In Passing

Ardeth Ann Abke (Ann)

Our mom, Ardeth Ann Abke (Ann) died peacefully and surrounded by family on January 14, 2020 after a long and heroic battle with cancer. Mom was born in Grand Rapids, MI where she attended Mount Mercy Academy. She then attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Saginaw, MI, where she was asked out by our dad on a bet that his friend made with him. The two married and returned to Grand Rapids where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Aquinas College and had an accomplished career spanning 15 years as a practicing registered nurse and another 30 years as a risk management administrator.

Dad affectionately called Mom “Pooky” and his “Lithuanian princess”. The couple raised their two children in Grand Rapids where they enjoyed attending Michigan State football games, canoeing down the Muskegon River, Sunday picnics at Gunn Lake, and ice skating at Richmond Pond.

When Dad retired, he and Mom embarked on their dream of retirement life in Phoenix, AZ. There, Mom retired from Dignity Health Services and focused solely on her philanthropic interests including volunteer work with the City of Goodyear Fire Department, the Volunteer Board of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, local PGA/LPGA Golf Tournaments, and the PebbleCreek Kare Bear office.

A devout Catholic, Mom was also a eucharistic minister and member of the choir of St. John Vianney Parish in Goodyear in addition to her active participation in various PebbleCreek activities, including pickleball and Showtime. Her passion was singing and she so loved the camaraderie of her time with her fellow PebbleCreek Singers!

Mom is predeceased by our dad and her husband of 48 years, Robert B. Abke; and her grandson, Anthony James Penna. She is survived by her son, James Paul Abke; his wife, Pamela; their children, Austin, Bailee, and Allyson of Commerce City, CO; her daughter, Melanie Abke Penna; her husband, Robert; and their daughter, Gabrielle, of Wilmington, DE.

Mom’s final days were beautiful. Deeply faithful, she was at peace and looked forward to seeing our dad again, playing pickleball, and enjoying Twizzlers in heaven. The hospice community was amazing!

In lieu of flowers, we request donations made in memory of Ann at the Phoenix Rescue Mission, 1801 S. 35th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009.

A public funeral Mass was held February 14 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

Internment of Mom at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona took place immediately following the funeral Mass and was limited to immediate family only.

Family and friends gathered in the Chianti Room of the PebbleCreek Tuscany Falls Clubhouse on Saturday, February 15 for light refreshments in celebration of Mom’s life.

Louis S. Barber

Dr. Louis S. Barber, 84, passed on January 16, 2020, at The Groves on PebbleCreek Parkway in Goodyear, Arizona, following an extended medical condition.

He leaves his wife of 37 years, Vicki Barber; his daughter, Sherri Palmer, and her husband, Scott Palmer; his son, Scott Charles Barber, and his wife, Tina Barber; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces; and many close friends.

Born in Greeley, Colorado, he lived his early years in the Rockies and then his family moved to southern California. He had two older brothers who were star athletes in Colorado and went on to have distinguished careers in the Armed Forces and public service.

Lou’s work ethic began early in his life working as a newspaper boy, watering plants for a nursery, serving as an apprentice for a marble layer, and working in a photography shop all prior to his graduation from high school in the El Monte School District. He continued his education, achieving a B.A. in social studies and then a M.A. in secondary school administration, both from California State University, Los Angeles. He did extensive graduate work at USC and then earned his Ph.D. in leadership and human behavior from the U.S. International University in San Diego.

He worked as a Realtor for a period of time. However, he found his true passion in education and held teaching and administrative positions for most of his life. He taught initially in the Whittier Union School District and then joined the Riverside County Office of Education. He rose steadily in that organization, serving as a teacher, principal, director, and finally as assistant superintendent. He had a one-year hiatus from the county office, during which he was employed by the College of the Desert, as the Director of Extension Education. However, he returned to the Riverside County Office of Education and continued to support children, families, and communities throughout the county.

The California Department of Education recruited Dr. Barber to become the Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction and Director of Special Education. The recruitment was aided by the fact that his future wife, Vicki, lived and worked in the Sacramento area. They married in 1982 at St. Stephen’s Church in El Dorado Hills. In his capacity at the state, he worked with over 1,000 school districts and 58 county offices of education, as well as a number of public and private entities to support about 500,000 children identified as disabled. He was recognized for his advocacy on behalf of children with disabilities with his selection to serve on the California Advisory Commission on Special Education, as well as serving on the National Association of State Directors of Special Education Board of Directors.

He left the state position and continued his efforts with the Santa Clara County Office of Education, the El Dorado Union High School District, and the Sacramento City Unified School District. He was sought after and appointed by the federal court in Los Angeles to serve as a consent decree administrator over the Los Angeles Unified School District and later over the Mt. Diablo Unified School District in the Bay Area. In that position, he was responsible for ensuring that the districts returned to compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.

While having an illustrious career in education, Dr. Barber published a number of articles relating to students with disabilities and at-risk students. He also was very active in community organizations, such as Rotary and March of Dimes, as well as serving on the El Dorado Hills Fire Board and the El Dorado Union High School District Board of Trustees. Beyond his professional and community endeavors, he had a great love of travel and had the opportunity to visit all seven continents. However, his greatest love was his family and the times that they could spend together. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Joyce Sheppard Enterline

Joyce Sheppard Enterline of Goodyear, Arizona passed away on January 28, 2020. Born Lenora Joyce Sheppard on June 24, 1932, she was the daughter of Malcolm Keane and Hilda Hargraves Sheppard. She was one of six children. Joyce grew up in Shaker Heights, OH and attended Shaker Heights High School and graduated from Northwestern University in 1954. Joyce earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism and subsequently held many writing and editing positions at Alcoa, Cleveland Trust Bank, Valley National Bank, and PCS Pharmaceuticals. She also published many freelance newspaper articles and poetry.

Joyce moved to Scottsdale in 1984 with her husband Robert. Inspired by the desert climate, Joyce enjoyed year-round tennis, desert hiking, and collecting Native American art to keep her vibrant and social for many years. Always active, Joyce shined with the joy of reading, writing, and racquet sports.

Joyce is survived by her daughter, professor Lynn Enterline of Nashville, TN; son and daughter-in-law, Max and Hope Enterline of Phoenix, AZ; son and daughter-in-law, Walt and Jane Enterlinel and grandchildren, William and Cora Enterline of Boulder, CO. Joyce was preceded in death by all her siblings, Malcolm, June, Pat, Midge, and Sylvia; as well as her husband Robert in 2018. In lieu of flowers please donate to further research with the Alzheimer’s Association.

A celebration of life was held on Saturday, February 15, at The Auberge Peoria – A Memory Care Community.

Lorraine “Lori” C. Hagen

Lorraine C. Hagen, age 89, of Goodyear, AZ passed away peacefully February 4, 2020. Born August 5, 1930, in St. Louis, MO, Lori and her husband of 66 years, George were married in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, MO in 1952.

Lori’s parents were two of the founders of St. Michael Russian Orthodox Church in St. Louis, MO. She enjoyed sharing her Russian heritage with her family and friends. Lori took great care and pride in providing a warm and welcoming home for her family as they relocated throughout the midwest for George’s career. Lori held several administrative support positions in St. Louis, MO, and while in Chicago, IL she enjoyed her executive administrative position at the Chicago Board of Trade.

Lori was an accomplished seamstress; her creative and artistic ability was evident in the homes she and George built and decorated over the years. She was gifted and shared her many talents with her neighbors. While living in Barrington, Illinois, Lori taught the art of Ukrainian pysanka, the traditional wax and dye Easter egg decorating technique at the Barrington Library.

Lori and George retired in 1989 and moved to Tempe, AZ to be near their grandchildren. In 1996 they moved to PebbleCreek. Lori was very active in the quilting club and made numerous quilts for family and friends. Lori and George were one of the first to move into unit 18 and enjoyed making new friends as the neighborhood developed.

Lori was a loyal friend and confidant to many. She enjoyed many life-long friendships and always enjoyed sharing her home with those who did not have family over the holidays.

Lori loved life and never knew a stranger. She is survived by two daughters, Chris Velez (Ralph), and Jill Crompton (David); granddaughters Liz Flores (Anthony) and Anita Crompton (Paul Murray); grandson Joel Crompton (Katie); and great-grandchildren Anthony and Brianna Flores and Aberly Murray Crompton. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, one brother, and her husband.

A visitation was held on February 21, 2020 at Thompson Funeral Chapel. Internment was at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/obituary/lorraine-c-hagen/.

John Roswell Holman

On January 26, 2020, John Roswell Holman passed away in his sleep at the Franciscan Hospice House in University Place, Washington. John, or Jack as he was known by his friends, was born in Oregon City, Oregon, on August 21, 1928. He joined his older sisters, Natalie and Joan, and his parents Roswell and Edda Holman.

Jack graduated from Oregon City High School in 1946 and joined the Navy as a radioman. After his honorable discharge in 1948, he attended the University of Washington, graduating in 1952. While at the University of Washington, he met his first wife, Shirley Eckas, and they were married in February 1951. Jack and Shirley had a son, Jon, born in 1953, and a daughter, Janet, born in 1955.

After college, Jack joined the Travelers Insurance Company in Seattle and as he rose in the company he was transferred first to Salt Lake City, then Boise, and finally Tacoma, where the family settled in Gig Harbor in 1959. Jack was offered a promotion by Travelers to move to San Francisco, but he and Shirley decided to turn it down to stay and raise a family in Gig Harbor. Jack left Travelers around 1963 and started a new insurance agency called Holman Insurance in Gig Harbor. He grew the business for 30+ years before selling the agency when he retired. Jack was very active in the Gig Harbor business community. He was a past president of the Gig Harbor Lions Club and recipient of the Lions Club Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for the highest levels of humanitarian service; he won the “Best Beard” contest at the first Harbor Holiday’s celebration in the summer of 1972; and received the “Good Samaritan” award, along with Dr. Bill Wilbert, from the National Enquirer for their work with VOSH (Vision Optometric Services to Humanity) International.

After Jack retired, he split time between Gig Harbor and Arizona, settling full-time in the retirement community of PebbleCreek in Goodyear, Arizona in 2009. Jack loved golf, which he continued to play until he was 90-years-old; he consistently shot under his age, much to the chagrin of his son, Jon, and, daughter, Janet, when they played together. In September 2019, Jack moved back to Gig Harbor into the Peninsula, an independent living retirement community.

Jack will be remembered by his family and friends for being a huge Washington Huskies fan; playing golf until he was 90;and loving champagne, parties, sweets, ice cream, red roses, dancing, and traveling.

Jack’s volunteer work for VOSH took him to countries all around the world, including up the Amazon River in Brazil; and to remote areas of Columbia, Honduras, Philippines, India, and Poland. He also loved to go on cruises: including cruises to Alaska, Antarctica, Caribbean, Greece and Turkey, and European rivers. Jack also loved to drive; he took road trips throughout the western United States.

After Shirley died in 1981, Jack married Jackie Larson in 1986 and they remained together until 2015 when they divorced. During his last five years living in PebbleCreek, his close friend and companion was June Packnett. June supported Jack as he recovered from a minor stroke in 2019.

Jack is survived by his two children, Jon Holman and Janet Weiland; two grandchildren, Catherine and Ross (from Jon); and two great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Charlotte (from Catherine). In addition, John is survived by his former wife Jackie; her children Geri Johnson (of PebbleCreek), Jill, and Rick; grandchildren Erika, Kristen (from Geri), Troy, Cami (from Jill), and Derek (from Rick); and eight great-grandchildren.

Jack was preceded in death by his first wife Shirley and his two sisters, Natalie and Joan.

Rose Latino

Rose Latino, age 83, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2020. She is survived by her two daughters of PebbleCreek, Roslynne Latino and Christina Bridges (Roy); son Michael Latino; and grandchildren, Michelle Latino and William Causey.

Rose and her husband Matt (2005) retired to PebbleCreek in 1995 from Los Angeles, California, where she spent her professional career climbing the ladder at Capitol Records while still finding time to raise her three active children and travel the country and world.

Affectionately known as “Mama Rose,” she was an active member of both PebbleCreek Ladies’ Golf Associations – serving as secretary of the 18-holers – and especially enjoyed being a member of the Putter’s Club. Rose also loved playing mahjong with her friends, attending various performances at our very own Renaissance Theater, travelling, crocheting, and mostly sharing in conversation and wine with close friends. She was a parishioner of Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church of Avondale and member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Rose was interned on February 1, 2020, at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Los Angeles, California followed by a reception at the San Antonio Winery where friends and a large extended family gathered to toast a woman who lived a blessed and enriched life.

In her memory, donations may be sent to “Dinner with Friends,” an organization that directly benefits the Ronald McDonald House of Greater San Diego, a charity Rose held close to her heart and was a part of since its inception.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, 2929 Children’s Way, San Diego, California 92123.

Her family is planning a remembrance gathering at PebbleCreek.

James Lee Pruett, Jr.

James Lee Pruett, Jr., age 84 of Goodyear, AZ died February 5, 2020, in Goodyear, AZ. He was born November 12, 1935 in Roba, AL, the first of nine children born to James Lee and Essie Pruett. He served in the U.S. Army achieving the rank of sergeant. Jim worked as a bus driver for the Chicago Transit Authority for 31 years. After retiring he was bored and became engrossed in the Home Shopping Network, so at his family’s insistence he began driving a bus again. When his first granddaughter was born, he retired to take care of her, then returned to driving again until his grandson was born when he again retired to care for him. Jim’s family always came first.

Jim loved to play games. Pinochle was his game and he played every weekend. He enjoyed watching sports and was a fan of every Chicago sports team. He collected coins and had a habit of giving his children and grandchildren stacks of crisp, fresh $2 bills. Always kind, he never had a bad thing to say to anyone. He was everybody’s friend and never failed to wave or stop to chat whenever he passed by. He loved and respected his wife, daughters, and grandchildren in all that he did and said.

Jim is survived by his wife, Loretta J. Pruett; daughters, Lisa Joseph and Gayle Sanford; sister, Dorothy Laurent; brother, Alto Richardson; two cherished grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Lee Pruett, Sr. and Essie Mae Pruett; and siblings, Sydney Pruett, Cora Tyson, James Hancock, Alma Ashford, Dow L. “DL” Pruett, Nathaniel “Bud” Pruett, Charles Pruett, and Ed Pruett.

A visitation was held on February 12, 2020 at Thompson Funeral Chapel. Burial was at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. The family suggests that donations be made to the Leukemia Foundation at https://www.azlfac.org/donations.html. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/obituary/james-lee-pruett-jr/.

Judy Lynn Zuccala

Judy Lynn Zuccala of Goodyear, AZ, died Feb. 4, 2020 at age 75. Born July 8, 1944, she was raised on a farm in Akron, IA. She worked in the airline industry for over 30 years, where she had the responsibility of managing the weight and balance of the aircraft. She was hired by TWA and retired from American Airlines. Her husband, Ken Ridgway, also worked for the airlines as a pilot and they retired together to the PebbleCreek community in Arizona.

When Ken passed away not long after retirement, Judy found friendship and a rich social life in her community. She was a member of Lunch Bunch 2 and met for lunch with the group for 21 years. She loved to sing (her license plate was NTEMAME) and was a member of the PebbleCreek Singers. She was a member of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church for over 20 years and faithfully sang in the choir and enriched the congregation.

Judy liked to sail and met her next husband, Joe, through a sailing group. Together, they sailed through the Sea of Cortez, the British Virgin Isles, and from the Winward Islands down to the tip of Granada.

Judy is survived by her husband, Joe Zuccala, her brother Gaynor Klemme, and several step-grandchildren.

Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/obituary/judy-lynn-zuccala/.