News

Bob Dale Blankenship (80), passed away Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Fresno, CA. He was born to Clifford and Katie (Brannum) Blankinship in Milo, OK, and was a resident of Madera, CA for 45 years. He was an Auto Tech for the California Highway Patrol for 32 years until his retirement.

Bob, was raised in the San Joaquin Valley and graduated from Tranquility High School in the class of 1959. He was a founding member of the Clovis 4-Wheel Drive Club, and for 25 years helped organize Madera Sober Grad. He was also deeply involved in Habitat for Humanity in Santa Rosa, CA. A few of his passions in life were fishing and car racing. In his younger days, he spent much time at the Kearney Bowl working on racecars and enjoying the races.

Randy Kit Durbin -  It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Randy Kit Durbin who passed away on September 11, 2020. He was a graduate of Madera High, studied abroad in Europe, graduated from U. C. Davis, earned a Master’s Degree and Career Technical Education certification at Fresno Pacific College, and had an administrative credential.

He had a passion for learning and hoped to pass that thirst for knowledge on to others throughout his 24 years of teaching at Madera High and Madera South as well as his 31 years of teaching at the Madera Community College.

William Robert Wibbenhorst (91) - After a long and full life, William (Bill) Wibbenhorst passed away peacefully at his home in Madera, California, on August 13, 2020. Bill was surrounded by the great love of his life and wife of 68 years, Marilyn, and his loving children. He will be remembered for his dedication to his family of four children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. The silver-haired patriarch was a true man’s man, a friend to many, and a stranger to none.

Bill was born in San Bernardino, CA on May 11, 1929. He was the son of William Martin Wibbenhorst and Verna Fulton Wibbenhorst, and brother of Norman R. Wibbenhorst; who he has now joined in heaven. After graduating from Point Loma High School, Bill enlisted in the ROTC program at UCLA in 1946. Across town at USC, he met the love of his life, Marilyn Joan Martin.

Jo Alene Brown (84) was born on November 25, 1935, in Ft. Cobb Oklahoma to Joe and Gladys Bryson. She passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s disease and Covid-19 on Saturday, August 15, 2020, at Autumn Ridge Assisted Living in Kerman, Ca.

Jo Alene spent her younger years growing up in Oklahoma until the family moved to California and settled in the Kerman area. She attended Kerman High where she fell in love with Joe Brown. They were married following her graduation in 1953. They moved to Madera shortly after and she lived here until 1 year ago when she moved back to Kerman to live at Autumn Ridge.

Celia Perlongo (89) passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 13, 2020, in Madera, Ca. Celia was born on August 10, 1922, in New York to Michael and Asunta Pastena. In 1976, Celia and her husband Joe and their daughters moved to Madera. Celia was a loving mom and homemaker, and a great cook. When the holidays came, the whole family would gather at her home with great anticipation for her cooking, especially her famous meatballs and her red “gravy”. 

Celia worked at McDonald’s as a Greeting Hostess for over 20 years. Prior to that she was a school monitor at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. She loved McDonald's fries and would always bring her grandchildren happy meals after school. Her grandchildren loved to visit her while she was working and eat with her during her break. Celia received a Certificate of Recognition for her Dedicated Service. Her children remember her white car and they would always laugh at her when she revved the engine and peeled out. Celia loved vanilla ice cream cones and sweets -- and red wine!

For the last two years, Celia lived at Avalon Health Care, and her family would come and visit her routinely. Celia’s family would like to thank Avalon and their Staff who took great care of her while she was there. She was loved by everyone there. The family also extends a special thanks to Alicia Ramos who was so good with Celia.

Celia is preceded in death by her husband Joseph Perlongo and her siblings: Rose DeAnglis, Salvatore Perlongo and his wife Josephine Perlongo, Mario Perlongo and his wife Mary Perlongo, Anthony (Tony) Pastena, Ralph Pastena, Carmine (Tommy) Pastena, Carmela Pastena, and Almarando (Dean) Pastena.

She is survived by her sister Vera Delio, her sister-in-law Rose Lomascola, and by her three daughters Dr. Antoinette Stone and daughter-in-law MJ Skinner, Regina Henry and son-in-law Gavin Henry, and Angela Martinez and son-in-law Paul Martinez, as well as her six grandchildren Joseph and his wife Nici Nassiri, Kavon and his wife Kayla Nassiri, Serena and her husband Kurt Arreola, Daniel Martinez, Nicolas Martinez, and Adam Martinez, and her seven great-grandchildren, Caroline, Cori and Camille Nassiri, Analie Perlongo, Ayden Arreola, Kimberlee Arreola, Ava Arreola, with the last one arriving in the near future. Her surviving extended family consists of numerous nieces and nephews both in California and on the East Coast.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date once Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.

MADERA - Former Madera resident Reynold Mason (Ren) Hallett (71) passed away on August 13, 2020, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ren had moved back to Indiana in 2016 to be closer to family.

Ren was born on April 14, 1949, and grew up in the city of Indianapolis.He was a 1967 graduate of Howe Military Academy where he was “A" Company’s First Lieutenant and Platoon Leader. He was a champion swimmer for the school all four years.