March 2007

Lawrence “Larry” Barca, Jr., 82, of Largo, Fla., died February 24, 2007 at Hospice House Woodside, Pinellas Park, Fla. He graduated from Balboa High School in 1942. He retired in 1986 from the Locks Division of the Panama Canal Company with 41 years of government service. He was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Edward Carter Blount, Sr., 93, died February 6, 2007, in Mobile, Ala. He was a former sergeant with the Canal Zone Police and retired in 1975 with 32 years of government service. He was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Nellie C. (Berger) Brown, 94, died November 4, 2006, in Lansing, Ill. She was raised in the Panama Canal Zone; moved to Sebring, Fla., in the mid-1950s; and to Lansing in 1985.

Camille Rhyne Eastham, 53, of Kerrville, Texas, died January 4, 2007. She was born in Ancon, Canal Zone, and graduated from Balboa High School in 1971. She was a management analyst for the Department of Defense, and was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Joseph S. Farland, 92, died January 28, 2007, in Winchester, Va. Mr. Farland was ambassador to Panama from 1960 to 1963. As ambassador to Panama, he pushed for direct American aid and for the construction of rural roads and housing for the poor.

Helene H. Flagg, 93, died January 20, 2007, in Bango, Maine. She was born in Balboa, Canal Zone, and graduated from Balboa High School and the Wilfred Academy of Boston. She lived in the Bangor area since 1932.

Robert W. Lawyer, 87, of Dothan, Ala., died January 29, 2007. He was born in Ancon, Canal Zone. He was a police officer in the Canal Zone from 1940 until 1976, retiring as a Police Captain. He was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Phyllis Jean (Albritton) Peniche, 76, died recently. She went to the Canal with her parents where her father worked for the railroad. She attended Canal Zone schools, graduated from Balboa High School in 1948, and married Bill Peniche in Panama.

Howard Thompson Whipple, of St. Petersburg, Fla., died January 26, 2007. He was a port representative of the War Shipping Administration in Cristobal, Canal Zone, during World War II.