Leon Frank Machell

Leon Frank Machell went home to be with his Lord and Savior on January 13, 2015. A godly man with a gentle loving spirit, as God was always first in his life, Leon was born in Rocky, Oklahoma on August 20, 1920 to Edwin and Frances Machell. This is where he would spend the first 16 years of his life with his parents and younger sister Dorothy.

In 1936, during the Dust Bowl, the family moved to Redwood City near relatives. It was in 1939 at the First Baptist Church where Leon met the love of his life, Vivian. They just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary.

During WWII, Leon entered Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy in New York, graduating in 1943 with a Marine Engineer License. He was enrolled in the U.S. Naval Reserve and in the U.S. Coast Guard and sailed on Liberty ships throughout the Pacific Theater. In August 1945 he was in Buckner Bay, Okinawa when the war ended. He was discharged as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1946.

When the war ended, Leon and Vivian returned to Redwood City where their two children, Brett and Denise, were born. 1958 was the year they moved to Lodi where he went to work for General Mills, retiring in 1984 as a Production Supervisor. During their retirement years they traveled in their RV, went on cruises, toured the UK, Germany, and Israel. He also volunteered for STARS for many years.

Leon was an active member of Temple Baptist Church singing in the choir. He had a beautiful singing voice. He loved to read, go camping and be with his family and friends.

Leon is survived by his wife Vivian, children Brett (Linda) Machell and Denise (Ed) Surprenant, 9 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.

VISITATION

No visitation will be held

SERVICES

Celebration of Life Friday Jan. 16, 11:00 am Temple Baptist Church, 801 S Lower Sacramento Rd, Lodi, CA 95242 (In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Baptist Church or Hospice of San Joaquin.)

INTERMENT

Cherokee Memorial Park (private family service)

Joseph Anaizar Vela

Born: Jan. 1, 1945. Deceased: Jan. 10, 2015 No obituary available

VISITATION

No visitation will be held

SERVICES

Saturday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park in Lodi

Cheryl Lynn Wilkerson

Cheryl Lynn Wilkerson, 57, died January 9, 2015, after battling breast cancer, with her family by her side. On August 5, 1957, Cheryl was born in Lodi, California to John and Gladys Lehr. Her father was a cattle rancher and grape farmer in Acampo, California and her mother worked at Tri Valley Growers cannery in Lodi, California.

Cheryl graduated from Lodi High school in 1976. That same year she met Bob Wilkerson, to whom she was married in 1979 in Galt, California. Cheryl gave birth to her first child, Bobby Wilkerson, in 1983. She then welcomed daughter, Jessica Wilkerson Peluso, in 1988.

On December 4, 2014, Cheryl celebrated her 30 year anniversary working with Blue Shield of California, where she made many friends who would become like family to her.

Cheryl was devoted to her family. Her children were her life and she loved spending time with family and taking in every moment with her first grandchild, Nathan Ryan Wilkerson, born to son, Bobby, and Lacey Edalgo.

Cheryl will be missed by her husband of 35 years, Bob Wilkerson; her son and significant other, Bobby Wilkerson and Lacey Edalgo; her daughter and spouse, Jessica and Matthew Peluso; and grandson, Nathan Wilkerson. She also leaves behind her siblings; her brother and spouse, Ted and Becky Lehr; brother, Bryan Lehr; sisters and spouses, Kathy and Mack Garrett, Diane and Randy Scott; and sister, Belinda Lehr. Her parents, John and Gladys Lehr, precede her in passing.

VISITATION

Visitation will be held from 12pm to 8pm, Thursday, January 15, 2015 at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, 831 Industrial Way, Lodi, CA 95240

SERVICES

Celebration of Cheryl’s Life will be held at 11:00 am Friday, January 16, 2015, at Vinewood Community Church, 1900 W. Vine St., Lodi, CA.

Vivian Theresa Rurup (Luchini)

Vivian Theresa Rurup (nee Luchini) 81,  of Stockton, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 9, 2015, at her home in Stockton. She was born in San Francisco Dec. 10, 1933  and was raised in Oakley, California. Vivian graduated from the French School of nursing in San Francisco becoming a RN. During her nursing career she worked for Dr. Frank Ruhstaller M.D.; owned and operated The Diet Center in Manteca; and cared for students at the University of the Pacific Health Center. She retired from nursing  after more than 40 years.

Vivian married Henry Rurup on November 09, 1957 who were together for 48 years until his passing in 2006. She traveled extensively enjoying numerous vacations, cruises, foreign countries and RV’ing around the USA.

Vivian is survived by her children, son Paul Rurup of Texas and grandchildren Adina and Torii Rurup; Son Jeff Rurup (Trina) of Lodi and grandchildren Joe, Dominic and Samantha Rurup; Daughter Kelly Sprake (John) of Galt and grandchildren Michael, Nicholas, Marissa and Natalie Sprake; Her siblings, Carol DeVito of Fresno and Richard Luchini of Stockton.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at  Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, 831 Industrial Way, Lodi, CA . Interment will follow service at Cherokee Memorial Park , Hwy 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi, CA .

Charitable donations may be made to the Animal Friends Connection Humane Society in Lodi.

Irene Jones Baldwin Shepard

Irene Jones Baldwin Shepard, a longtime Stockton resident, passed away Monday, January 5, 2015 of natural causes, surrounded by her family at Mark Twain Convalescent Hospital in San Andreas. Originally from Cross County, Arkansas, she and her family moved to California in the 1940s. Irene was once married to Audie Baldwin, and is survived by her three children: daughter Carolyn (Simeon) Modesto of St. Charles, Missouri, and sons Eddie (Linda) Baldwin of Stockton and Rodney (Sharon) Baldwin of Burson. Irene is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren and one sister Sophie Rush of Valley Springs.

She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Lorena Jones, her brothers Robert L. and Thomas Wayne Jones; her sisters Eugenia Anderson, Charlene Clemente, and Iva Mae Kruetz and her grandson David Coffer Jr.

NO SERVICES

Irene did not want any services, the family requests in lieu of flowers to please donate to your favorite charity in Irene Jones Baldwin Shepard’s name.

Lois Marie Walker

Lois M. Walker died on January 2, 2015 in Lodi at the age of 89. She was born on September 7, 1925 in Lynchburg, MO to Henry and Verlinda Tate. In 1946 she moved to Stockton with her husband Nolan Walker to start their life together. She enjoyed animals and reading and took great pride in tending to her flowers. Lois was a former San Joaquin Valley Ranger.

She is survived by her son Wayne and wife Sheri; and her granddaughter Becky Walker Weiss and husband Dave.

She was preceded in death in 2005 by her husband Nolan Walker, and is also preceded by a brother Ralph Tate and a sister Edith Mansker.

A viewing will take place from 4-8 pm on Friday, January 9, 2015 at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home 831 Industrial Way in Lodi. Funeral services will take place at 1:30 pm on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at the Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, Hwy 99 and Harney Ln, in Lodi.

Gregory Hendon

Greg passed away on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at the age of 46. He was born in Lodi, California to Billy Ray and Sue Hendon on March 3, 1968. He graduated from Galt High School. After high school, Greg worked as a barber for a short time until going to work at Pilkington Glass Company, making commercial and automotive glass for 17 years.

His family and friends were important to him. He was a member of the Woodbridge Missionary Baptist Church. Greg was survived by his daughter Jena Hendon, Mother: Sue Hendon, Brothers: Danny (Kari) and Bill Hendon, Sister: Lisa Hendon,  Nieces and nephews and, many cousins.

He was preceded in death by father: Billy Ray Hendon, Grandparents: Dan and Lillian Hendon, and Delbert and Hazel Dye.

VISITATION

Visitation will be held Wednesday January 7, 2015  1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. @ Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, 831 Industrial Way, Lodi, CA 95240.

SERVICES

A funeral service will be held Thursday January 8, 2015 10:00 a.m. at Woodbridge Missionary Baptist Church, 673 Woodbridge Rd., Woodbridge, CA 95258.

INTERMENT

No public service