Individual Notes

Note for: Brian Guista, 29 MAY 1956 - 22 MAR 1981 Index

Individual Note:
This information Obtained From:
1. Shirley Bridges
2. Caroline & Donald Cosgrove

Individual Notes

Note for: James Phillip Wilson, 4 JAN 1884 - 3 JAN 1936 Index

Burial:
     Date:   6 JAN 1936
     Place:   Visalia, Tulare, California, Plot 4/C-5-A

Individual Note:
     This Information Obtained From: Barbara Wheat, 6/16/2003 Hilliard, OH

Individual Notes

Note for: Aldula Wilson, 9 AUG 1909 - 20 JUN 2002 Index

Burial:
     Date:   24 JUN 2002
     Place:   Visalia District Cemetery, Visalia, Tulare, California

Individual Note:
     THIS INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM: Brenda Benadom 2002. - OBITUARY FOR ALDULA ANN WILSON WARD

Aldula Ann Wilson Ward, descendant of a Tulare County pioneer family and a longtime resident of Visalia of more than 60 years, died after a brief illness on Thursday, June 20, 2002 in Visalia at the age of 92 years.

Aldula Ann Wilson was born August 9, 1909 in Exeter, the first of two children of James Francis Wilson and Estella Jordan Wilson. A son, James Francis Wilson, was born June 20, 1918. Aldula was the great-granddaughter of Capt. John Jordan, who headed a wagon train from Texas to California in 1850 and settled in Tulare County in 1857 in the lower Yokohl Valley, north of the Hamilton Cemetery. A trail along the Yokhol Creek and across the Sierra to near Owens Lake, a redwood tree in Balch Park, a hot springs and a mountain peak, all in the Sierra Nevada range east of Exeter, bear the Jordan name.

Aldula Wilson was educated in California schools and graduated from Burlingame High School in 1927. Following graduation, she attended Nursing School at the French Hospital in San Francisco. On February 21, 1934 she married John William Ward in Carson City, Nevada. They established their first home in San Francisco where their only child, Sally Ann Ward, was born on January 12, 1938. Aldula Ward was a devoted wife and mother. In 1942, the family moved to Visalia where John Ward joined the police department as a patrolman. In 1943, the juvenile section was established with him as its head. He retired from the position in 1965 at the mandatory age of 65, but continued to be active in law enforcement career organizations and civic and charitable organizations in Masonic and Shrine lodges until his death on January 12, 1971.

In 1954, Aldula Ward began a 20-year career as a Probation Officer with the Glen Moran Juvenile Hall in Visalia. She retired from Tulare County government service in 1974.

Aldula Ward joined the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Rebekah Lodge No. 39 at an early age. She was also a member of the Martha Washington Chapter of the Eastern Star in Visalia for 50 years. She was a longtime member of the Sharon Temple No. 92, Daughters of the Nile in Fresno and the Tulare-Kings Counties Nile Club No. 1 in Visalia. She was a member of the Jordan Reunion Committee for 40 years and the Tulare County Historical Society. In her early years, she was a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club and the Visalia Garden Club.

Aldula Ward lived in the family home in Visalia for 60 years, where she enjoyed independent living. She was an excellent cook and was known for her delicious pies. She also loved flowers and gardening. She sewed, crocheted and particularly enjoyed making arts and crafts projects. She was creative and on one occasion made 125 costumed dolls that were used as decorative centerpieces for tables at a Daughters of the Nile luncheon. Aldula loved working on committees in service to others. She took great satisfaction in her work to help the children at the Shriners Hospital for Children in San Francisco.

Aldula Ward will be remembered for her many talents, quick wit, sharp intellect and wide-ranging knowledge. She loved talking with people and could discuss any subject from sports to world affairs.

Aldula Ward was beloved by her family. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Sally Ward Goeringer, her son-in-law, Harold Henry Goeringer, and numerous cousins from the Jordan family. She will be missed particularly by the members of the Jordan Reunion Committee for her leadership and dedication to preserving the Jordan family heritage.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John William Ward, in 1971 and her brother, James Francis Wilson, in 1991.

Services were held on June 25, 2002 at the Visalia Cemetery Chapel under the arrangements of the Smith Family Chapel in Exeter. Pastor Jim A. Wiley of the Calvary Holiness Church in Farmersville officiated.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Sharon Temple No. 92, Daughters of the Nile to benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o Marilyn DeCamp, 1531 Pamela Court, Porterville, CA 93257-1051, or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Submitted by Brenda L. Benadom
on behalf and with the approval of Sally Ward Goeringer
June 23, 2002

REMEMBRANCES OF ALDULA ANN WILSON WARD

By Brenda Lee Benadom

Aldula and my mother, Elva, were first cousins - which made Aldula and me first cousins, once removed. Aldula and I spoke of that from her hospital bed when she waited out the days for her eventual surgery. We got it straight in our minds one last time and agreed that it was so. And for those who wonder, that makes Sally and me second cousins and the two of us are Franklin's third cousins.

Much can be said about Aldula, but let there be no doubt, she was a Jordan through and through. In Aldula you saw in her face and mannerisms, that of her mother, Stella, her three aunts, Alice, Norie and Frankie and her uncle, Grover. We were all proud to be descendents of the Elias Francis Jordan branch and the fact that as an infant he traveled to California in the wagon train and received the nickname of "Forney" for California.

Aldula moved with her family from Visalia in her early years but returned as a wife and mother in 1942, the year of my birth. I can not say I have clear memories of Aldula in my growing up years, but from Aldula's reports to me, they knew when I was headed off to Stanford and during visits with my grandmother, were shown pieces of brass that I sent her while working in Morocco.

I do remember beginning in the 60s that Aldula was always present for life's important moments - happy times for the most part as we celebrated milestone birthdays and year after year of Jordan reunions. We celebrated my grandmother, Alice's, 80th and 90th birthdays and my mother, Elva's, 80th, 90th and 95th. I remember particularly the 80th birthday at the Vintage Press where Aldula, Lourissia Brown and Eola Epperson were assigned to my table. I was concerned that my Mom's cousins were relegated to a rear table with me, but afterward my Mom observed that we were having all the fun - the laughter carried throughout the room and I always felt that Aldula believed she had won the seating lottery. In ensuing years, Aldula was always seated at the head table to one side of my Mom with Zora Wilson on the other while I continued to draw a rear table.

Aldula's great passion was preserving our Jordan family heritage and as our leadership in Bill and Mercene Jordan passed away, our numbers dwindled for a period. We talked of the need to make the annual event more attractive. Aldula worried that there seemed to be no interest among the young people and somehow we needed to make our history come alive for them. We worked at the corners of the problem, redoubling our efforts to make newcomers feel welcome and bringing more and more home cooked food. I knew that I could never match Aldula's efforts, but it never stopped me from trying - she would cook for two days straight and arrive with the most delicious casseroles, side dishes, salads and desserts.

For most people, Aldula's hallmark was her pies and I do recall one time saying the cherry was the best I ever had - she responded, "Oh, that's just Comstock and a little secret ingredient added in." It was lemon juice I believe, but somewhere I have it written down. But from her hospital bed, Aldula let me know that it was no matter, for Sally had all her recipes in order for us to carry on.

Aldula knew in her heart of hearts that the cards were stacked against her in surviving the surgery. She had fallen on her front steps, returning from lunch with Sally on Wednesday, June 5. Doctors believe the leg broke across the bone, just above the knee and that had caused her to fall. It took days to ready Aldula for the surgery. On the first attempt her heart wavered, necessitating the installation of a pacemaker and infusion of bags and bags of platelets. Anesthesiologists initially declined to proceed because of the risk. Finally the surgery did take place on Tuesday, June 11, but the bones were too fragile to hold the pins. Aldula was not to survive, but she hung onto life for another nine days.

Throughout the days leading up to the surgery Aldula remained mentally strong, and confided to me one afternoon that she did not worry for herself, but was concerned about Sally being alone. I told Aldula then that Sally would never be alone so long as she had Franklin and me. I also said that I would devote my efforts to keeping the Jordan Reunion going. We are here today for Sally and will always be and next year we will celebrate our 110th Annual Jordan Reunion and it promises to be better than ever.

I want to use this opportunity to direct my closing thoughts about and to Sally. Everyone knows that Sally was devoted to her mother. For me, Sally has been the standard against which all else is measured. She called her mother every morning to check on her well being and enjoyed Wednesday's out at the hairdresser followed by lunch. She drove her to all the places she wanted to be and made sure she was always "turned out" in the latest Gottschalk's fashions. In February, the two came to my 60th birthday party in Fresno and stole the show.

And throughout, Sally was always patient and kind. Sally was the most dutiful of daughters and she can take pride in looking back on a job well done. In the final days of Aldula's life on this earth, Sally unfailingly did what was best for her Mom and has paid tribute to her in this service in a way that would have pleased Aldula no end.

The record will show that Aldula Ann Wilson Ward died at 92 years, but she will never be forgotten and will forever be in our hearts and mind

Individual Notes

Note for: John W. Ward, 10 APR 1900 - 12 JAN 1971 Index

Burial:
     Date:   15 JAN 1971
     Place:   Visalia District Cemetery, Visalia, Tulare, California

Individual Note:
     THIS INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM: James Franklin "Frank" Kirkman, News paper clippings and funeral notices.
I received my 1st, First Aid Card, from John Ward. He was an excellent Instructor. - Franklin Kirkman 1/11/97.

Individual Notes

Note for: Harold Henry Goeringer, 7 JAN 1925 - 17 DEC 2005 Index

Individual Note:
     Harold Goeringer Eulogy, December 21, 2005

We're here today to celebrate the life of Harold Goeringer, and When Sally asked me to do Harold's Eulogy I was honored because there are probably very few people that knew Harold as I did. I knew him on almost a daily basis at work, while I was a CHP officer and Harold was a Sheriffs Sergeant, and for over five years we worked the same shift. I also knew him as family as Sally is my cousin and Harold along with Sally was on our Jordan Family Reunion Committee, of which I am also a member.

Harold was never afraid to express his opinion good, bad or indifferent. He was a very productive member of our Jordan Reunion Committee, and was always early to our reunions helping to set up displays, tables and chairs.

He was also a conscious sheriff's sergeant assigned to the Tulare County Jail. My Partner and I always enjoyed working with Harold because when we were finished booking a prisoner Harold would always invite us back into his office to have coffee while we finish our reports.

I had a great many memories about incidents occurring at the jail while I was on duty but none more memorable than the night I showed up at the jail with my partner and a prisoner.

Deputy Ed Washington was at the booking office window looking out at us with an obvious look of concern in his eyes. We parked the patrol car in the secured sally port and by this time Deputy Washington was motioning me over to the window.

I immediately went to Deputy Washington and he handed me the cell block keys saying that there was big trouble up on the second floor. That the inmates had started a fire and were out of their cells, in the hall way and would no go back into their cells.

Apparently a new deputy, had in error let the inmates out of their cells after they had started their mattresses on fire, instead of the usual procedure of hosing down the fire from the outside of the cells.

My partner and I went up to the second floor slamming the door dosed behind us. What we saw there was not a pretty sight. The air was filled with smoke and ash. There were 20 prisoners all felons were out in the hallway screaming and yelling at Harold. Harold upon hearing the door slam looked at me stated "If they don't go back in their cells Frank mace them".


The prisoners upon seeing me with my can of mace in hand marched in single file back into their cells. Little did they know that I would of never have pulled the trigger on that can of mace as the mace always affected me much more than anyone I had ever used it on. It was the assertive tone of Harold's voice and the fact that the prisoners had already subjected themselves to inhaling a great deal of smoke that persuaded them to retreat into the cells.

Now with Harold as you can imagine this issue did stop at that point, he had all the
prisoners involved striped down naked and on this cold winter night placed in the cage a top the jail. Needless to say he never had another prisoner start a fire on his shift. However I guess the Sheriff wasn't really happy with what he saw the next morning when he looked at the roof of the jail as he was driving into the Sheriffs office parking lot.

Harold Henry Goeringer was born in Dinuba, California to Henry and Helena Friesen Goeringer on January 7, 1925. He left this life in Visalia on Dec. 17, 2005, at the age of 80.

Harold's father a German Farmer, in Russian Siberia, had just recently escaped from that county's reign of terror due to the take over by the Bolsheviks.

Harold had 6 brothers and sisters. He attended German School and Graduated from Dinuba Union High School. He farmed, worked as a truck driver, and in 1949 enlisted in the US Navy. Upon his first cruise in the Navy he became very sea sick and the Navy gave him an Honorable Discharge.

So Harold then enlisted in something with some solid footing the US Army. He was sent to Military Police School and assigned to the infantry with the rank of Sergeant serving in Korea for 2 years from 1950 to 1951. During this time he served in General Van Fleet's elite honor guard, a very prestigious position.

While in Korea he was in many of the major battles. One of which was the famous battle known as Pork Chop Hill.

He received his honorable discharge in 1953 and that same year joined the Tulare County Sheriff's office as a deputy sheriff. In 1966 he was promoted to Sergeant.

On November 10, 1970 he married the love of his life Sally Ann Ward, in National City, California.

Harold retired from the Sheriffs office in 1978 and that same year went to work for Mount Whitney High School as School Police Officer. He worked for Mount Whitney High School for 12 years prior to retiring.


He is survived by his wife of 35 years Sally, a daughter Brenda Goeringer, a granddaughter Amanda, two sisters Gen Dittenbir 1 and Eve Gentry, one brother Abe Goeringer 1 and several nieces and nephews.

In 1972 Harold joined the Mineral King Masonic Lodge #720 of which he was twice the Past Master.

He was also a member of the following organizations: Royal Arch Masons & Scottish Rite the Tehran Temple of the Shrine
The American Legion & Veterans of Foreign Wars the Tulare Historical Society
The Germans from Russia, Historical Society and our Jordan Family Reunion Committee.

The things that Harold loved most in life were: his lovely wife Sally, his Masonic affiliations, his country, and above all he loved his lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
THIS INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM: James F. "Frank" Kirkman, 12/21/2005

Individual Notes

Note for: Arthur Carl Gluyas, 20 OCT 1888 - 29 MAY 1970 Index