OBITUARIES – Click here

Dorothy I. Gorie,  – January 7, 1920 – May 26, 2009, Age
89
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Dorothy moved to
Oakland in 1955 with her husband and two children, Mardie
Donaldson, now of Windsor, and Ian Wilson, now of Union City.  She
moved to Sonoma County in 2001 to be near her daughter.
She was one of three daughters born to Bill and Martha Haddon
during the Great Depression. Dorothy was tall for her age and
started her retail career as a clerk at Woolworths Department Store
at the age of 13 as her father was out of work.  She loved that job
which fed her family in those early years, and worked there off and
on until she moved to California.  Her next successful career was
with Avon Cosmetics, first as a sales consultant and then as a
Sales Manager.  She was a hard working woman who loved helping
people look their best and she always looked the part.
Dorothy loved the Oakland A’s baseball team, lighthouses,
playing Scrabble, going to the movies, watching the soap “All My
Children,” and playing the slot machines.
After her first husband passed away, she married a neighbor,
Taft Burch, and they retired to Carson City, Nevada. 
Unfortunately, Taft had an unexpected early death and she later
married one of his friends and co-worker, Ted Gorie.
As well as being survived by her son and daughter, Ian  and
Mardie , Dorothy leaves behind her sister Charlein Ross of Campbell
River, BC, Canada, four stepchildren, Charles Gorie, Michelle
Haddix, Denise Almeda and Beverly Ferriero; grandsons, John
Davidson of Paradise, California, Jad Donaldson of Vallejo; and
step-grandson, Jim Hutchison of Fernley,
Nevada. Great-grandchildren include Jessica, Brandy and Demetri and
one great-great granddaughter, Cassie. There are also numerous
step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She will be missed so much by all her family friends, but the
memories are endless.
A memorial service is being held in the Bay Area.
Michele John “Mike” Teldeschi
A third generation Dry Creek Valley rancher, Mike Teldeschi
passed away at home with his family at his side on May 29, 2009
after a brief illness. He was 93. Born on June 24, 1915, in
Casabasciana, Italy, a small village near Lucca, he came with his
family to California at the age of 14 to join his father and
grandfather, who were already here working in the wine
industry.
In 1938, Mike met Lucille Del Carlo at a Fourth of July picnic.
They were married in 1941, and bought a ranch in the Dry Creek
Valley in 1947, where the Teldeschi family still grows grapes. Mike
was a hard-working family man, always active in his vineyards and
his community. In 1988, he spearheaded the renovation of the
Masonic Lodge in downtown Healdsburg. He was also a member of the
Scottish Rite, the Aahmes Shrine Temple, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
and the American Legion. Mike served his country in the United
States Navy as a Motor Machinist Mate Second Class in the Pacific
Theater of World War II.
In the last years of his life, he spent many happy hours in his
garden and with his family and friends. Mike is preceded in death
by his wife Lucille Teldeschi, brother Frank Teldeschi, and sister
Caroline Goodyear. He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law,
Larry and Carol Teldeschi, Ray and Lori Teldeschi, and Gary and
Peggy Teldeschi, as well as grandchildren Donna Franklyn, Tandy
Flagstad and Lodaicy Teldeschi of Idaho, Marc and Nicki Teldeschi
of Windsor and Shelly and Mark Rechin of Santa Rosa. He is also
survived by eight great-grandchildren, his step-grandchildren;
Shawn, Alicia, Derek, and Lacey, as well as numerous nieces and
nephews. He left behind many good friends and his cherished dog
“Baby”. His family is grateful to St. Joseph’s Hospice and Mike’s
devoted caregiver Tevita “David” Uluilakeba.
Family and friends are invited to attend Funeral Services at 11
a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2009 at the Lafferty & Smith Colonial
Chapel (4321 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409). A memorial
gathering to continue the celebration of Mike’s life will follow
services at the Teldeschi Vineyards. Private interment, Oak Mound
Cemetery, Healdsburg, CA. Lafferty & Smith Colonial Chapel will
provide visitation hours for those wishing to pay their respects
from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Fireside Room of the mortuary on
Thursday, June 4, 2009. Memorial contributions are encouraged to
Shriners’ Childrens Hospital (2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA,
95817) or to the Geyserville Fire Protection District, PO Box 1042,
Geyserville, CA 95441.
Dale L. Lynch
Dale L. Lynch, aged 87, died on May 27, 2009 in Healdsburg, CA.
Dale was born August 17, 1921 in Long Beach, CA, the second of four
children to John and Effie Lynch. He graduated from Kern County
Union High School in Bakersfield and attended Los Angeles City
College. He served in the U.S. Third Army under George S. Patton,
89th Infantry Division. He served five combat months, with an
additional special assignment of seven months stationed in Linz,
Austria, repatriating displaced persons throughout the European
Theater.
Beginning his career with Safeway Stores as a sixteen year old
clerk in Greenfield Corners, CA near Bakersfield, he was eventually
promoted to Division Manager in Seattle, WA. Under his management,
that division became the top producer for the entire company. His
final assignment as President and COO of Safeway Stores, Inc.
brought him to the Bay Area. During Dale’s presidency, the company
operated 2,300 stores in 29 states and nine other countries, with
over 170,000 employees. Recognized as a visionary, he spearheaded
Safeway’s move toward superstores, one stop centers with
pharmacies, delis, premium wine departments and more, laying the
groundwork for the look of supermarkets today. Retiring in 1983,
Dale joined the faculty of the School of Business at USC under Dr.
James Stevenson.
Upon retirement he developed a wine grape growing business in
Sonoma County with his son and his wife Marjorie. The business
remains in the hands of John Lynch of Healdsburg.
Dale was a member of Healdsburg Kiwanis and active in Healdsburg
Branch #157 of Sons in Retirement, serving two terms as Big SIR. He
also served as Worshipful Master of the Free and Accepted Masons,
Wayfarers Lodge #115 in Seattle. He had a deep and abiding
appreciation for the beauty of the natural world, and spent many
happy hours out of doors.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Joanne Foote-Lynch, son,
John Lynch (Linda) of Healdsburg, CA, daughter Susan Watkins (Sam)
of Mukilteo, WA, daughter Lorna Willard (Dave) of Sumner, WA and
sister Lorraine Bischke of Hemet, CA. Cherished grandchildren are
Riley Lynch, Garth Lynch, Nikki Fretwell, Davis Fretwell, Daryl
Willard, Jesse Willard and Morgan Lynch. His wife of 53 years,
Marjorie Lynch, preceded him in death in 1997. His family is
grateful for the strength of purpose he possessed and the
faithfulness he exhibited to each member.
The family held a private service at Oak Mound Cemetery in
Healdsburg, CA. The family asks that any donations in his memory be
made to the Safeway Companies Employee Association (SCEA) emergency
assistance fund: Contact Deborah Davis, (626) 821-6135.
Ruth Elizabeth Chapman – Worked as a nurse at Healdsburg
General Hospital
Ruth Elizabeth Chapman, 93, passed away surrounded by family at
her home in Healdsburg on May 15, 2009. Ruth was born on March 2,
1916 in McMinnville, Oregon. Soon after birth, Ruth moved to Lodi.
Ruth married Floyd Chapman in December of 1937. She worked as a
nurse for over 25 years including five years at the old Healdsburg
General Hospital on Johnson Street. Upon retirement, Ruth and her
husband volunteered their service for the next 15 years helping to
build over 65 churches and schools and orphanages throughout the
western United States.
Ruth loved gardening, writing poetry and sewing. She handmade
and donated many quilts to the Navajo Indians in Monument
Valley.
Ruth was a person who never let any grass grow under her feet.
Her favorite saying was “I went out to find a friend and found none
there. I went out to be a friend and found them everywhere.”
Ruth worked out at Healdsburg Community Fitness Center up until
two weeks before her death.
Ruth is survived by two daughters, Carol of Auburn, Calif. and
Margaret of Healdsburg; six grandchildren, Marci, Bob, Armen,
Terry, Dennis, Greg; and five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Zackary,
Drew, Tyler and Crystal.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service for
Ruth at the Healdsburg Seventh-Day Adventist Church on June 6, 2009
at 2:30 p.m. The family requests that donations be made to the
Cloverdale Adventist School in lieu of flowers.
Michele John “Mike” Teldeschi – A good, long
life
A third generation Dry Creek Valley rancher, Mike Teldeschi
passed away at home with his family at his side on May 29, 2009
after a brief illness. He was 93. Born on June 24, 1915, in
Casabasciana, Italy, a small village near Lucca, he came with his
family to California at the age of 14 to join his father and
grandfather, who were already here working in the wine industry. In
1938, Mike met Lucille Del Carlo at a Fourth of July picnic. They
were married in 1941, and bought a ranch in the Dry Creek Valley in
1947, where the Teldeschi family still grows grapes. Mike was a
hard-working family man, always active in his vineyards and his
community. In 1988, he spearheaded the renovation of the Masonic
Lodge in downtown Healdsburg. He was also a member of the Scottish
Rite, the Shriners, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American
Legion. Mike served his country in the United States Navy as a
Motor Machinist Mate Second Class in the Pacific Theater of World
War II. In the last years of his life, he spent many happy hours in
his garden and with his family and friends. Mike is preceded in
death by his wife Lucille Teldeschi, brother Frank Teldeschi, and
sister Caroline Goodyear. He is survived by his sons and
daughters-in-law, Larry and Carol Teldeschi, Ray and Lori
Teldeschi, and Gary and Peggy Teldeschi, as well as grandchildren
Donna Franklyn, Tandy Flagstad and Lodaicy Teldeschi of Idaho, Marc
and Nicki Teldeschi of Windsor and Shelly and Mark Rechin of Santa
Rosa. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, his
step-grandchildren; Shawn, Alicia, Derek, and Lacey, as well as
numerous nieces and nephews. He left behind many good friends and
his cherished dog “Baby”. His family is grateful to St. Joseph’s
Hospice and Mike’s devoted caregiver Tevita “David” Uluilakeba.
Family and friends are invited to attend funeral services at 11
a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2009 at the Lafferty & Smith Colonial
Chapel (4321 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409). A memorial
gathering to continue the celebration of Mike’s life will follow
services at the Teldeschi Ranch. Private interment, Oak Mound
Cemetery, Healdsburg, CA. Lafferty & Smith Colonial Chapel will
provide visitation hours for those wishing to pay their respects
from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Fireside Room of the mortuary on
Thursday, June 4, 2009. Memorial contributions are encouraged to
Shriners’ Childrens Hospital (2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento,
CA, 95817) or to the Geyserville Fire Protection District, PO Box
1042, Geyserville, CA 95441.
Bonnie May Hembd   1923-2009
Bonnie peacefully departed this world to be with her Lord Jesus
Christ on May 27, 2009. She was born January 4, 1923, to Leonard
and Ida Schroder at their home in Melvin, Iowa, and grew up on the
family farm near Ocheyedan, Iowa. She graduated salutatorian from
Ocheyedan High School in 1940 and went on to teach in a one-room
country school near her family farm.
On May 22, 1943, she married the love of her life, Arnold Hembd.
Soon after, she joined the Navy and honorably served as a Wave
stationed in Alameda, California, working as an airplane mechanic.
Bonnie and Arnold had five children and farmed in Ocheyedan, Iowa,
until 1960 when they moved to Healdsburg, CA. 
Bonnie was the Healdsburg Elementary Librarian for the next 19
years where she shared her love of learning with the many children
for whom she deeply cared. 
Following retirement, she spent many hours volunteering at the
school, leading the visually impaired group at the Healdsburg
Senior Center, and serving her Lord at Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church. As a dedicated member of Good Shepherd, Bonnie worked in
many capacities for 48 years. She was an example of faithfulness to
all who knew her, and her memory will be cherished by family and
friends. We all have memories of her gentle and loving spirit,
loyalty, eagerness to serve others, love of nature and attention to
detail, which she kept to the end. 
Bonnie was preceeded in death by Arnold, her husband of 62
years. She is survived by her children Dennis and Markie Hembd, Amy
and Mark Fraser, Gayle and Rex Schimmer, Wendy and Alan Pine,
Douglas and wife Michal, her grandchildren Traci, Michael, and
Kristin (their mother, Jennifer), Todd, Trent, Travis, Duke, Bret
and Max. She was a proud great-grandmother of 10. She is also
survived by one sister, three brothers and numerous nieces and
nephews. 
There will be a memorial service at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 13
at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1402 University St.,
Healdsburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bonnie’s name may be made to
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church; Healdsburg Elementary Library
(K-2) – 400 First St., Healdsburg, CA 95448; or The Forbes Norris
MDA/ALS Research Center – 2324 Sacramento St., Suite 111, San
Francisco, CA 94115. 
Dale L. Lynch – Member of Healdsburg Kiwanis
Club
Dale L. Lynch, aged 87, died on May 27, 2009 in Healdsburg, CA.
Dale was born August 17, 1921 in Long Beach, CA, the second of four
children to John and Effie Lynch. He graduated from Kern County
Union High School in Bakersfield and attended Los Angeles City
College. He served in the U.S. Third Army under George S. Patton,
89th Infantry Division. He served five combat months, with an
additional special assignment of seven months stationed in Linz,
Austria, repatriating displaced persons throughout the European
Theater.
Beginning his career with Safeway Stores as a 16-year-old clerk
in Greenfield Corners, CA near Bakersfield, he was eventually
promoted to Division Manager in Seattle, WA. Under his management,
that division became the top producer for the entire company. His
final assignment as President and COO of Safeway Stores, Inc.
brought him to the Bay Area. During Dale’s presidency, the company
operated 2,300 stores in 29 states and nine other countries, with
over 170,000 employees. Recognized as a visionary, he spearheaded
Safeway’s move toward superstores, one stop centers with
pharmacies, delis, premium wine departments and more, laying the
groundwork for the look of supermarkets today. Retiring in 1983,
Dale joined the faculty of the School of Business at USC under Dr.
James Stevenson.
Upon retirement he developed a wine grape growing business in
Sonoma County with his son and his wife Marjorie. The business
remains in the hands of John Lynch of Healdsburg.
Dale was a member of Healdsburg Kiwanis and active in Healdsburg
Branch #157 of Sons in Retirement, serving two terms as Big SIR. He
also served as Worshipful Master of the Free and Accepted Masons,
Wayfarers Lodge #115 in Seattle. He had a deep and abiding
appreciation for the beauty of the natural world, and spent many
happy hours out of doors.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Joanne Foote-Lynch, son,
John Lynch (Linda) of Healdsburg, CA, daughter Susan Watkins (Sam)
of Mukilteo, WA, daughter Lorna Willard (Dave) of Sumner, WA and
sister Lorraine Bischke of Hemet, CA. Cherished grandchildren are
Riley Lynch, Garth Lynch, Nikki Fretwell, Davis Fretwell, Daryl
Willard, Jesse Willard and Morgan Lynch. His wife of 53 years,
Marjorie Lynch, preceded him in death in 1997. The family held a
private service at Oak Mound Cemetery in Healdsburg, CA. The family
asks that any donations in his memory be made to the Safeway
Companies Employee Association (SCEA) emergency assistance fund:
Contact Deborah Davis, (626) 821-6135.
Yvonne Wellington Horton     January 1, 1927—May 26,
2009
Yvonne Wellington Horton of Healdsburg, passed away on Tuesday,
May 26, at the age of 82 from complications of a fall. She is
survived by a daughter, Robyne Camp of Irvington, NY; a son,
Michael Horton, of Albany, OR; a daughter Suzanna Wellington of
Healdsburg; and a son, Mark Horton, of San Francisco. In addition,
she is survived by eight grandchildren. She outlived her husband of
almost 50 years, Colonel Max Horton, US Army Retired, who passed
away in Healdsburg in 1989.
The first baby born in the State in the year of 1927, Yvonne
grew up in Eden, WY, a cross road on the west side of the Wind
River Mountains, marked by the country store her father ran and the
log cabin-like Oregon Valley Episcopal Church her mother helped
construct. From Eden, Yvonne moved with her mother Ethel Wellington
and her sister to Denver, CO.
Much of Yvonne’s life as a wife and mother was spent raising her
children in one successive Army base after another, moving every
few years.  Washington State, Kansas, Oklahoma, New York, and
Wisconsin, were stops along the way, but much of her life was spent
living in Europe. Skiing in the Alps, spending Christmas Eve at
Chartes Cathedral, driving care-free around Europe in a Volkswagen
eating yogurt and sleeping in Youth Hostels, Yvonne stepped outside
the traditional life of a normal military wife and discovered that
her drummer was not necessarily the one beating for everyone else; 
it was, though, a time that Yvonne came into her own as a
self-confident individual not swayed by others. She also discovered
her life-long passion for driving, a trait that would lead her
husband to exclaim that Yvonne would only want to “drive there
because we live here, or here if we lived there!”
When the Army took the Hortons to Burlington, VT, Yvonne  set
her mind to creating a career for herself and graduated Trinity
College with a degree in Education. Her teaching resume was cut
short, though, after only two days of attempting to get seventh
graders to concentrate on reading. From that point forward, she
decided that she would, instead enjoy the wonderful outdoors of the
Green Mountain State, at least in the comfortable summer months it
was possible to, and set out on hikes and short rows on Lake
Champlain.
After her husband retired from the military in 1977, and after
circumnavigating the United States in a mobile home, Yvonne and Max
moved to Northern California, first to the town of Sonoma, and
subsequently to Healdsburg. Settling outside of the town limits, on
Chalk Hill Road, Yvonne and Max raised animals and spent much of
their time riding horses up into the hills behind their house.
After her husband died, Yvonne moved a short distance down the road
to a new, modern, award-winning house designed by her son and one
she constructed for herself, and dedicated herself to a new second
career, and life, as a real estate agent. She took up the realtor
mantle with great fervor, and spent much of her time for the next
18 years going on Broker tours, putting her famously handwritten
mass mailings together, and talking shop with anyone who would
listen.
In 2005 Yvonne moved into the town of Healdsburg to yet another
new, modern, house she constructed for herself at the age of
78.
For anyone who has received one of her famous clippings in the
mail, it goes without saying that Yvonne spent much of her day
reading the daily newspaper carefully and thinking of friends. She
also was a voracious reader, belonging to a book club with many of
her girl friends of a certain age; she enjoyed the book club
gatherings as much as she did her casual semi-annual gatherings
with friends for walks in Yosemite and beyond. And her membership
in, and dedication to The American Association of University Women
(the AAUW) was something that brought her a great sense of
fulfillment; her continuous friendship with like-minded women
brought her great joy.
But, perhaps most importantly, Yvonne cherished her
independence. She lived alone until her fall, eschewing any and all
attempts to bind her to a support system or help. A mix of
Depression-era self-sufficiency and Northern Plains heartiness,
Yvonne insisted up until her final breath that she was capable of
taking care of herself, unwilling to either burden or place herself
in debt to others. 
Donations may be sent to “AAUW – Scholarship Fund”, P.O. Box
1064, Healdsburg, CA 95448.