PASSING THE BAR

I received a telephone call from Buck’s neighbor and close friend, Mr. Maxwell, last evening. He informed me that our fellow MOAA member, Major Donald “Buck” Gailbraith, USMC (Ret.) passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon. His wife, Kitty, and other family members were with him as he passed.

Funeral service information is pending. Please pass along this information to our other MOAA members as you can today. Cards and memorials may be sent to the following contact address:

Mrs. Kitty Gailbraith and Family

53 Oaktree Drive,

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

CDR Jerry K. Loeb, USN (Ret.)

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CAPT JAMES DADE TORRES, USN (RET), PASSES AWAY NOVEMBER 16TH

James Torres entered into Eternal Life at the age of 70 at his longtime home in Lafayette, CA, on November 16, 2009.

Jim was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico on August 7, 1939, the second of 7 children of John E. and Lucile Torres. Following WWII, Jim’s family moved to the small, North Central New Mexico town of Santa Cruz where he graduated from nearby Espanola High School in 1957. Upon graduation, the Navy awarded Jim a full ROTC Scholarship to the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque, where he graduated with an Ensign’s commission in 1961, and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. While at UNM, Jim was very active in student government. He joined the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Newman Club and various other honor and service organizations.

During the early part of Jim’s Navy career, he served on a destroyer, an aircraft carrier, and a guided missile cruiser enjoying a variety of duties while visiting many exotic Pacific and Atlantic ports. Jim then served a one-year tour in Vietnam from 1965-1966 where he was exposed to Agent Orange. continue reading

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FUNERAL SERVICES SET FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 13TH

Rear Admiral Bennett S. “Bud” Sparks, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.) passed away Friday morning, May 22, 2009 at his home in Windsor, California

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, California at 12:00. Interment will be at Shiloh Memorial Cemetery in Windsor, California.

Admiral Sparks was a life member of MOAA (as am I). You may know that he was a former deputy executive director of ROA. Would you please pass the information of his passing and his funeral arrangements along to members of MOAA? Thank you.

Anyone desiring more information concerning the funeral is encouraged to contact me by phone or e-mail.

For the Sparks family,

Robert L. Pendleton Captain, USCGR (Ret.)

(H) (510) 865-2962 (C) (210) 854-1277 e-mail: gamester5525@hotmail.com address: 306 Lagunaria Lane, Alameda, CA 94502

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This 9 minute video pictorial may be viewed at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5WgASatVqA

paula   stockebrand Fabionar

  48396 Dry Creek  Drive
  badger, ca  93603

The following additional information has been provided by daughter Paula.

Commander Archie Paul Stockebrand died suddenly April 4,2009 at his Badger hilltop home. He was bringing in the flag at sunset and died with it folded in his lap.

Born November 27, 1921, in Yates Center Kansas, graduate John Brown University & the Naval Post Graduate School & Test Pilot School with a masters in electrical engineering and bachelors in aeronautical engineering. He served as radar officer on the USS Hornet and Yorktown aircraft carriers with the first carrier based Night Fighter Squadron. After the war he served as test pilot for the Navy and managed test and evaluation of aircraft at Point Mugu CA. After retiring, he bought the M=J Guest Ranch in 1969 that they operated it for 25 years. Survivors include his wife Grace Bernice (Bunny) Boyce, whom he married January 5, 1945, two sisters Jolena Stockebrand, Marshall Arkansas. & Patty Taylor, Yates Center KS, and his son Stephen of Badger, and daughters Leanne Friedenthal of Santa Barbara, Paula Fabionar of Stockton CA, and Gwen Stockebrand of Santa Rosa CA.

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This Tribute appeared in the Newsletter circa 2005

“Didjano?” (did you know) LCOL Carlos Fraser, USA, Ret., was our GWC Founder in •1976? Carlos was also our first Chapter President in 1976 and 1977. He continues to serve GWC membership in numerous ways. He is the glue. guiding light, and a source of wisdom for Chapter leadership and Board Members and regularly performs many essential duties and tasks for the welfare and benefit of all chapter members. He is our GWC Historian, US Army service representative, Chapter Elected Director, and leads the “fold, staple, and mutilate” team that assembles and mails The Western Centurion eleven times a year. LCOL Fraser also manages the general meeting dinner reservations and coordinates with the club manager. The next time you see our good Colonel Fraser, please tell him how much you appreciate his superior service to all of us - all these many years! Additionally.. without the extraordinary support of Mrs. Jeani Fraser) Carlos’ partner, much of “GWC” may not have occurred. So.. .when you thank Carlos, please thank Jeani too. Thank you Carlos and Jeani Fraser!

This Bereavement notification was received by email -

LCOL Fraser worked 14 years practically full time MOAA in Orange County Chapter after his retirement on 30 in 1969. He founded and was first President of Golden West Chapter Oct. 1976.

He had the opportunity to become SW Area 6 Director but was worned down after or during later part of those 14 years, declined the opportunity. Took a hiatus to recover and instead declined the nomination to succeed CAPT Ashurst for the reasons written and recommended the Nominating Committee request CAPT Ashurst be invited to do a second two year tour of duty, which was accomplished.

Bladder cancer and metastasis did him in.

Joined service age 15, earned first commission age 18. Recon in islands during WWII. Lead the charge with tanks out of Pusan perimeter early Korean War, slaughtered thousands of the enemy ChiComs at Yalu , made three complete round trips Korean Peninsula in tanks in that nasty war. Probably killed more bad guys than any other military person I know and was quiet about it, just doing his job.

Can’t imagine how Jeani will carry on without him, been married well over 60 years.

Can’t believe so many acquaintances in the two local MOAA Chapters have departed in last five years.

Rash of deaths in my clientele recently, too. Trait has become much too prevalent.

All of the foregoing authored and provided by LCDR Robert Perry, USN Ret past Director Southwest Area

This Obituary is from the Wednesday August 27, 2008 Orange County Register -

Carlos L. Fraser
Fraser, Carlos L. Lt. Col., Retired U.S. Army, passed away at his home in Hunting ton Beach on August 21st. He leaves his beloved wife, Jeani; children, Keith E. Fraser (Susan) and Carole A. Weiner; sister, Mary I. Gallinger (Francis) and nephew, Monte A. Gallinger (Camille); grandfather of Collin J. and Lenore J. Weiner. Visitation Wednesday, August 27th from 4 to 6 p.m., Heritage Memorial Services 17712 Beach Blvd. Huntington Beach. Services Thursday, 11 a.m., Los Alamitos Chapel, 11200 Lexington St. Los Alamitos. Burial with Military Honors will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

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LTCOL HENRY TEMME, USAF-RET August 31,1918 - August 19, 2008 Aptos, CA

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Temme, USAF (Ret), long-time member of Santa Cruz Chapter, passed away August 19, 2008, peacefully at home in Aptos at the age of 90. He was born in Oakland, CA and moved to Stockton in 1918. After WWII, Henry and his brother added a wholesale food service business to Temmes’ Delicatessen, which was in business for over 50 years. Henry attended Stockton High School. He began his military career in the California National Guard. In 1942 he was accepted into the Army Air Corps and became a B-24 pilot. Henry retired as a reservist with the rank of Lt. Colonel. In 1943, Henry married June Bravo. They moved to Santa Cruz in 1979 and then retired in Aptos. Henry was involved in the Santa Cruz community, was a member of the Military Officers Association of America, S.I.R.S, and an Elder at Messiah Lutheran Church.

Henry is survived by his wife, June; son John and wife Julie, son Jim and wife Suzanne, four grandchildren- Craig, Kristin, Sara and Laurel and one great grandson Nathaniel. A memorial service is being held Monday August 25, 11 AM Messiah Lutheran Church, Santa Cruz, CA.

One of the greatest generation - proud to have known him as a fellow member of the Messiah Lutheran Church congregation and served together on the board of directors for Lutheran Housing Corporation.

Submitted By: Lawrence J. Reeves

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AWARD-WINNING WEBMASTER GLORIA CRANEY DIES APRIL 9TH

To all my mom’s friends and customers.

I regret to inform you that my mom (Gloria Craney) passed away on April 9, 2008 after suffering many complications from surgery. If any of you have a professional relationship with her regarding her being your webmaster, I would suggest that you seek alternate arrangements to ensure your websites are still maintained. My apologies for any troubles this may cause. If any of you wish to speak to me directly you may contact me at (760) 301-4751. Thank you.

Dava Maples 1229 W. Mariposa Ave Ridgecrest, CA 93555

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SERVED THE COUNCIL FAITHFULLY AS AN AREA DIRECTOR

CAPTAIN PIERRE A. “PETE” PETIT USN RET December 21, 1931~September 15, 2007. Captain Peirre A. “Pete” Petit, age 75 passed away on September 15, 2007. Born to Laurence and Mabel Petit on December 21, 1931, he was a native of Moline IL, and a graduate of the University of Illinois. He was commissioned Ensign at the Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport RI in 1954. During his 29 year career that began with studies in meteorology at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, he was assigned to the Fleet Weather Central, Morrocco, followed by destroyer duty on the USS Glennon and the USS K.D. Bailey out of Newport RI. Captain Petit was an Optimum Track Ship Routing Officer at Fleet Weather Facility Norfolk VA. He particiapted in installation of the Command Ship Data System aboard the USS Wright and served as First Data Systems Officer in support of the National Emergency Command Post Afloat Program. Reporting to Washington DC in 1966. he managed the computer system support to the USS Wright and Navy Headquarters in London and San Francisco. From 1968 to 1971, Captain Petit served as Operations Officer and later Executive Officer at FWC Rota Spain. Returning to Washington DC, he was in the Command and Control Division , Office of Chief of Naval Operations; Assistant Commander for Plans and Policy, Naval Weather Service Command Headquarters; and on the staff of the Oceanographer of the Navy. Captain Petit returned to Monterey in 1976 to command NEPRF. From 1979, until his retirement in 1982, he was the commanding officer of Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center in Monterey. Following his Naval career he worked in computer software development for STX and SAIC. From 1983 until 1993 he was an avid cyclist and member of the local Velo Club. He was past president of the Point Lobos Natural History Association. He also served the Salvation Army in various capacities in their Christmas kettle drive. He was a member of the Military Officers Association of America and past president of the local chapter. He was also a member of the Monterey chapter of Sons in Retirement. 11 Captain Petit is survived by Marjorie Willke Petit, his wife of 53 years; their children, Deborah Petit and David Petit; and daughter-in-law Erika Russell Petit; their grandson Rhett Petit and granddaughter-in-law, Christy Olow Petit, all of the local area. He was preceded in death by his brother, Laurence Petit of Plant City FL.

We are so lucky to have known this officer. Well done, Pete. Be thou at peace.

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