News

Larry Dean Taylor (70), a native of Amarillo, TX and a resident of Madera for 65 years, passed away Thursday, June 24, 2021.

He attended local churches throughout his life and worked as a mechanic at Bisceglia Brothers Winery and later at Selsor Demolition as a heavy equipment operator. Larry was a graduate of J.F.K. High School in Barstow, CA, and proudly served in Vietnam in the U.S. Army where he received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Charlotte  Montague Hardin (99)  Lesan passed away on December 18, 2020 following a brief illness, at the age of 99 1/2.  She was born July 10, 1921, in Helena, Arkansas to Flora East Hardin and Melver “Dick” Hardin.  She moved to California when she was three years old, living in both Corcoran and Wasco, before coming to Madera at age nine.  

She went to local schools, attended the University of California for two years before transferring to Fresno State where she graduated with a teaching credential in the primary grades.  She taught one year of kindergarten in Chowchilla, before marrying James Lesan, of Madera, in 1945 upon his separation from the Air Force.

Dale J. Wenzinger (92) of Broomfield, passed away on June 14th, 2021 at his home under hospice care in Broomfield. The family found Dale’s writing on his own history provided here, some annotations added:

“ I was born on a farm in Webster County, Nebraska on February 17, 1929; sixth and last child of Joe and Kathryn (Beuscher) Wenzinger. I attended grade school in a one-room coal-fired country school.  Seventh and eighth grades were St Stephens Catholic school where I rode a three-year-old horse. Missed about 60 days per year due to deep snow.  High school was at Lawrence High School (class president) and Blue Hill Nebraska where I drove a Model T coupe and later a 30 Ford roadster, with side currents and no heater.

C. Ray Whitaker (89), most known as Ray, was born on October 18, 1931, in Madera, Ray served as a Staff and Supply Sergeant in the US Air Force and served his country heroically during the Korean Conflict, and was honored to be apart of the Central Valley Honor Flight in 2016.

A lifelong resident of Madera, Ray attended local schools and was a graduate of Madera Union High School. Ray married his childhood sweetheart Joyce Parker on July 15, 1951, in Madera, where they made their home and stayed for their nearly 70-year marriage. They raised two sons, Tom, and Doug, who continue to live in Madera.

Michael “ Mike” Padilla, Sr. (65), a native and life resident of Madera passed away March 11, 2021. He was born to Joseph and Jessie Velez Padilla and attended local schools. Mike was a graduate of Madera High School class of 1974. He worked as a heavy equipment mechanic for 20 years then became the I.T. Supervisor for Madera County where he worked for 18 years.

Mike owned and operated M & M Computers and worked for various farming operations in Madera County. He enjoyed working with the youth of the community. He coached baseball in Little League and Babe Ruth for 18 years.

Mario J. Torres (70) was born Sept 25th, 1950 in a sleepy town in Edinburg, TX to parents Isaias and Maria de La Luz Torres. As a teenager, he traveled, with his Grandmother, Angela, from state to state working in the fields and eventually finishing high school in Lodi, CA.  After high school, he continued his education, obtaining credentials, and later a Doctorate in Education.  As an educator, he traveled to teach in areas throughout California.

Having a talent for learning languages and ease for working with people of many different backgrounds, it allowed him to make meaningful conversations in 7 languages, expanding his influential presence. He was a resident of Madera, CA for 48 years and an active member of the Knights of Columbus, AMAE (Association of Mexican American Educators) and would participate in countless other well-known organizations.