Obituaries

Verna V. Batchelder

1919-2008

Longtime Minden resident Verna V. Batchelder, 89, died Feb. 18, 2008, in Brisbin, Pa.

Born Feb. 14, 1919, in West Decatur, Pa., to Willard Roy and Bertha Beach Millner, Mrs. Batchelder was a member of the Oak Grove United Methodist Church in West Decatur and the Order of the Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Clair M. Straw; her second husband Douglas County Sheriff James Batchelder; daughters Mary Etta Wallace, Lettie Jane Twoey and Phyllis Kay Cowder; grandson, Mickey Cosder; great-granddaughter Jessica Taylor Straw; sister Lettie Eckbert and brother Leroy Millner.

She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law Richard and Mildred Straw of Spirit Lake, Idaho, Marshall and Betty Sue Straw of West Decatur; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; sister Florence Gallaher of Phillpsburg, Pa.; brother and sister-in-law Donald L. and Betty Millner of Orlando, Fla. and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private funeral service is scheduled.

David K. Dahlgren Funeral Home in Philipsburg, Pa., is in charge of arrangements.

Mary 'Winnie' Winona Riley

1916-2008

A memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Reno for former Carson Valley resident Mary 'Winnie' Winona Riley, 91. Mrs. Riley died March 2, 2008 at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Riley was born in Marysville, Calif., on April 11, 1916, to Flora and William Jones, and grew up in Colusa and graduated from Colusa High School.

She was married to Frank G. Riley for almost 60 years and they lived in Reno since 1956, coming from Gardnerville, Minden, Carson City and Tonopah. Mrs. Riley worked as a bookkeeper in the family business, which included Douglas Motors in Gardnerville and a Shell station in Reno. She also served as executive secretary to the Director of the Elk's Club and as a bookkeeper for Orchid Florist (later, LaFleur), both in Reno.

Mrs. Riley was very active with Trinity Episcopal Church for decades. Surviving are daughter Sally Ann Hoy (David), son Thomas F., of Reno and son James E. (Kathy), of Sparks; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 4600 Kietzke Lane, Suite K225, Reno, NV 89502, or CampCare, P.O. Box 12155, Reno, NV 89510.

Cremation is under the direction of O'Brien-Rogers & Crosby Funeral Home, with inurnment at Mountain View Cemetery.