OBITUARIES

Bennie Franklin 69, Brawley Richard McCarty 85, Imperial James Roach 86, El Centro Kathleen Roach 47, El Centro Linual White, Jr. 62, El Centro

LINUAL ANTHONY WHITE Sept. 7, 1955 - Dec. 6, 2017

Linual Anthony White, Jr. 62, retired Fire Chief for the City of Lompoc, died peacefully on December 6, 2017 surrounded by his loving family and friends.

Linual was born on September 7, 1955, the youngest of five children of Linual and Ann White. His career as a Firefighter began in 1977 with the El Centro Fire Department. He transferred to the Escondido Fire Department for one year but returned to El Centro Fire Department and served with that agency for 25 years as a Firefighter, Arson Investigator, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief /Fire Marshal. In 2002 he was selected as the Fire Chief for the City of Lompoc. He led the Lompoc Fire Department from 2002 until his retirement in 2009. His contributions to the Fire Department and the Cities of El Centro and Lompoc communities were numerous, and he is remembered as a skilled, ethical and fair leader.

Linual was blessed to meet and marry his wife Carol in 1992. Their blended family consisted of five children and 9 grandchildren.

Linual led a life of service, both professionally and personally. In El Centro he was a member of the Los Vigilantes where he served as Ramrod, and the Elks and Optimist Clubs. In Lompoc, he volunteered in the Kiwanis Club and co-founded the Turducken Dinner group, which raised over $400,000 for the Lompoc Library. He served on the Board of Trustees for the Lompoc, Buellton, Vandenberg Village Libraries, and was a Citizen Advisory board member for Alan Hancock Community College. He sat on the executive board for the Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization, and was an affiliate for the Santa Barbara Foundation assisting in scholarships for Lompoc students. Linual was elected to serve on the Lompoc Hospital District Board of Directors.

In 2015, Linual was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and told he had six months to live. He faced and fought this insidious disease with great courage and dignity for more than 2 years. His stated goal throughout this ordeal was to wake up each morning and be the best person he could possibly be that day. He achieved that goal and will always be remembered as the epitome of a kind and decent man by those who were fortunate enough to know and love him.

Linual was predeceased by his parents and brother, Jan.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; daughters, Allison and Lauryn; his son, Linual III; step-sons, Rich and Jeff Sprague; his sisters, Linda, Jennifer and Terrya and nine grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 15, 2017 at 11 a.m. at La Purisima Catholic Church, 213 West Olive Ave, Lompoc, CA.

KATHLEEN ELIZABETH ROACH “KAYTE” Sept. 8, 1970 - Nov. 22, 2017

Kathleen Elizabeth Roach “Kayte” was born on September 8, 1970 in Iowa City, Iowa to James and Cecelia Roach. When the family moved to El Centro, Kayte began school at Mrs. Gaede’s preschool. At age 5 she enrolled at St. Mary’s School and graduated in 1986 and enrolled at Central Union High School. Upon graduating high school she attended California State University in Chico where she majored in French.

Kayte was a sweet, generous, loving daughter.

Vigil and rosary will be held on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in El Centro, CA. Funeral mass will be held on Monday, December 18, 2017 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in El Centro, CA.

BENNIE E. FRANKLIN July 6, 1948 - Dec. 1, 2017

Bennie E. Franklin, 69, of Yuma, AZ passed away on Friday, December 1, 2017 in Yuma, Arizona.

He was born in Oak Grove, West Carroll Parish, Louisiana, on July 6, 1948, to Boyer Franklin and Beatrice Jackson. Boyer passed away when Bennie was just a toddler, and Bennie was fortunate to have Elvin Jackson as a loving stepfather. Bennie’s mother and stepfather both preceded him in death. Bennie attended school in Brawley and graduated from Brawley Union High School in 1967. He also attended Imperial Valley College. On September 7, 1968, Bennie married the love of his life, Janice Kay Brown at Western Avenue Baptist Church in Brawley, California. Bennie and Janice had been friends since their childhood years. They shared thirty-six beautiful years of marriage together until Janice’s death in 2005. Sadly in 1970, Bennie and Janice lost their infant son, David Scott Franklin at birth. However, they were later blessed with their daughter, Julie Ann and son, David Matthew.

Bennie’s first career was as a firefighter for the El Centro Naval Air Facility. In 1970, he was drafted into the United States Army and proudly served his country in Vietnam. He was humble and never desired recognition for his dedication to his comrades, and he saved many lives by volunteering to fly dangerous helicopter missions in order to rescue wounded and stranded troops. After serving in the military, Bennie began his career with the United States Customs Service at the Calexico Port of Entry and earned a supervisor position with a GS 13 ranking. In 1981, he transferred to the New Orleans Port of Entry in Louisiana. Three years later, he transferred to the San Luis Port of Entry in Arizona where he remained until his retirement in 2005.

Family was the most important thing in Bennie’s life. He genuinely enjoyed traveling and creating cherished family memories with his loved ones. Additionally, he had a kind and generous heart for all. He would drop everything in a moments notice to help a family member, friend or stranger.

Bennie was preceded in death by his in-laws, Estel and Bernice Brown, who considered him a son and his brother-in-law, Robert Manley.

He is survived by his loving significant other, Donna Lahaise; daughter, Julie Ann Wilcher; son, David Matthew Franklin; sister, Wanda Manley; grandchildren, Ashley Rivers, Brandon Wilcher, Kaitlyn Wilcher, Chloe Lazaro; brother-in-laws, Ronald (Patricia) Brown and Larry (Mallika) Brown; sister-in-law, Mary (Danny) Hall; numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 18, 2017 at Frye Chapel and Mortuary from 9 to 10 a.m. Graveside Service will be held Monday, December 18, 2017 at Riverview Cemetery at 10:30 a.m.

RICHARD W. MCCARTY Oct. 26, 1932 - Nov. 29, 2017

Surrounded by his family, life- long Imperial resident Richard W. McCarty joined his heavenly family on November 29, 2017 after a brief illness.

Richard was born on October 26, 1932 in El Centro to Wallace “Mac” and Lois McCarty and attended Imperial schools. After graduating from Imperial High in 1951, Richard joined the Navy and served for four years. After the Navy, Richard worked for the Imperial County Road Department retiring after 37 years.

In 1955, he met Faustine Lee and they were married in 1956. They had three children Kelli, Todd and Jeff.

Richard was preceded

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his brother in-law Bob Jarvis and his beloved sister Linda Jarvis.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Faustine; his children and their spouses Kelli (Nito), Todd (Jocie) and Jeff ( Stacey); his grandchildren, Whitney Bonillas, Connor, Emily and Collin McCarty; in-laws Ann and Marv Gelbart; nieces and nephews Kim (Paul), Lori, Eric, Scott (Queana) and Brad (MaryAnn); and numerous cousins, great nieces, and great nephews.

Richard was a kind and wonderful man who loved life, his family, his church and his many friends. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

A viewing will held at Hems Brothers Mortuary in El Centro on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 from 6 to 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the First Southern Baptist Church in Imperial on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Imperial First Southern Baptist Men’s Ministry or to a charity of your choice.

DR. JAMES M. ROACH M.D. May 14, 1931 - Nov. 24, 2017

James Madison Roach was born to William and Marcella Roach on May 14, 1931 in Burlington, Iowa. His father was an executive at General Motors Corp. While Jim was attending Loyola High School in Los Angeles. Upon graduation he entered the Jesuit Seminary in the Los Gatos, California. Jim earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in philosophy from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. As a Jesuit scholastic, he taught history, math and physics at Ryan college in Fresno, California and at Loyola High School in Los Angeles.

While working as a medic in the summer, caring for aging Jesuit priests he discovered his love for caring for the sick. He left the seminary after 13 years to pursue his passion for medicine. He then entered Marquette Medical School and graduated in 1967 with an MD. He was then accepted at UCLA for a urological internship. It was there that he met the love of his life, Cecelia Gocke. Jim was accepted for residency at the University of Iowa where he trained under the renowned Dr. Ruben Flocks.

During this time Cecelia and James married and soon after their daughters, Kayte and Colleen were born. Upon completing residency he opened his own private practice in Redding, California. In 1975 Dr. Roach moved to El Centro and practiced urology until his retirement in 2010. He served three terms as Chief of Staff at the El Centro Regional Medical Center and was Chief of Staff when the new hospital was built. He also served multiple years as Chief of Surgery and on the Financial Board of the hospital.

For 15 years he has been President of the Imperial County Physicians Medical Group which provides financial support to Imperial Valley College. This includes a significant scholarship program benefiting the IVC nursing department.

In honor of his many year of service and personal giving, Dr. Roach was recognized as a Distinguished Philanthropist, nominated by the Imperial Valley College Foundation.

Jim was preceded in death by his daughters, Colleen Nelson and Kayte Roach.

He is survived by his wife and son-in-law Steffen Nelson.

Vigil service will be held on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in El Centro, CA. Funeral mass will be held on Monday, December 18, 2017 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in El Centro, CA.