Obituaries

Deaths

Obituaries

Jan 31, 2007

Donald Monroe ‘Doc’ Tuttle
Donald Monroe “Doc” Tuttle, 89, passed away at home on Sunday, January 28, 2007. He was born in Bay City, Michigan, February 1, 1917.

In March of 1940 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Entomology with a minor in Plant Taxonomy from Michigan State College.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945.

After being discharged he returned to Michigan State College and graduated with the Master of Science in Entomology degree in 1947. Donald Tuttle married Dorothy Sheets from Bay City, Michigan in June of 1947. In 1952 he graduated from the University of Illinois and was awarded a Ph.D. degree.

The 1952 growers and farmers in the Yuma area of Arizona were interested in obtaining a Research Entomologist to work on their insect and mite problems. His primary work at the Yuma Agricultural Experimental Station was conducting research on arthropod pests in the valley.

Many of his discoveries are housed at the Smithsonian Institution as well as the U.S.D.A. in Maryland. He has written more than 180 scientific publications, including 2 books.

Dr. Tuttle officially retired from the university in 1983, and was awarded the title of “Professor Emeritus”. In March of 1996 Dr. Tuttle was given the Lifetime Award by the University of Arizona, College of Agriculture.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy Tuttle; his son, Ronald Tuttle; his son, Tim Tuttle, his son, Andy Tuttle and wife Sherry; and grandchildren. Adriane Brinkley and Jace Tuttle.

All are invited to attend a graveside service at Desert Lawn Memorial Park on Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 10 a.m.

Robert Sanchez Lopez
Robert Sanchez Lopez, 20, passed away Sunday, January 28, 2007 in a car accident in San Luis, Sonora, Mexico. He was born on November 14, 1986 in Salinas, California and worked at J.V. Farms Yuma.

Phyllis J. Spuler
Phil Spuler, long-time Yakima Herald-Republic reporter and editor, died Friday, January 26, 2007, in Phoenix where she was being treated for a brief illness.

Mrs. Spuler had lived with her husband, Dean, former Herald-Republic photography editor in Yuma since their retirement in the early 1980's. Mr. Spuler died January 27, 2006.

Phyllis J. Ginn was born on July 31, 1924. She met Dean while the two were students at San Jose State University. She graduated in 1947 with a BA in Journalism.

Mrs. Spuler was active in the Yakima and Yuma arts communities. She was a skilled sharpshooter and won numerous medals in her youth.

The Spulers loved to travel. In the early 1950’s they spent over a year traveling through Europe on motorscooters. In retirement, several cruises took them from Thailand to Brazil.

No services were held at Mrs. Spuler's request. Memorials may be made to The Phil and Dean Spuler Journalism Scholarship fund, c/o Laura Henderson, Office of Development, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192-0257.

Gabriel Varela
Gabriel Varela went to be with our Lord on Saturday, January 27, 2007, in Yuma. He was born on December 10, 1965 in Fresno, California.

He was preceded in death by his father Edward and his brothers, Robert and Jesse Varela. He was previously a member of the maintenance staff at Heiser Hospital in San Jose, California and also at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma. He had been a minor circuit race car driver in his younger days.

Gabriel is survived by his mother, Rebecca Varela; brothers, Ruben Estrada, Richard Estrada, Edward Varela, John (Marlene) Varela, Paul Varela, Steven (Norma) Varela, and Jacob Varela all of Yuma.

Memorial services will be held at Johnson Mortuary.

Gabriel had a zest for life that brought joy to all who new him. We will miss him. May he be blessed in the afterlife for eternity.