Class of 1955

Do you have information that I can use in a bio for anyone on this page?  If so, please email it to me at LatonHigh@comcast.net   Linda

I am attempting to compile a list of all Laton Alumni who were in the Military, as well as those who were Killed in Action or were POWs.  They will be honored with the following stars next to their names ---

* - Served in the Military
* - Killed in Action
* - Prisoner of War

Give me a few months then if I have missed names that should be added, please contact me at                            LatonHigh@comcast.net

                                                       ********************

Adams, Ginger Cooper  -  Hanford CA  -  I married Delbert Cooper (class of 1953) and we celebrated our 54nd anniversary this past year.  We have 6 grown sons, 9 grandsons and 8 grandaughters.  We also have 3 step-granddaughters and 18 great-grandchildren.  Since Delbert and I retired, we have gone on a couple cruises, which we really enjoyed. I am still riding horses in parades and for pleasure.

Allen, Betty Oberg  -  Garland UT    

Anderson, Shirley Applegate  -  Bennington OK   -  Shirley and her husband have 5 children, 4 girls and 1 son.  They have 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Areias, John   -  Carson City NV    

Avila, Jennie Martinez  -  Clovis CA     

Barboza, Paulina Martinez  - Stockton CA

Brassart, Mary Lou Rodriquez  -  Patterson CA    

Bristol, Imogene Ipsen  -  Riverdale CA  - I've been married to James Ipsen  for 45 years.  For most of those years, I have been the bookkeeper for him and his brother who are self employed.  Since about 1960 they have been working with heavy equipment and trucks, and build oil well drilling sites in and around the Riverdale and Kerman area. 
            We have 2 boys, 2 girls, 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. We are semi-retired and enjoy traveling in the USA, especially in Utah and Washington State where some of our son’s family lives.  My husband is an avid fisherman and, when we get a chance, we also like to go camping.

Bristol, Jerry   -  Deceased (2014)    

Burleson, Leon Odell   -  Prescott Valley AZ

Buwalda, Sadie Fike  -  Deceased (1992)     

DeHart, Caroline Bookout  -  Deceased     

Dick, Billy   -  Deceased     

Dobson, Bob   -  Visalia CA  - Bob and his wife, Marilyn, have 3 daughters, Teri McKay, Lori Castro and Lisa Gilmore.  They also have 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.  Bob’s family moved from Laton to Springville in 1953 where he attended Porterville High School.  In 1957 he married Marilyn, his high school sweetheart.  They lived in Porterville for 8 years while he commuted to Visalia where he worked as an Architectural Draftsman.  They moved to Visalia in 1965 and have lived there since.  In 1970 he obtained his architects license, then became a partner in a large firm.  In 1980, he opened is own office.  Marilyn worked for the Visalia Medical Clinic off & on for about 30 years.  Now they are both retired.

Duinkerken, Herman   -  Deceased (2010)     

Durst, Zuma McGill  -  Clovis CA  - Ed and I have 4 children, Deanna, Randy, Lisa and Ronnie.  We also have 11 grandchildren.  We have been very blessed by God in our marriage, health, family and friends.  Ed has always been my best friend (and visa versa).  We have had some down in the valley times and some big moutains to climb – but Thank God.

Durst, Gail Meyers  (George)  -  Hanford, CA     

Duyst, Ted   -  Hanford CA    

Fike, Deral   -  Hanford CA   - Deral has 3 daughters, Lori, Cheri and Kari, and 1 son, Deral (aka Chip).  He also has 3 grandchildren and one great-grandson. 

Garcia, Jessie  (Sera) -  Deceased (2021)    

Hager, Dorothy Wells  -  Coarsegold CA

Hall, Euline Kruger  -  Deceased (2003)     

Hall, Gerald   -  Deceased     

Hamlin, Steve   -  Deceased     

Harris, Anna Ruth Taylor  -  Deceased (2012)     

Harris, Imogene Meyers  -  Hanford CA    

Harris, Kenneth   -  Deceased     

Humphreys, Jeanean Coffman  -  Deceased (2021)

Hunt, Madine Crawford  -  Porterville CA - Madine has 1 daughter, Jana, stepdaughter Terri, and stepson Mark.  She also has 3 granddaughters, 3 grandsons, and 2 great-granddaughters.  She is active in their church, enjoy being with family, especially the great-granddaughters.  They also enjoy spending time at Pismo Beach. 

Hurlbut, Bernice Stowell  -  Deceased (2023)  - Bernice and her husband, Bill, have 3 sons, Bob, Mark and Ron.  She also has 2 granddaughters, Michelle and Kimberly.  There are no great-grandchildren so far.
Bernice and her family all live in the San Jose area.  She still works as a stock broker but has her office at home so her time is more flexible.  The boys all work in the area, however, son Bob is a Captain with Zayate Volunteer Fire Department so that keeps him very busy especially when the wild fires start in Southern California.  Their oldest granddaughter is attending Humboldt State with a major in Oceanography.  The younger graduate from high school this year and will be attending Oregon State, majoring in Multi Media.  Bernice and Bill are both in good health and have just celebrated their 51st Wedding Anniversary.

Jones, Clifford Dale   -  Selma CA

Jones, Juanita Thornsberry  -  Hanford CA

King, Barbara Brantley  -  Deceased (2013)     

Kleim, Joann   -  Deceased     

Koelewyn, Caroline Burrus  -  Hanford CA  -  Caroline has 3 daughters, 10 grandchildren but no great-grandchildren yet. 

Lee, Carol Frazier  -  Deceased (1992)     

Liskey, Nathan   -  Antigua, Guatemala

Lockwood, Fred   -  Hanford CA    

Long, Melvin   -  Deceased (2020)  

Lopez, Genvieve Rivera  -  Fresno     

Lopez, Josephine Montejano  -  Fresno CA    - Josephine and Joe married in 1957 and now have 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughters.  They also have 12 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.  Joe retired from CSUF as a state officer.  She is still a housewife, as well as a babysitter for their grandkids. 

Maddox, Jean Liskey  -  Deceased (2021)  - After graduation from Laton High School, I went to Fresno State for my freshman year.  The second year I became engage the Nathan Liskey and we married a year later.  I joined Nathan at LaVerne College where we both graduated in 1959.  We continued our education at Indiana University.  He received his EED and I got a Masters Degree.  We returned to Fresno to teach.  We had three children at that time.  I became a licensed Marriage Counselor and taught classes part time.  I later divorced and continued my private practice until I retired.  I moved over to the coast where my daughter lives and I am enjoying being a grandmother.

Madruga, Jerry * - Deceased (2016)  Jerry attended Hardwick Grammar School then Laton High School and in September 1954, he joined the U.S. Air Force.  In 1958 he reenlisted. In 1959, when suddenly his mother became a widow, he left a promising career in the Air Force to operate the family farm where he became a great role model for three of his younger brothers.  He was later hired as a civilian fire fighter at the Lemoore Naval Air Station, reaching the position of Assistant Fire Chief.  He retired after 20 years in that position but he was not the type that could sit back doing nothing so he spent a great deal of time working in his garden until he passed away in 2016.

McGill, Ed   -  Deceased (2018) - (see Zuma Durst for bio information) 

Medico, Bob   -  Deceased (1956)     

Mendes, Louise Stout  -  Hanford CA    

Menefee, Ray   -  Laton CA    

Miranda, Greg   -  Turlock CA

Montejano, Frank   -  Deceased (1969)     

Murphy, Charlene Callahan  -  Hanford CA  – Charlene has 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.  She is retired and RVing some.  She and Chuck just celebrated their 30th Wedding Anniversay.

Myers, Richard   -  Deceased (2007)     

Propes, Donald   -  Selma CA  -  Don married Bevery Bibb from the Terry school area almost 52 years ago.  They have 3 wonderful children and 4 grandchildren.  Don retired in 2002 after driving a truck for 43 years.  Beverly went back to college after the kids got older and received her certificate to be a sign language interpreter.  She retired from the Fresno School District and now interprets in the church they attend and on doctor visits when needed.  They are enjoying the ‘Golden Years’ by traveling.  They also enjoy Old Time Gospel music every Saturday night in Selma  (1st & 3rd weeks) and Kingsburg (2nd & 4th week). 

Ramirez, Cresencia   -  ?     

Royval, Albert   -  Deceased (2008)     

Royval, Chris   -  Deceased (1994)

​Rush, David -  Deceased (2017)    

Sagaser, Alvin   -  Deceased (1982)     

Sagaser, Jackie Myers  -  Laton

Salyers, Bob   -  (Deceased 2021)   -  Bob had 4 children, 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson. 

Salyers, Glenda Shannon  -  Visalia CA    

Sheldon, Donnel   -  Deceased (1978)     

Silva, Lorelei McCoy  -  Paso Robles CA    

Silva, Louise Wilson  -  Hanford CA

Sorrells, Bob   -  Deceased (2008)  

Spurlock, Radford   -  Tulare CA    - Rad and his wife, Tilie, have 4 children and 10 grandchildren.  They also have 4 great-grandchildren.  Rad is still working part time but manage to go fishing once a week.  They belong to the Laton Lions Club, helping wherever they can.  They hold a ‘Jam Session’ at the Hall every Friday evening.  Rad says he is gonna retire when he gets old enough.

Stewart, Donna Ketchum  -  Deceased (2012)    

Stout, Marian Danielson  -  Deceased (2005)  

Thornsberry, Paul  -  Deceased (2015)   

Upton, Jerry  -  Deceased (2014)  -  Jerry and his wife, Dorothy, had 3 children and 3 grandchildren.  He also had 3 great-grandchildren.  Jerry retired from PG&E after 38 years of service.  He worked in general construction with PG&E in the Kings Canyon area for a few years then the San Francisco headquarters for a few more years.  He then worked at few other Bay Area destinations before ending up in San Jose for the remainder of his career.  They lived in San Jose for 34 years then moved to Visalia after retiring in 1994.  He enjoyed gardening and sport fishing while he was younger but his activities were restricted due to limited walking abilities.   He looked forward to daily outings on a motorized scooter and being Dorothy’s pace car on her 2-mile walks.

Vink, Eddie   -  Riverdale CA  

Watkins, Doyce  -  Deceased (1997)  

Weaver, Gary   -  New Plymouth ID    

Willhite, Marvin* ​  - Deceased (2018)