Le Roy Palmer of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., died on July 4, 2011, at age 99. Courtesy photo.

Le Roy Palmer of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., passed away on July 4, 2011.

He was born in Chicago, Ill., on March 15, 1912, and as a young man became interested in the then-new medium of radio, eventually getting an amateur radio operator’s license in 1933.

Also interested in music, he joined his high school chorus and in 1931 sang three performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a member of that vocal ensemble.

After graduating from high school he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and went on to work for two electrical manufacturing companies in Chicago as a production manager.

In 1958 he received an MBA degree from the University of Chicago and the following year he and his family moved to Belmont, Calif., where he was employed by a company that specialized in aerospace and defense work.

During the 1960s he was involved in the United States space program and worked with a team that designed and manufactured the antenna used to transmit television pictures from the first manned lunar landing.

After retiring in 1977, he devoted his time to managing his investments, working on home improvement projects, took piano lessons, traveled to several countries and bowled as well as played bridge regularly.

In 1984, after his wife Caroline died, he remarried and took up residence with his bride, Elsie, in Mountain View, Calif. She introduced him to square dancing and pinochle and eventually the couple moved to Windsor, Calif., and then to Clearlake Oaks. There he and Elsie quickly made friends with many others in the Keys and often took part in activities at the Clear Lake Keys Club.

Throughout his life he was an avid reader, enjoyed learning new skills, planning personal projects as well as designing and building things and took pleasure in music, particularly opera.

He had a deep appreciation and respect for learning and during his later years audited several college courses available on DVD.

He is survived by his wife, Elsie Carey Palmer; his two children, Frederic Palmer of Belmont, Calif., and Laurel Palmer Lettieri of Mount Vernon, New York; and his two grandchildren, Rebecca Pelfrey of Beachwood, Ohio, and Christian Palmer Pelfrey of Yonkers, New York.

A memorial will be held at the Clear Lake Keys Club, 12980 Lakeland St. in Clearlake Oaks on Saturday, July 16, at 2 p.m.

Jack Humphrey at Altamont, Calif., on August 18, 2007. Courtesy photo.

Completing his last lap and reaching the checkered flag, Jack Wulff Humphrey passed away peacefully at home in American Canyon on June 12, 2011, among loved ones and in the care of Hospice services after a lengthy battle with multiple illnesses.

Jack is survived by his loving companion, Susie Dorsett LaPointe of Sacramento; his sisters, Nadine Strauss (Bob), of Lucerne, and Sharon Leuzinger of Lucerne; brother, Charwin Ward of Spring Valley; stepfather, Billy Ward of Lakeport; niece, Sharise (Elias) Santana, and children, Cameron, Victor and Cadence; and nephews, Kahlin (Ashley) Leuzinger and children, Takara and Amara, and Michael (Cherie) Leuzinger and Caden.

He is additionally survived by Doris Harville of Upper Lake; Sue Harville of Upper Lake and son Scott Harville (Joan) and children, Leanne and Tut; Kathy Harville Scott of Woodland and her children, Kim Scott, Kris Scott, Kelly Sagara (Jon) and children, Troy and Trent, and Chuck Scott (Becky).

He was preceded in death by his father Ray Humphrey and mother Barbara Wulff Humphrey Ward; his wife, Patti Lynn Harville Humphrey in 2003, and his father-in-law, Tut Harville.

Born in Woodland on March 15, 1947, Jack graduated from Upper Lake High School with the class of 1965 and attended Santa Rosa Junior College. He completed a 36-year career with Del Monte Foods in November 2007, where he served in a number of capacities, retiring as an international transportation analyst.

Jack’s passion was auto racing. He became an ambassador for the Legends of the Pacific racing series over the last 14 years, after racing in other divisions dating to the early 1960s. Known for his quick smile, he was always ready to loan engines, gears, carbs, ignition systems, suspension parts and anything else needed to keep other drivers coming to the track week after week, according to his fellow racers.

He loved racing and he loved the San Francisco 49ers, and he was 49 years old when he became a heart transplant recipient, a 15-year milestone he celebrated this April, so it’s no surprise that Jack’s red LOP race car bore the magical number 49. He was grateful for the opportunity he was afforded to extend his life through a donated heart.

The other loves of Jack’s life were his many canine companions, with the most recent being his bulldogs, Patti and Buster, the latter a rescue dog.

In lieu of flowers, please direct any donations to NorCal Bulldog Rescue, 13520 Skyline Blvd., Woodside, CA 94062-4553 or to Hospice Department, Kaiser Foundation Hospital, 975 Sereno Drive, Vallejo, CA 94589.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport. Graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 17, 2011 at Upper Lake Cemetery, 780 Clover Valley Road, Upper Lake.

For further information, please call Chapel of the Lakes at 707-263-0357 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.

Jack Humphrey driving Car 49 at Legends of the Pacific. Courtesy photo.

She was born Dec. 27, 1917, to Clyde and Wilhelmina Williams. She was raised in Tonkawa, Okla, the eldest of six children. She was offered a scholarship to New York and turned it down at her father's request to attend college in Oklahoma, where she obtained a master's degree in teaching. Her first assignment was in a one room school house.

During World War II she served in the Women's Army Corp. She was proud to be the second person to be discharged after the war.

She met the love of her life, Ian (Scotty) Wilson, and they married Nov. 1, 1947.

He proceeded her in death after 55 years of marriage.

She is survived by her children, Ian James Wilson of Clearlake Oaks, Calif.; Maryosa Wilson Sinnett of Las Vegas, Nev.; Nellie W. Wilson of San Jose, Calif; four grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

She had many accomplishments during her life. She was Past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Past Royal Matron of the Royal Order of Amarantha as well as having several grand offices. She was a member of The Lady's Auxilary, Moose Lodge, League of Women Voters, Eagles and the Lions.

She was voted Teacher of the Year in San Jose and retired at age 70, when she retired to Clearlake Oaks in 1988.

She continued her love of teaching by teaching Sunday school at Clearlake Oaks. She enjoyed working on community committees until her health began to fail.

She was loved by all that knew her and will be greatly missed.

Viewing to be held at Jones and Lewis Memorial Chapel at Lower Lake on Wednesday, June 1, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Services will be held on Thursday, June 2.

Wilbur Peter, 94, died on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at his home in Utah. Courtesy photo.

Wilbur George Peter, 94, peacefully went to be with his beloved wife Jackie on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

Wilbur was born on Jan. 2, 1917, in Wilder, Minnesota. In 1942, after graduation from high school he was drafted and shipped to England where he met and later married Jackie on Oct. 6, 1945, in Liverpool, England, during World War II.

Wilbur was a communications expert and worked on splitting the Transcontinental Cable, disconnecting from Berlin. After the war Wilbur continued to work in France where a son, James, was born July 1947, only to die 10 days later. The child was buried in Cherbourg.

Upon returning to the United States Wilbur and Jackie lived and worked in the Southern Calif area until they retired in 1961. At that time they purchased and ran Bridge Auto Court Fishing Resort in Lower Lake, Calif.

Due to declining health Wilbur, with his sister, Dorothy, moved to West Valley City, Utah, nine years ago to be lovingly cared for by his niece Connie Wallis.

Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Clara; beloved wife, Jackie (1992); son, James; and older brother, Lloyd.

He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Walker (Utah); brothers, Darwin (Buster) and Peter (Minnesota); and many nieces and nephews.

Much appreciation is sent to Applegate Home Health and Hospice for their outstanding care and concern for Wilbur.

A memorial service is being planned for Friday, June 17, 2011, at his residence in West Valley City, Utah.

Wilbur Peter served during World War II, working as a communications expert. Courtesy photo.

Genevieve dancing the hula for Clear Lake Performing Arts. Courtesy photo.

Genevieve Ploke Snow went to be with Our Lord on Good Friday, April, 22, 2011, at the age of 70 years old, after suffering stroke and aneurysm with extensive brain damage on the morning of April 18, 2011.

Life support was extended to April 22 for organ donations and to give her a chance at recovery whereby she faded out naturally other than a beating heart to the end. Others were helped in her passing via transplant surgery.

She was blessed with a brief moment in suffering among family during the stroke, caught by her son when falling and passed on very peacefully, as did her mother who died in her sleep, as did her little brother who died at age 12 on Easter Sunday of aneurysm, and as did her sister who passed on recently in her sleep.

Genevieve was born in Agana, Guam on March 15, 1941. As a toddler among the Perez-Ploke family, which headed Guam's resistance, she survived the Japanese occupation, raiding of her house, capture of her father (CPO John F. Ploke, Zentsuji POW), starvation/emaciation/ dysentery, witnessed the torture and execution of her family and friends, the burial of her granny on the roadside during the death march, the near execution of her grandfather as a suspected American spy (Resistance chief/ SRO and the acting U.S. naval governor of Guam).

Through it all, she was blessed with severe PTSD's complete amnesia of childhood, though filled with nervous energy and hypertension all her life from it, which is part of what kept her so active and restless.

When her father returned from the Zentsuji POW camp, Genevieve (a.k.a. “Snooky”) was immediately drafted to sing and dance for the USO as a copycat of Shirley Temple, which gave much happiness to a people rebuilding in the war's aftermath and to GIs missing their families back home.

She and her little brother were celebrities on early Guam TV stations and remain famous out there among the old-timers, and this would begin a lifelong affinity Genevieve had for singing, dancing, music and being the entertainer.

In 1957, she was Guam's Liberation Day Queen. She was a graduate of George Washington High in Guam and later Creighton University in Nebraska. Genevieve worked as an editor in Guam, assistant to the governor of Guam, was a reporter for the Modesto Bee and public relations director for St. Luke's Hospital in Washington state.

She was commissioned in 1965 as Guam's first woman U.S. naval officer. She separated at the rank of lieutenant in order to care for her young son and become a military wife since her husband was busy leading combat missions over Vietnam and flying recon into Soviet airspace with Strategic Air Command. There, Genevieve was active in support of military wives and returning POW events.

In the Navy, Genevieve served as a personnel officer, public relations officer and supported the operations of NAS Glenview, NAS Alameda and also the Blue Angels.

She later worked 10 years with Kaiser Hospital before retiring to Lake County as a substitute school teacher. Active to the end and despite cardiac double bypass surgery in 2008, Genevieve is remembered by friends as a sweet lady who was much the gadabout, adventurer, always on the move, highly energetic, filled with loads of fun and laughs. She was much the social butterfly and hula dancer among Lake County's Vietnam Veterans, VFW, MOAA, Clear Lake Performing Arts and other groups.

Genevieve also was active in the Parish of St. Mary Immaculate in Lakeport, Calif. She will be dearly missed by family and friends, but has gone to a better place.

Visitation and services were held at Holy Angels/Holy Sepulche on April 30, 2011, attended by a large gathering of family, Bay Area friends and some from Lake County. Military honors were performed by the American Legion, 10th District.

The family wishes to extend its apologies for being unable to notify all of Genevieve's friends in Lake County as there was barely enough time and sleep to arrange everything from April 22 to April 30. Her funeral was very nice, however.

Due to Genevieve's friends who could not attend from Lake County, the family and friends are providing a second memorial service locally. Services are at the Parish of St. Mary Immaculate on Saturday, May 21, 2011. A rosary will be held at 11 a.m., with a Mass and memorial service at 11:30 a.m. and a reception and potluck social in the church hall at noon.

All are invited to attend and make friends with her friends. She loved to attend parties and meet people.

For those who cannot attend, family and friends have two memorial videos posted to YouTube.