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60 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | NOVEMBER 2018 | Friends we will miss Leda Vincie Scarlata, 81 passed on Sunday, September 2, 2018 with her family at her side in Loma Linda Hospital. She was born on February 22, 1937, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She and her family moved to Southern California and she graduated in 1955 from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles. On April 25, 1959, she married Michael Scarlata in All Souls Catholic Church in Alhambra. They have been married 59 years. Leda worked at the Claremont Colleges for Marriott International for almost 20 years. She and Michael lived in Claremont with their daughters from1963 until they retired in 2002 and moved to Sun Lakes. While living in Sun Lakes, Leda made many friends and loved doing exercises in the pool. She and Michael were members of the Friendship Club and the Young at Heart Club. She was known for her positive outlook and infectious smile. She leaves behind her devoted husband Michael, daughters Michele Tenembaum (Gabriel); Rosemary Scarlata; and her sister Joanne Richardson. She had seven grandsons, one granddaughter, six great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter. She has been a member of St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish for the past 16 years. She will be missed by her family and all her friends at Sun Lakes. Riggie Bierman, a long-time resident of the Banning area, died September 10 at Redlands California Healthcare Center. Born April 20, 1921 in New Orleans, LA, Riggie led a long and varied life working as a legal secretary, coordinator for the Western Cemetery alliance and association management. She was also one of the original "Founders" of Sun Lakes. Riggie married Fred Bierman in 1942 which lasted nearly 50 years. She is survived by her nephews Allen Orrmins of Banning, Rik Orrmins of Barstow, CA and her nieces Laura Gilpin of Boise, ID, Brenda Oliveria of Coeur d'Alene, ID, and Joni Coombe of Hayden, ID. Riggie donated her body to Loma Linda University. Melvin Walter, commonly known as Mel, was born in Woodbine, Iowa on November 9, 1930. After several years of poor health, several falls and lung cancer, he died peacefully on September 8, 2018 at home with his loving wife and sons. His family moved to Oregon at a young age. He told the story of hitchhiking to Nevada to buck hay when he was 15 years old and arrived with $1 in his pocket. He graduated from Sutherlin High School in 1948. He then joined the Navy, serving one year and six years in the Naval Reserve. After returning from the Navy, he went to work in the woods in Oregon, falling and bucking timber. He suffered spinal injuries while working there. Following his childhood dreams of becoming at attorney, he started college. With the assistance of Workman's Compensation, he graduated college in LaGrande, Oregon receiving his BA and then to graduate from Willamette Law School in Salem, Oregon with a JD in 1967. After graduation he moved to Ontario, Oregon to practice law. He later also was the Municipal Judge in Ontario for 13 years. He married his wife, Mary Ann, in 1969 and they had their own law practice in Ontario. He loved hunting, fishing and camping in Oregon. They semi-retired in 1984, closed their office and began traveling. He completely retired in 1991 and moved to Sun Lakes so he could enjoy golf year round. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, five children, seven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son. He will be greatly missed by friends and family. He requested that his service be private.