10/24/10 Death Notices

Robert C. Foster

Robert Charles Foster, 78, of Outlook died Friday.

Mr. Foster was born in Couer d' Alene, Idaho. He farmed in Outlook for several years and also helped set up farms in Saudi Arabia.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Foster of Outlook; two sons, Kim Foster of Zillah and Chris Foster of Yakima; and a daughter, Gayle Caldwell of Pasco.

A memorial service is pending. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home.

Wilfred Sobotta

Wilfred "Willie" Sobotta, 75, of Yakima died Friday at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Sobotta was born in Currie, Minn. He retired from Del Monte in 1996, and was a handyman for friends and family.

Survivors include three sisters, Brenda Bailes of Littlerock, Calif., Norma McCoy Harris of Fairview, Texas, and Mary Coffey of Vancouver, Wash.; two brothers, Albert Sobotta of Auburn, Wash., and Francis Sobotta of Virginia.

A vigil will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Keith and Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel, with burial at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Cathedral. Arrangements by Keith and Keith Funeral Home.

Nicholas J. Cervera

Nicholas James Cervera, 31, died Wednesday in Zillah.

Mr. Cervera was born in Haines, Ala. He graduated from Auburn Adventist Academy in 1998. Afterward, he was married and settled in Auburn, Wash. In 2001, he and his wife moved to Zillah. He worked for Current Concepts in Moxee before becoming a business partner of Waymire Electric.

Survivors include his wife, Rachel Cervera; two daughters, Allyson and Riliegh Cervera, both of Zillah; a son, Johnny Cervera of Zillah; his parents, Kermit and Marilyn Browning of Hobart, Wash; two brothers, Matthew Cervera, his twin, and Silas Browning; and his grandmother, Edna Cervera of Portland.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside. A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, followed by burial at the Zillah cemetery. Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Home.

Raymond C. Welley

Raymond Carl Welley, 88, of Prosser died Friday at Sheffield Manor.

Mr. Welley was born in Weld County, Colo. He served in the Navy aboard a submarine in World War II, worked for Gruman Company and NASA on the Apollo Space Program, and later as an instrumentation engineer on fighter jets.

He began spending summers in Benton City in 1974 and made Prosser his home in 2000.

Survivors include a daughter, Barbara El-Hajj of Benton City; a brother, Norman Welley of Sun City West, Ariz.; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A memorial with full military honors will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Prosser Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Prosser Cemetery.

Virginia E. Read

Virginia E. Read, 57, of Bickleton died Thursday in Richland due to injuries she suffered while riding her horse.

She was born in Sunnyside and lived most of her life in the Bickleton area. She was a member of the Bickleton Fire Department and served as commissioner. She also served on the Alder Creek Pioneer Association and the Washington Cattlemen's Association, and worked at the Mid-Columbia Veterinary Clinic in Goldendale, on the family ranch in Bickleton and as a security guard at the Roosevelt landfill.

Survivors include her mother, Ethel Read of Bickleton; and a sister, Susan Wright of Bickleton.

A memorial service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Bickleton High School. Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Home.

Masaharu Uchida

Masaharu Uchida, 86, of Mabton died Oct. 17 at Willow Springs Care Center.

Mr. Uchida was born in Seattle. He worked as a farmer most of his life and was part-owner of Uchida Brother's Farms.

Survivors include his wife, Irene Masumi Uchida of Mabton; two sons, Perry Uchida of Yakima and Earl Uchida of Chicago; a daughter, Martha Conradt of Mabton; four brothers, Tomio Uchida of Wapato, Shig Uchida of Kent, Wash., Sam Uchida of Seattle and Yosh Uchida of Yakima; and a sister, Kimiko Mori of Seattle.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Buddhist Temple in Wapato.

Alfred F. White

Alfred Francis White, 57, of Zillah died at home Wednesday.

Mr. White was born in Yakima and retired from the Coast Guard as a chief petty officer.

Survivors include a son, Brannon White of Lewes, Del.; a daughter, Margaret White of Lewes; three brothers, Ken Bear Chief of Zillah, Mark White and Bradley White, both of Wapato; and two sisters, Kathlene White of Yakima and Lorelei Smith of Shelton, Wash.

A dressing service was Saturday at Merritt Funeral Home in Wapato, followed by cremation. Arrangements by Merritt Funeral Home.