Dennis L. Campbell
Dennis L. Campbell, 71, formerly of Avondale died Dec. 10, 2015.
Mr. Campbell was the son of Fred Campbell and Louise Manning Campbell.
He attended Avondale Elementary School and graduated from Agua Fria Union High School in 1962. He graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 1966 with a degree in forestry.
He joined the United States Air Force in 1967, graduating from officer training school and undergraduate pilot training in 1968. He completed advanced training for the F-100, T-38 and F-5 and became an instructor pilot in each aircraft. He served one tour of duty in Vietnam, flying F-100s and was awarded two distinguished flying crosses with oak leaf clusters. He was also awarded the air medal and meritorious service medal. He attained the rank of major before retiring.
He later worked as a flight simulator instructor at General Electric for three years, then began a career as a pilot for Southwest Airlines, retiring as a captain in 2004.
He is survived by his wife of 11 years, Justine Campbell; one son, Robert Fredrick Campbell; one daughter, Kimberly Campbell Miller; one brother, Edwin Campbell; one grandchild; and his former wife, Stephanie Scott.
Manuel Cota Jr.
Manuel Cota Jr., 55, of Tolleson died Feb. 1, 2016, at his home.
Mr. Cota was born Sept. 12, 1960, in Phoenix to Bertha and Manuel Sr.
He worked in the construction industry.
He is survived by his mother, Bertha; one daughter, April Johnson; two sons, Manuel Cota and Fabian Cota; three sisters, Nellie Garcia, Gracie Perez and Inez Villanueva; five brothers, Ralph Cota, Benjamin Cota, Richard Cota, Henry Cota and George Cota; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 5 p.m. Friday at Avenidas Funeral Chapel, 522 E. Western Ave., Avondale.
Condolences for the family may be left at AvenidasFuneralChapel.com.
Ronald R. Drew
Ronald R. Drew, 74, of Avondale died Jan. 27, 2016, from Alzheimer’s disease.
Mr. Drew was born in Grand Haven, Mich.
He was a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy; two sons, Chris and Jeff; two stepsons, Douglas Dush and Brad Dush; one brother, Dan; one sister, Marjorie Owens; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Private family services will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Avondale.
Pat Elia
Pat Elia, 73, of Avondale died Feb. 4, 2016, in Surprise from cancer.
Mrs. Elia was born June 7, 1942, in Painesville, Ohio, to Fred and Laura Hufford.
She taught religious education at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Mentor, Ohio. In her 50s, she returned to college and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in social work. Following her graduation, she went on to become a licensed social worker at Twin Pines nursing home.
She was a member of the Red Hat Society and the Elks Lodge No. 2852.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, David; one daughter, Lisa Wilson; one son, Tony Elia; one sister, Joyce Stark; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A visitation will be at 5 p.m. with a rosary recital at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon Friday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 539 E. La Pasada Blvd., Goodyear.
Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Avondale.
Condolences for the family can be left at ThompsonFuneralChapel.com.
Robert Charles Henry
Robert Charles Henry, 60, of Goodyear died Feb. 6. 2016, in Sun City..jpg)
Mr. Henry was born Oct. 24, 1955, in Okinawa, Japan, to Jean and Robert Henry.
He is survived by his wife, Elisabeth; one son, Michael Ryan Henry; one daughter, Malin Krisitiansen Sandem; his mother, Jean Louis Henry; four sisters, Ruth Ann Wolfe, Diane Lynn Burklow, Susan Jean Tullier and Mary Jane Paccino; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear.
Condolences for the family may be left at ThompsonFuneralChapel.com.
Johnnie Rita Hurst
Johnnie Rita Hurst, 71, of Avondale died Feb. 2, 2016, in Glendale from cancer.
Mrs. Hurst was born Nov. 11, 1944, in Fort Rucker, Ala.
She was a retired licensed practical nurse.
She is survived by her husband, LeRoy Hurst of Avondale; three daughters, Melissa Arthur, Belinda Elmer and Kristina Hurst; one son, Norman David Elmer II; one sister, Judy Hickox; one brother, Charlie Smith; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be private.
Joanne Neff
Joanne Neff, 85, of Litchfield Park died Feb. 6, 2016, at her home.
Mrs. Neff was born Aug. 1, 1930, in St. Bonifice, Pa.
She was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Neff; one daughter, Lisa Neff; and one grandchild.
She is survived by two sons, Robert Neff of Sheboygan, Wis., and William Neff of Litchfield Park; one sister, Patricia Lacey of New Castle, Del.; two grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Margarito Nevarez Sr.
Margarito Nevarez Sr., 71, of Avondale died Jan. 30, 2016.
Mr. Nevarez is survived by his wife, Marcelina Nevarez; two sons, Margarito Nevarez Jr. and Gilbert Nevarez; and one daughter, Maria Rivas.
Funeral services were held.
Gloria Linian Orta
Gloria Linian Orta, 66, of Avondale died Feb. 6, 2016, in Phoenix.
Mrs. Orta was born May 16, 1949, in Avondale.
She was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Pascual Orta Sr.; three sons, Edward, Angel and Pascual Jr.; three sisters, Mary Ibarra, Margie Gonzales and Lupe Rivera; three brothers, Jose Rodriguez, Danny Rodriguez and Arnold Rodriguez; and three grandchildren.
A visitation will be at 10 a.m., followed by a service at 11 a.m. Saturday at Avenidas Funeral Chapel, 522 E. Western Ave., Avondale.
Condolences for the family may be left at AvenidasFuneralChapel.com.
Diane Reed
Diane (nee Bittle) Reed, 69, of Avondale died Jan. 21, 2016, at Serenity House in Glendale.
Mrs. Reed was born June 25, 1946, in Altadena, Calif.
She moved to Avondale in 1949. She attended Avondale Elementary School and Junior High and graduated from Agua Fria High School in 1964.
She worked as a silversmith and ran her own gallery in Silver City, N.M.
She is survived by her husband, Melvin Reed; one son, Jeordy Dean Fritts; one stepson, Bill Reed; two daughters, Debbie Shea and Denise Reed; one stepdaughter, Melinda Cruce; her mother, Pauline Bittle; three brothers, Jerry Bittle, Richard Bittle and Bruce Bittle; two sisters, Donna Lee and Lynda Dennison; 17 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Jan. 30.
The Rev. Sylvester Salcido officiated.
This obituary is being reprinted to correct information. The View regrets the error.
Robert A. Shaw
Robert A. Shaw, 74, of Litchfield Park died Feb. 6, 2016, at his home.
Mr. Shaw was born July 22, 1941, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to Allan Shaw and Margaret Wilson Shaw.
He graduated from high school in Grand Junction, Colo., earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arizona State University and a doctorate from Columbia University in New York.
He worked as an educator for 53 years. He was a consultant on school law, school finance and special education law and worked on federal and state granting and program development.
He was director of education and training at Arizona Children’s Colony in Coolidge and held several positions as director of special education in Arizona and Colorado.
He developed and served as executive director of the Maricopa Special Services Consortium of 14 districts and the Pinal County Special Services Consortium of 15 districts.
He served as administrative assistant to the Yavapai County superintendent and developed special education programs. He worked as a speech, hearing and language pathologist in Yavapai and Maricopa counties.
He was also a business owner and real estate agent for more than 10 years in Prescott.
He provided speech, language and hearing services to the Gila Crossing schools in Laveen for 15 years before retiring on Sept. 11, 2015.
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Shaw of Litchfield Park; two sons, Brenden Shaw of Edmond, Okla., and Jason Shaw of San Antonio; one daughter, Kristina Pasquini of Goodyear; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear.
Carmen ‘Kim’ Threatt
Carmen “Kim” Threatt, 44, of Surprise and formerly of Avondale died Jan. 28, 2016.
Ms. Threatt was born Dec. 12, 1971.
She is survived by five children, Indya, Toryn, Inaya, Isaiah and Laiah.
A service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Carpenter’s House of Worship, 13038 W. Rancho Santa Fe Blvd., Avondale.
Jose ‘Joe’ Villegas
Jose “Joe” Villegas, 93, of Goodyear died Jan. 7, 2016, in Litchfield Park.
Mr. Villegas was born March 25, 1922, in Miami.
He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in World War II.
He worked as a machinist in the tool and dye industry.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Villegas; three daughters, Sylvia Villegas-Jimenez, Annette Rosteck and Norma Villegas; four sons, Jesse Serrano, James Villegas, Carlos Serrano and Joseph Villegas; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services were Jan. 13 at Avenidas Funeral Chapel in Avondale.
Condolences for the family may be left at AvenidasFuneralChapel.com.