L-R, Staff Sergeant Jamie Carbary, US Army, George Bidwell, President SaddleBrooke Troop Support, Petty Officer 2nd Class Porchea Geiger, US Navy
George Dawson Bidwell
George Dawson Bidwell passed away October 30, 2016 after year-long complications from a severe lung infection. He was born October 1, 1932 in Pittston, Pennsylvania to Ralph and Louisa Bidwell and grew up in West Pittston, just across the Susquehanna River. He served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1953 achieving the rank of Sergeant. George moved to Tucson in 1957 and in 1962 started his career at Hughes Aircraft Company, taking early retirement in 1989; however, retirement was not really in George’s vocabulary. He started a one-person machine shop that quickly grew into G & L Enterprises and was known for its precision machining for both aerospace and commercial industries. He and his wife Louise sold the business in 2008 and she finally convinced him to really retire at the age of 76. They chose SaddleBrooke for their next phase of life, moving here in 2009. George was active in two men’s nine-hole golf leagues while continuing to be an avid organic gardener in their back yard. He was most proud of his work with SaddleBrooke Troop Support (STS) and spent the last two years of his life as its president. He was predeceased by his parents and former wife Marion, the mother of his children. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Louise; brother, Ralph Bidwell as well as three children, Cathy Bailey, George L. Bidwell and Eugene Bidwell (Heather) as well as two grandchildren, Catina Jordan and Katelynn Bidwell and two great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life was held Sunday, November 20, 2016 at the Mesquite Grill and was standing room only with family and friends. If you would like to make a donation in George’s memory to SaddleBrooke Troop Support, do so via its website: www.saddlebrooke-troop-support.com or send a check to Bob Sogn, STS Treasurer, 38873 S. Rock Wood Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85739.
June Gertrude Buntain
June Gertrude Buntain, 94, of SaddleBrooke, passed away October 30, 2016 from cardiac disease. June was in vaudeville as a ballerina, tap dancer and acrobat. By the age of five she was billed as “Wee June Roeber” by New Jersey’s The Newark Ledger newspaper and in 1931 she had a talking part in the movie Puss and Boots as well as in the chorus. She also performed on the radio with Rose Marie, who later was in the Dick Van Dyke television series.
June married Robert Buntain in 1942 after a romance that started on the shores of a lake in Forked River, New Jersey. Robert was drafted into the Army and served proudly for three years in World War II. Upon returning from the war, June and Bob’s daughter, Bonnie June, was born in 1947. All three enjoyed boating, fishing and clamming on Barnegat Bay in the boat Bob built, the “Bay Bee.” They moved to California and then to Kauai, Hawaii where she rode horses, beach combed and played tennis. After being transferred, they spent 30 years in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where June was a proofreader for the Steamboat Pilot newspaper, an avid tennis player and raised red and apricot miniature Poodles. Following that, Bob and June retired here in SaddleBrooke where she enjoyed line dancing, the Old Time Radio Club, the DesertView Theater shows and had many memorable games as a member of the SaddleBrooke Tennis Club until she was 90 years old.
June is survived by her daughter, Bonnie June Buntain of SaddleBrooke and her beloved miniature poodle, Holly. In memory of June and her love of her poodles, donations can be made to the SaddleBrooke Pet Rescue Network, http://www.sbpetrescue.com/Rescue_Me.php
Marlyn Doris Friend
Marlyn Doris Friend, 86, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 10, 2016. She passed at her home in Windsor, Colorado of Pulmonary Disease with her family holding her hand.
Marlyn was born to Ralph and Wilma Lockwood on November 22, 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska. She spent most of her life in the Chicago area where she met her beloved Walter. The two were engaged after just a month of dating and made it official on November 23, 1951. Their loving marriage of 65 years is an inspiration to all of their children and grandchildren.
Marlyn spent her early career as a Registered Nurse before she and Walter partnered up to launch multiple businesses which would take them from Chicago to Florida and on to California before the pair moved to Crested Butte, Colorado to retire in 1989 (a longtime dream of hers!).
Marlyn was an avid (understatement) skier and loved the mountains. She loved to hike, play golf and take biking trips through Europe. Later she and Walter moved to SaddleBrooke, a golfing community near Tucson, Arizona (Walter’s dream come true). After 10 wonderful years in SaddleBrooke, they moved to Good Samaritan Society Water Valley Senior Living Resort in Windsor.
Marlyn was most proud of her children, her grandchildren and her work in the Jail Ministry in Florence, Arizona. During her years volunteering with the jail ministry, she touched countless lives. No one was going to argue with that spitfire of a grandma on fire for the Lord!
Marlyn leaves behind her beloved Walter, as well as three daughters: Kathi Friend (Armin Sternberg), Lenox, Massachusetts; Karen Friend, Houston, Texas and Kristi Hargrove (Scott Hargrove), Crested Butte, Colorado. She also leaves behind six adoring grandchildren: Micah Friend (Sarah Friend), San Antonio, Texas; Scott Hargrove (Natalie Hargrove), Ft. Collins, Colorado; Daniel Hargrove, Denver, Colorado; Kelli Hargrove (Nick Ruhl), Broomfield, Colorado; Jeffrey Hargrove, Ft. Collins, Colorado and Avi Sternberg, Lenox, Massachusetts. Lastly, she is remembered by four great-grandchildren: Cooper Hargrove, Benjamin Hargrove, Olivia Friend, and Baby Girl Ruhl (on the way).
The Memorial Service was held Saturday, December 17 in Windsor. The family asks that donations be sent to: J58 – Pinal at Good News Jail Ministry, P.O. Box 9760, Henrico, Virginia 23228-0760.