Obituaries: February 28, 2006
Mrs. Wheaton was born June 30, 1939, to Gladys Spain and Jeff “Buster” Hardin, who came by covered wagon to Arizona from Texas in 1917 and settled in the Cashion area of present-day Avondale. There they owned and operated a grocery store and pool hall. Mrs. Wheaton was the great niece of the gunslinger John Wesley Hardin.
Mrs. Wheaton attended Tolleson High School, from which she graduated as salutatorian of her senior class. Married to Leon “Popcorn” Wheaton for 47 years, she traveled worldwide while her husband was in the military, returning to Arizona and living in the Tolleson-Avondale area for 40 years.
Mrs. Wheaton began a career in government in 1965 in Washington, D.C. She returned to Phoenix in 1966 to work for then-Gov. Jack Williams, and later transferred to the Arizona Senate to work as secretary to the Senate Rules attorney.
In 1979, Mrs. Wheaton was elected to Secretary of the Senate of Arizona, where she served 19 years — longer than any other secretary in the state. During her tenure, she served seven different presidents of the Senate and as secretary over a court of impeachment.
Mrs. Wheaton retired after 31 years of state service, but only two months later was hired as secretary for the Rule’s Office at the Arizona House of Representatives. She worked there three years.
Mrs. Wheaton is survived by her husband, Leon; one daughter, Marnie Lee Wheaton; one son, Creed Taylor Wheaton; one sister, Janette Evelyn Amator; one brother, Jeff “Bud” Hardin; and four grandchildren.
A service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Southern Baptist Church of Avondale, 1001 N. Central Ave. in Avondale. Memorials may be sent in the name of Shirley Wheaton to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309.
Shirley L. Wheaton
Shirley L. Hardin Wheaton, 66, of Tolleson died Feb. 21, 2006, after a battle with breast cancer.
Thompson’s Valley West Funeral Chapel made the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Rebecca S.; five daughters, Anna T., Rebecca M., Monica, Michelle, and Christine Dunn; and two brothers, Guillermo "Willie" and Edmundo.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 3, 2007, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 512 N. 93rd Ave., Tolleson. A service will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 4 at the church. The Rev. John Lankeit will officiate.
Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Avondale.
Crystal Rose Funeral Home in Tolleson made the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy; one sister, Ella Mae Henslee; and one brother, George.
Services were Monday.
George F. Martinez
George F. Martinez, 67, of Phoenix, died Dec. 22, 2007, in Phoenix
Mr. Martinez was born Dec. 24, 1939, in Glendale to Josephine and Francisco. He was a retired sub-zero freezer laborer. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Tolleson.
Frank Squire
Frank L. Squire, 56, of Phoenix died Aug. 7, 2007.
Mr. Squire was an Arizona native and a 1969 graduate of Tolleson High School. He was a journeyman cabinet maker and worked for the city of Phoenix.
by The JavaScript Source