing Mahjongg with her many friends.
Mary Lou was the beacon of positivity, always looking on the bright side of things. She never wavered from helping others and was the queen of empathy. She will be sorely missed.
A celebration of life will be held in the Chianti Room on Sunday, October 28 at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Kare Bears, or cavalierrescueusa.org.