Obituaries

Funeral held for Manuel Castro, 78

DOWNEY-Services were held Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Pico Rivera, in which Fr. Joe Farias officiated, for Manuel Castro who was born in Mexico and died Feb. 24 at his home in Downey.

He was a Downey resident for 57 years.

He was 78 and retired from Century Motors - Auto Repair.

There was a 4-7 p.m. visitation held Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Miller-Mies Chapel, which handled the funeral arrangements. Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife Catalina, daughters Linda Reynoso and Rebecca Rodriguez, and three grandchildren.

Graveside services for Melvina Castro

DOWNEY-Graveside services were held Thursday, Feb. 28, at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier for Melvina Castro, a resident of Downey since 1962 and a retail sales employee for The Broadway Department Store for 10 years.

She was 88, born in California, and died Feb. 23 in San Pedro Peninsula Hospital.

Survivors include her daughter, Virginia (Stuart) Forde; her son, Charles E. Castro; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Father Ramon officiated.

Arrangements were by the Miller-Mies Mortuary of Downey.

Thomas Buckles remembered at age 86

DOWNEY-Services were held on Feb. 22 at the Downey First Baptist Church, with Rev. Don Burgess officiating, for Thomas Buckles, a former teacher and principal for the ABC Unified School District, who died at his home in Downey Feb. 14.

He was 86 and a member of the Downey First Baptist Church. He was born in Gillespie, Illinois.

He is survived by his wife Jacqueline; sons Robert, Ted, Terry and James; daughters Mary and Jean; brother Charles, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Burial was at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. Arrangements were by Miller-Mies Mortuary.

Services held for Wilma Jean Rodenberg

DOWNEY-Services were held Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Miller-Mies Mortuary Chapel for Wilma Jean Rodenberg, a resident of Downey for 45 years, who died Feb. 22 in Norwalk at the age of 69. Officiating was Dr. Michael Johnson.

Visitation was held Feb. 26, at the chapel from 4-7 p.m.

She was born in Arkansas and was a homemaker. She belonged to both Rio Hondo and Los Amigos Women's Golf Clubs. She was also a Red Cross volunteer for 25 years.

She is survived by her husband Leroy; sister Sally Treece; brother Vince Bearden; son Le Rodenberg (Jean Marie); daughter Jeanie Marden (Barry); 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Burial was at Rose Hills Memorial Park.

Margaret (Peggy) Johnson is mourned at age of 94

DOWNEY-A celebration of life was held Feb. 27 at the Downey Zrelak Mortuary Chapel for Margaret M. (Peggy) Johnson, a Downey resident for more than 40 years and a former home economics teacher with the Los Angeles School District.

She was 94, born in Dazey, North Dakota Jan. 13, 1908 to parents John and Margaret, and died Feb. 23, 2002 at the Downey Community Health Center of natural causes.

She was a graduate of Stout State University in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

Burial followed at Forest Hills Cemetery in Aurora, Minnesota.

End Obituaries