William Robert (Bob) Byrd died in Kerrville, Texas on August 27, 2004. He was born in Colon and graduated from CHS in 1937. He retired from the Panama Canal Company in 1973, where he was general foreman Stevedore.

James E. Dillon, 57, of Quincy, Mass. passed away suddenly at home. He was born in Ancon, Canal Zone and lived in Gamboa until 1961 when his father retired.

Buren Douglas, 91, of St. Petersburg, Fla. died July 29, 2004 at Bayfront Medical Center. She was born in Pine Bluff, Ark. and moved to St. Petersburg in 1972 from Diablo, Canal Zone.

Helen Jane Foster, 62, wife of Elton E. Foster of Diamondhead, Miss. passed away August 3, 2004. Helen was a member of the Panama Canal Society. She and her husband enjoyed their many cruises, seeing the sights together, and meeting new friends.

Michael F. Greene, 95, of Heron House, Sarasota, Fla. died June 30, 2004. He and his wife Marion lived and worked in the Panama Canal Zone for some 25 years before moving to Sarasota in the early 1960s. He enjoyed a brief career in semi-pro baseball in Mobile, Ala. and on the Cristobal and Balboa teams in the Canal Zone. 

John (Jack) Franklin Hern, 93, of Zephyrhills, Fla. passed away on June 30, 2004. He was born in the Panama Canal Zone and was a longtime employee of the Panama Canal Company retiring as a General Foreman, Maintenance Division in 1972 with 44 years of service.

Gordon Frederick Kariger, Sr., 64, passed away March 4, 2004 in Norfolk, Va. Born in Colon, Panama on December 4, 1939, he moved to Norfolk in May 1952. 

Charles Leroy Leeser, Jr., 81, known as Roy to his friends and family, also nicknamed “Bocas”, passed away on August 22, 2004 in Dothan, Ala. He grew up in the Panama Canal Zone and worked for the Corps of Engineers until retiring at the age of 58. 

Maxine M. Logan, 80, of Titusville, Fla. passed away August 26, 2004. She moved to Titusville in 1978 from the Panama Canal Zone where she was head of the National Red Cross in the Canal Zone.

A. Leonor Lombana, a resident of Orange Park, Fla. passed away on July 14, 2004. Along with her husband and family she came to the U.S. from the Panama Canal Zone in 1960. 

Geraldine Bryant Olliver, 77, of Fuquay-Varina, N.C. died August 13, 2004. She graduated from the College of the Ozarks in 1965 with a Bachelor’s Degree and from Oklahoma Central State University magna cum laude in 1968 with a Master’s Degree in Language Arts. She was a teacher at the Panama Canal Zone College.

Herbert K. Peterson (Pete), 94, of Springfield, Va. passed away on July 23, 2004. He was born in Cristobal, Canal Zone and grew up on the Atlantic side and attended the Canal Zone Apprentice School. He worked for the Industrial Division for 37 years retiring as Production Superintendent in 1965.

Edna “Rusty” (Russell) Richter, 75, of Lafayette, Ga. died May 24, 2004. No further information available.

Betty Jean Ross (formerly of Balboa, Canal Zone) died on March 23, 2004 in Austin, Texas. She fought a courageous battle with rheumatoid arthritis for over 20 years.

Margaret Ryter Saarinen, 70, passed away on December 4, 2003. She was born in Ancon, Canal Zone, raised in Pedro Miguel and graduated from BHS in 1951. She worked at Quarry Heights with USSOUTHCOM until 1981 when she transferred to Ft. Jackson, S.C. and retired in 1994.

Myrtle P. Sparks of St. Augustine, Fla. died September 11, 2003. She went to Panama in 1942 and stayed until her retirement from the Balboa License Section in 1972.


Vera P. Stewart, 87, of Bradenton, Fla. died July 25, 2004, in Honolulu, Hawaii. She moved to Bradenton in 1966 from the Panama Canal Zone. She was an office manager and personal secretary for the Commanding General of the Caribbean forces.

Dorothy A. (Metzger) Stumvoll passed away on March 2, 2004. She was born in Gorgas Hospital, Ancon, Canal Zone and was a lifetime resident of Panama. She retired with 37 years of government service with the U.S. Army Caribbean Command.

Richard Ward Tatelman, 68, a 41-year resident of San Diego passed away in Paris, France on July 15, 2004. He was born in Colon Hospital, and graduated from CHS in 1953. After sailing in the Merchant Marine and serving in the U.S. Navy, he enjoyed a 30-year career with Pacific Southwest Airlines and USAirways.

George K. (Dick) Wanke, 77, passed away on August 18, 2004. He was born in Panama City and grew up in Pedro Miguel. He graduated from Balboa High School in 1945 and he and his family moved to California in 1951.