Alumni Currents Staying in touch with our family of graduates
In Memory Balmes—William (Bill) att. was born June 4, 1938, in Oroville, Wash., and died March 24, 2008, in Spangle, Wash. Surviving: wife Lois (Boicourt) att. of Spangle, Wash.; son Brian of Selah, Wash.; daughter Julie Neeley of Walland, Tenn.; and sister Melanee Waite of Cheney, Wash.
Cavanaugh—James att. was born April 27, 1939, in Portland, Ore., and died Aug. 5, 2014, in Portland. Surviving: wife Donna (Sheets) of Portland; sons Brian of Cloverdale, Ore., and Kerry of Battle Ground, Wash.; and daughter Shelagh att. of Oregon City, Ore.
Bates—Harlan C. ’75 was born Aug. 7, 1927, in Provo, Utah, and died July 19, 2013. Surviving: wife Coral Provonsha of Walla Walla; sons Randy ’83 and Ryan; and daughters Diane Hendry and Dion.
Christianson—Stanley att. was born Feb. 7, 1938, in Creston, B.C., Canada, and died July, 16, 2014, in Leavenworth, Wash. Surviving: wife Doris of Leavenworth, sons Stan II of Mt. Vernon, Wash., and
Russ of Everett, Wash.; daughter Gail Toebe of Renton, Wash.; and sister Elaine Wilson ’58 of Albuquerque, N.M. Drake—Nelma Laverne (Akins) ’49 was born Aug. 26, 1924, in Felt, Idaho, and died May 13, 2014, in Twin Falls, Idaho. Surviving: husband Harold ’48 of Boise, Idaho; son Richard ’78 of Twin Falls; daughter Cheryl Knowles att. of Bozeman, Mont.; and sister La Jean Botimer att. of Nampa, Idaho.
CREDIT TK
Rosa Jimenez For more than 25 years, Rosaura “Rosa” (Rodriguez) Jimenez ’85 was the voice of Walla Walla University for many WWU friends and alumni. She was a gifted communications and fundraising professional who was devoted to advancing the mission of the university and to mentoring students. During her career at the university, Jimenez worked in grant writing, donor recognition, university relations, and project management. From 2000 to 2014, she was editor of the WWU alumni journal, Westwind. She served for two years as interim vice president for University Advancement and was director of University Relations for 16 years. Jimenez was instrumental in launching the first WWU website in the late 90s when the Internet was a newly emerging communications medium. She managed two redesigns of the alumni journal, Westwind, and in 2000 worked on a team to rebrand the visual identity of the university. “Thousands of alumni and community members have remained connected to Walla Walla University thanks to Rosa,” said Jodi Wagner, vice president for University Relations and Advancement. “She attended hundreds of university events, wrote scores of articles and press releases, mentored dozens of students, and provided thoughtful perspective for her colleagues. She was an important part of our university family, and we will miss her deeply.” “Rosa was always out there looking for ideas on how to make stories better or for new stories to pursue. She wasn’t scared to try new things. She really enjoyed the mix of academics, staff, and students at WWU. She was very involved in the lives of her kids and even studied Tai Kwan Do with her daughter,” said Chris Drake, director of media services.
Hardwood—Victor ’77 was born Nov. 26, 1946, in Corvallis, Ore., and died Feb. 10, 2015, in Vancouver, Wash. Surviving: wife Christine of Bellingham, Wash.; sons Garret of Carlsbad, Calif., and William att. of Gresham, Ore.; daughter Tessa Evans of Debenham, United Kingdom; sisters Paula McRae of Courtenay, B.C., Canada, and Karen Gill of Courtenay; father Wallace of Clatskanie, Ore.; and mother Jean Dutro of Hillsboro, Ore. Jensen—William att. was born April 7, 1921, in Tacoma, Wash., and died May 30, 2014, in Walla Walla. Surviving: sons Edward ’75 of Corbett, Ore., and Gary of Hillsboro, Ore.; daughter Nancy Davis ’77 of College Place; and sisters Charlyne Wertz ’48 of Loma Linda, Calif., Joyce Way att. of Gladstone, Ore., Dolores Brooker att. of San Jose, Calif., and DeNelda Schwartz att. of Scappoose, Ore. Kay—Ernest ’69 was born Oct. 26, 1920, in Stettler, Alberta, Canada, and died in Oct. 22, 2014, in Milwaukee, Ore. Surviving: wife Evelyn ’69 of Damascus, Ore., son Bruce ’83 of Kirkland Ore., and daughter Karen Tetz ’99 of Portland, Ore. Knowles—George att. was born March 31, 1924, in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and died Sept. 23, 2013, in National City, Calif. Surviving: wife Elizabeth “Lillian.” Krause—Denny ’79 was born Jan. 3, 1951, in Pasadena, Calif., and died July 28, 2014, in Yucaipa, Calif. Surviving: wife Joy (Fearing) ’78 of Yucaipa; son Alan ’08 of Redlands, Calif.; daughter Laurie ’04 of Yucaipa; brother Derris of Silver Spring, Md.; and mother Isabell of Silver Spring.
In July 2014, Jimenez left WWU for a new challenge as communications manager for the City of Walla Walla where she helped the city serve its growing population. Jimenez was also a devoted wife, mother, sister, and daughter. She was born Aug. 30, 1963 in Estacion de Catorce, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and died March 22, 2015 in Seattle from complications related to cancer. She is survived by her husband, Vincent ’00 and ’04, their three children Marisa, Michael, and Isabella, her parents Teresa and Miguel, and her siblings Blanca, Mike, Lisa Villenueve att., Jaime ’89, and Diane. Sarah Corley ’11, one of many students whose life and career were shaped by Jimenez, wrote a tribute to her that can be read at wallawalla.edu/tribute.
Lee—William ’50 was born Aug. 12, 1922, in Hamilton, Mont., and died April 27, 2014, in Gresham, Ore. Surviving: son William of Bozeman, Mont.; daughters Laura Avery of Vancouver, Wash., Cheryl Nelson of Sandy, Ore., and Lisa Moore of Nampa, Idaho; and brother Alvin of Polson, Mont. Ludden—Hubert ’50 was born Sept. 14, 1919, in Anacortes, Wash., and died July 14, 2014, in Athol, Idaho. Surviving: son David ’66 of Athol, and daughter Tia LuddenBeigel ’72 of Tillamook, Ore.
Westwind Summer 2015
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